By Jim Haughey, Director, Research and Analytics, Reed Construction Data
April 1, 2008
Building Design and Construction
RSMeans costs comparisons: University and college buildings
’08
’07
% chg.
’08
’07
% chg.
’08
’07
% chg.
’08
’07
% chg.
College laboratory
College classroom*
College dormitory*
College student union
Atlanta
144.03
139.02
3.6
140.36
136.42
2.9
144.35
138.70
4.1
127.90
124.04
3.1
Baltimore
148.21
144.30
2.7
144.43
141.61
2.0
148.53
143.98
3.2
131.62
128.76
2.2
Boston
187.11
179.45
4.3
182.34
176.10
3.5
187.52
179.04
4.7
166.16
160.12
3.8
Chicago
184.38
176.18
4.7
179.68
172.90
3.9
184.78
175.78
5.1
163.73
157.20
4.2
Cleveland
160.75
156.43
2.8
156.65
153.52
2.0
161.10
156.08
3.2
142.75
139.58
2.3
Dallas
135.99
130.62
4.1
132.53
128.18
3.4
136.29
130.33
4.6
120.77
116.55
3.6
Denver
151.27
147.88
2.3
147.41
145.12
1.6
151.60
147.55
2.7
134.33
131.95
1.8
Detroit
167.02
163.28
2.3
162.76
160.23
1.6
167.38
162.91
2.7
148.32
145.69
1.8
Houston
141.14
137.62
2.6
137.54
135.05
1.8
141.45
137.31
3.0
125.33
122.79
2.1
Kansas City
164.61
160.32
2.7
160.41
157.33
2.0
164.97
159.96
3.1
146.18
143.05
2.2
Los Angeles
174.09
166.39
4.6
169.65
163.28
3.9
174.47
166.01
5.1
154.60
148.46
4.1
Miami
143.71
138.08
4.1
140.05
135.51
3.3
144.02
137.77
4.5
127.62
123.21
3.6
Minneapolis
179.24
174.63
2.6
174.66
171.37
1.9
179.63
174.23
3.1
159.17
155.82
2.1
New Orleans
140.17
134.66
4.1
136.60
132.15
3.4
140.48
134.36
4.6
124.48
120.16
3.6
New York City
211.06
203.55
3.7
205.68
199.75
3.0
211.52
203.09
4.2
187.43
181.62
3.2
Philadelphia
185.18
177.74
4.2
180.46
174.42
3.5
185.59
177.34
4.7
164.45
158.59
3.7
Phoenix
143.23
138.86
3.1
139.58
136.27
2.4
143.54
138.55
3.6
127.19
123.90
2.7
Pittsburgh
158.66
153.79
3.2
154.61
150.92
2.4
159.01
153.44
3.6
140.89
137.22
2.7
Portland, Ore.
165.25
158.92
4.0
161.04
155.96
3.3
165.61
158.56
4.4
146.75
141.80
3.5
St. Louis
166.22
161.56
2.9
161.98
158.55
2.2
166.58
161.20
3.3
147.60
144.16
2.4
San Diego
169.43
162.19
4.5
165.11
159.16
3.7
169.80
161.82
4.9
150.46
144.72
4.0
San Francisco
198.04
189.40
4.6
192.99
185.87
3.8
198.48
188.97
5.0
175.87
169.00
4.1
Seattle
166.54
161.88
2.9
162.29
158.86
2.2
166.90
161.51
3.3
147.89
144.44
2.4
Washington, D.C.
159.30
152.55
4.4
155.24
149.70
3.7
159.65
152.20
4.9
141.47
136.11
3.9
Winston-Salem, N.C.
126.03
123.00
2.5
122.81
120.71
1.7
126.30
122.72
2.9
111.92
109.75
2.0
* The cost models for college classrooms and college dormitories have been revised. The classroom building is now a two-story, 50,000-sf structure with 12-foot story heights, decorative concrete block, and bearing walls. The dorm is a six-story, 85,000-sf structure with 12-foot story heights, decorative concrete block, and a steel frame. Costs in dollars per square foot. For more data, visit RSMeans at www.rsmeans.com, or call (800) 448-8182.
