The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) is honored to announce William G. “Bill” Hasbrook, Jr., MEMS, TCFM, FDBIA, as the recipient of the prestigious 2023 Brunelleschi Lifetime Achievement Award. With more than 40 years of dedicated service to understanding, advancing, and effectively using design-build, Hasbrook has left an indelible mark on the industry.
Named after Italian Renaissance architect, engineer and sculptor Filippo Brunelleschi, the Brunelleschi Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest individual honor DBIA bestows. It is presented to individuals who have significantly contributed to the design and construction industry through outstanding leadership and innovation in advancing design-build project delivery. Recipients of this award have exhibited originality, vision and breadth over the course of their professional life, with 30 years or more of strong and well-documented commitment to design-build project delivery.
“Each year, DBIA is proud to recognize an industry leader with the prestigious Brunelleschi Lifetime Achievement Award,” said DBIA National Board Chair Deb Sheehan, ACHE, LEED AP, EDAC, DBIA. “We welcome William Hasbrook to this select group of Brunelleschi winners who have contributed tirelessly to ensuring design-build continues to exemplify the whole-team approach and flexibility that drive high-performing teams and exceptional project outcomes, shifting it from an alternative to a mainstream project delivery method.”
On winning the 2023 Brunelleschi Award, Hasbrook said, “Receiving the 2023 Brunelleschi Lifetime Achievement Award is a tremendous honor and the highlight of my lifelong journey of shaping and elevating this transformative approach to project delivery. Throughout my 40+ year career, I’ve been unwavering in my commitment to advancing design-build and championing the cause of Design-Build Done Right®. I wouldn’t be here today without the invaluable contributions of the dedicated professionals I’ve had the privilege to learn from and work with along the way.”
DBIA will honor Hasbrook at DBIA’s 2023 Design-Build Conference & Expo evening awards program Thursday, Nov. 2, in National Harbor, MD.
“Bill has the unique ability to leave his ‘company hat’ at the door, drawing ideas out of a board of both competitors and clients, to further not his own interests, but those of DBIA,” – G. William Quatman, Esq., FAIA, FDBIA
Bill Hasbrook: A Storied Career of Advancing Design-Build Done Right®
Hailing from New Braunfels, Texas, Hasbrook is a design-build trailblazer, having dedicated his career since 1982 to shaping and advancing this project delivery method. His influence spans nearly every industry sector, with a remarkable project portfolio approaching $20 billion. Hasbrook’s commitment to design-build is unwavering, and he actively champions it whenever possible, emphasizing the importance of DBIA contracts and best practices.
Hasbrook is a charter member of DBIA and has served at every organizational level, from local chapters to the national stage. He has been a driving force behind numerous committees, including active engagement in the transportation markets, education, membership and other committees. He has contributed to regional boards in the Southeast and Southwest and represented DBIA as a speaker and subject matter expert at numerous industry events. His leadership extended to the 2011–2018 Certification Board, where he served as the National Certification Chair in 2014, and to the 2015–2022 National Board, where he assumed the role of National Chairman in 2018. Hasbrook’s passion for design-build also shines through his role as Chair of both the Nominating and Policies/Procedures Committees of the College of Fellows, where he played a role in shaping its charter and nominating guidelines. He received the DBIA Leadership Award in 2010 and was a member of the founding class of DBIA Fellows in 2018, holding the position of Vice Chancellor from 2022 to 2023.
Beyond DBIA, Hasbrook was honored as a Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Member of the Year in 2010 and a Man of the Year in 2023 from the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS).
Education Is a Hallmark of Hasbrook’s Journey
His most significant contribution perhaps lies in the field of education, where he helps to shape the next generation of design-build professionals. Addressing one of the perennial challenges in the industry, Hasbrook focuses on cultivating a qualified workforce. He has advocated for design-build through various youth outreach programs, including engagements with Junior Achievement, Boy Scouts of America, school industry events and formal and informal mentoring. His influence has also extended to young professionals through his contributions to the DBIA Young Professionals program. His commitment ensures the valuable delivery method of design-build permeates various industry sectors and remains firmly anchored in the minds of the next generation of leaders and professionals.
Hasbrook has been instrumental in spreading design-build advocacy to the Department of Defense (DOD) through the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). Revered as the “Professor of Design-Build,” he developed and taught the “Design-Build for DOD Projects” course worldwide for SAME University. The course has been instrumental in educating construction agents, customers, designers and builders about the intricacies of federal design-build applications.
G. William Quatman, Esq., FAIA, FDBIA, has worked with Hasbrook on the DBIA National Board. “Bill has the unique ability to leave his ‘company hat’ at the door, drawing ideas out of a board of both competitors and clients, to further not his own interests, but those of DBIA,” Quatman said.
Leading for Delivery, Not Demand
Hasbrook has been an advocate for design-build on a regional scale as well. He has dedicated time to engaging with key stakeholders in California, Texas, Florida, Alabama and Georgia. His presentations and one-on-one sessions educated these states on design-build’s transformative potential. Hasbrook was very involved in the early days within the state of Texas, making numerous presentations in Austin on not only design-build benefits, but specifically their application to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
“Without a doubt, [he] embraces the key concepts centered around honesty, integrity and a totally integrated team that make [the design-build] delivery method successful,” said TxDOT Chief Engineer William L. Hale, PE, a collaborator of Hasbrook.
Hunter Bodycott, PE, another frequent collaborator of Hasbrook, said, “Great leaders get the most out of their team –– not because they demand but because they want to deliver. Bill’s leadership style encourages people to push, grow and demand excellence. I witnessed several employees and leaders experience considerable career growth while working alongside Bill.”
Throughout his career, Bill Hasbrook’s efforts have propelled design-build into the spotlight, ensuring its widespread acceptance and securing its future as a leading project delivery method.