builder | designer | design-builder | advisor
My passion for building began early. Before my high school graduation in 1975, I was constructing pole barns for Harlan Pole Builders in Harlan, Iowa. By 1980, I founded Shelco Design & Construction in Springfield, Missouri, honing my craft as a builder. This hands-on experience laid the foundation for my architectural career, which I pursued after earning a Master of Architecture from North Carolina State University in 1992.
After nearly eight years with leading Kansas City firms, I revisited a concept sparked in the 1970s: creating an antifragile project delivery process that prioritizes the owner’s outcomes.
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In 1999, I established v 1.0 of the 3PQ Acquisition & Management System for design-build, a management approach that integrates design and construction around the owner’s core expectations.
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In 2000 (v 2.0) I incorporated performance criteria using software, enhancing project precision.
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In 2001 (v 3.0) I introduced a prioritized scope of work, inspired by LEED preference protocols applied to individual project goals & objectives.
By 2007, these 3 evolutions of 3PQ (design & build integration, performance as opposed to prescriptive criteria, and prioritization) ultimately led to the antifragile nature of the 3PQ Acquisition Process, although I had not yet learned the term "antifragile".
3PQ v 3.0 has driven high-performance projects, such as the Research Support Facility (RSF) in Golden, Colorado—one of the world’s most energy-efficient buildings—the City of Liberty Wastewater Treatment Facility in Missouri, and the International Animal Health and Food Safety Institute at Kansas State, Olathe KS. These milestones reflect my ongoing commitment to delivering antifragile, predictable, and owner-focused acquisition solutions built on performance-based design-build acquisition.
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David Shelton’s lifelong passion for building has shaped an extraordinary career in design, construction, education, and innovation. From constructing backyard treehouses in 1964 to contributing to the monumental Panama Canal Expansion in 2007, David’s unique perspective continues to transform the built environment.
David earned a Bachelor of Arts from Drury University and a Master of Architecture from North Carolina State University. A licensed architect and National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) certificate holder, he is also a Designated Design-Build Professional through the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA). As a charter member of DBIA Mid-America, David served as a board member and chaired the Education & Research Committee. He has contributed to professional committees for the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Construction Owners Association of America (COAA).
Starting as a construction laborer in 1975, David mastered multiple trades and launched a general contracting business in 1980, focusing on residential, multifamily, and light commercial projects. After earning his MArch in 1992, he transitioned into architecture, blending hands-on building expertise with innovative design. In 1999, David founded his own firm, specializing in design-build delivery and his pioneering 3PQ Antifragile Systems Strategy. This approach led to groundbreaking projects, including:
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The Research Support Facility (RSF) in Golden, Colorado, one of the world’s most energy-efficient buildings and the highest-rated LEED Platinum facility in the U.S. government’s portfolio.
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The City of Liberty Wastewater Treatment Facility in Liberty, Missouri, the first performance-based design-build wastewater treatment facility in the US.
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The Air National Guard A10 Maintenance Hangar Project in Fort Smith, Arkansas, the first LEED Gold-certified facility for the National Guard.
For 14 years, David served as a DBIA Faculty Instructor, teaching design-build best practices to organizations such as the Army National Guard, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Army Corps of Engineers, County of Los Angeles, City of Las Vegas, and the Panama Canal Authority. He taught graduate-level design-build courses at the University of Kansas School of Architecture (Edwards Campus) and lectured at Drury University, the University of Missouri, Nebraska University, Iowa State University, Pittsburg State University, and Kansas State University.
David has presented at national conferences hosted by DBIA, AIA, COAA, and the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). His work has earned prestigious accolades, including the Office of the President GreenGov Award, the AIA COTE Award, and the ENR News Maker of the Year Award for the DOE-NREL RSF project.
David’s insights appear in publications such as The World’s Greenest Buildings by Yudelson & Meyer, A/E/C Marketing Fundamentals by SMPS, and journals by DBIA, AIA, and SAME. Since 2011, his blog, High Performance Outcomes, has explored performance-based design-build and the application of the 3PQ strategy, offering valuable industry insights.
David resides with his wife and dog in their cherished 1890 Victorian home in Kansas, where he continues to innovate and inspire in architecture and construction.