Library construction costs up 5.9% across major U.S. cities, RSMeans reports

Aug. 11, 2010
18 min read

Library buildings cost on average $153.2 a square foot to build last year, up 5.9% from 2007, according to a December 2008 cost comparison report on 25 major U.S. cities by RSMeans.

New Orleans saw the biggest jump in library construction costs (7.8%) with an average cost/sf bump of nearly 10 dollars to $134.4—presumably due to a shortage of labor and commodities in the region.

Denver (6.9%), Dallas (6.8%), and Miami (6.8%) also experienced steep price increases, while Philadelphia and Portland saw the smallest rise (both 4.1%).
                            
Library cost comparisons
in 25 major U.S. cities 		’08 ’07 % chg
Atlanta 136.51 128.04 6.6
Baltimore 140.64 131.87 6.6
Boston 174.91 166.30 5.2
Chicago 173.91 163.98 6.1
Cleveland 150.73 142.94 5.5
Dallas 129.12 120.94 6.8
Denver 143.76 134.46 6.9
Detroit 156.28 148.54 5.2
Houston 133.38 125.44 6.3
Kansas City 154.86 146.35 5.8
Los Angeles 163.96 154.82 5.9
Miami 136.51 127.77 6.8
Minneapolis 166.37 158.24 5.1
New Orleans 134.38 124.62 7.8
New York City 198.51 187.62 5.8
Philadelphia 171.35 164.66 4.1
Phoenix 134.52 127.36 5.6
Pittsburgh 147.89 141.02 4.9
Portland, Ore. 152.87 146.90 4.1
St. Louis 155.85 147.72 5.5
San Diego 158.98 150.72 5.5
San Francisco 187.70 176.01 6.6
Seattle 157.42 147.99 6.4
Washington, D.C. 150.87 141.71 6.5
Winston-Salem, N.C. 118.74 112.05 6.0
Costs in dollars per square foot
For more data, visit RSMeans at www.rsmeans.com, or call (800) 448-8182.
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