Published: Nov. 21, 2019

DBIA Team 2019Chris Frenette, Natalie Ezra, Khaled Binmubarak, Keith Molenaar, Tristan Steinman, Alexis Huntsinger

Professor Keith Molenaar was one of four industry leaders chosen for the 2019 class of fellows by the Design-Build Institute of America. 

Designated Design-Build Professional Fellow status is the highest level of DBIA certification and acknowledges the achievements of the nation’s most accomplished design-build professionals. DBIA fellow status is limited to 2% of Designated Design-Build Professionals, who are elected to fellowship by a jury of their peers.

Molenaar, who has been part of the DBIA for more than 20 years, said he was honored to receive the recognition. 

“I completed my doctoral research in the area of design-build project delivery in the public sector as the Institute was being established” he said. “My work has relied on data collection from its members.  I would like to think that the work in my lab has helped to grow the organization. However, I could have never imagined the impact that the organization would have on our industry over the last 25 years.” 

Molenaar is a professor of construction engineering and management and will serve as interim dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science starting in January 2020. 

As one of the nation’s leading researchers and experts on design-build project delivery, Molenaar was recognized for producing some of the most important data demonstrating design-build’s performance and industry impact. His work helps owners make more informed decisions to deliver projects more collaboratively and effectively. 

Molenaar has authored books, national guidance documents and peer-reviewed research papers on design-build. Molenaar began working with DBIA as a PhD student in 1996. He is a member of the Design-Build Certification Board and was honored with the DBIA Academic Leadership Award in 2000. He also served in the first class as a Charter Designee for DBIA in 2002.

The DBIA Fellows program was established last year with the organization’s 25th anniversary. The fellows were honored during the DBIA conference on Nov. 7 in Las Vegas.

The Design-Build Institute of America, established in 1993, is an organization that offers education and certification on “Design-Build Done Right.” Comprising architectural, engineering and construction professionals, as well as academics, students and project owners, its members collaborate and innovate to deliver some of America’s most successful projects.

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