Elias Saltz, Steve Gantner, & David Stutzman discuss the technical and contractual realities of delegated design. Using examples such as curtain walls, stairs, railings, and fire protection systems, the discussion explores how design responsibility is shared between the design professional and specialty contractors. The conversation clarifies the distinction between delegated and deferred design, examines why delegated design submittals should be treated as action submittals, and highlights a critical principle: delegated design transfers detailed engineering, not design intent. Successful delegated design depends on clearly defined performance criteria, active review of delegated assumptions, and alignment between the project's requirements and the final engineered solution.
