Design Cost Data ™ A DESIGN COST DATA COMPANY Estimating July-August 2023 $20.00 How to Avoid Common Pitfalls in Construction Estimating BNi Releases Updated Regional Modifiers for 2023 & 2024 Balancing Act: Navigating the Challenges of Preconstruction Spoto High School Building 16 Addition Riverview, Florida Architect: Long & Associates Architects/Engineers, Inc. Give your building a performance and aesthetic advantage. The Solarban ® family of solar control, low-e coatings delivers myriad choices for solar control and aesthetics. There’s a Solarban ® glass for every project. Learn more at vitroglazings.com/solarban There’s Always Another LevelVolume 67 - Number 4 July-August 2023 CONTENTS COST CASE STUDIES 22 COVER STORY 40 COMMERCIAL 22 Aerial Assets EDUCATIONAL 8 Spoto High School Building 16 Addition 16 CSUSB College of Extended Learning 19 South Prairie School District 70 29 Cibolo Valley Elementary School 40 Vega Collegiate Academy HOTEL 50 Le Centre on Fourth Embassy Suites MEDICAL 35 Alliance Spine OFFICE 45 Rosecrance Ware Center RELIGIOUS 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church 8 ECONOMIC OUTLOOK 44 AGC Data Digest 53 Nonresidential Construction Employment Increases in May 54 Housing Affordability Posts Solid Gain 55 Regional Wage Rates 56 BNi Releases Updated Regional Modifiers 57 BNi Construction Material Costs 2023 ESTIMATING 28 How to Win More Construction Bids 38 Defining Construction Cost Estimating 49 How to Avoid Common Pitfalls in Construction Estimating 38 25 21 48 4 /July-August 2023 INDUSTRY NEWS 21 AIA/ALA Library Building Award Goes to Five Projects 25 Designers of a Government Building Discover a Simple Fix 43 Edgewater Phase II Completed in June 2023 48 A Construction Challenge for the Ages 58 BNBuilders Breaks Ground on Office-to- Lab Conversion 11 Balancing Act: Navigating the Challenges of Preconstruction 15 Cost-Plus Gains Traction 18 Get Real About Turnover 42 ABC’s Guide to Construction Safety Best Practices PROJECT DELIVERY/MANAGEMENT 35Call Toll FREE 1-888-264-2665 or Visit Our Web Site @ https://www.bnibooks.com/collections/standard-estimating-practice Brand-new 11th Edition Standard Estimating Practice A complete, step-by-step blueprint for creating construction cost estimates that are uniform, consistent, verifiable and clearly documented A DESIGN COST DATA COMPANY DATA YOU CAN TRUST What will you get from each volume? Volume I: Basics of estimating: •A firm foundation before building on the fundamentals •A solid grasp of more advanced topics •Clear, step-by-step procedures •Scores of ready-to-use worksheets and checklists Volume II: Trade estimating: •Dozens of real-life case studies •A step-by-step walkthrough of cost estimating by experts from the American Society of Professional Estimators •A breakdown of every factor that affects pricing •Checklists, plans, specs and sample spreadsheets •A full grasp of the nuances of each specific type of trade estimating Volume III: Conceptual estimating: •An exhaustive array of case studies such as auditoriums, fire stations, parking garages and dozens more •Deep dives into numerous unique estimating challenges •The ability to quantify components, special factors, risks/pitfalls and extremely useful ratios Fully revised 11th Edition in Three Volumes. Includes FREE immediate digital download of the 2024 BNi General Construction Costbook. (That’s a $149.95 value just for ordering.)COVER Photo Courtesy: Matt Good Publisher BARB CASTELLI (barb@dcd.com) Editor-in-Chief JOAN HAMILTON (joan@dcd.com) Editor BILL MAHONEY Estimating Consultant RORY WOOLSEY rw@rorywoolsey.com Art Director ROBERT WRIGHT (robert@dcd.com) HEADQUARTERS: Mailing Address: Advertising, editorial, administration, circulation, and production 990 Park Center Dr., Suite E Vista, CA 92081-8352 Tel: 800-533-5680 Advertising: 800-533-5680 STAFF From the Editor This issue of Design Cost Data highlights estimating. Although the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, with material costs still fluctuating and supply chain problems not yet solved, estimating continues to be a hot issue. The article “How to Win More Construction Bids”, on page 28, will provide you with some guidance. “Defining Construction Cost Estimating” (page 38) gives you the steps to take in successful estimating. And “How to Avoid Common Pitfalls in Construction Estimating” will inform you about the tools in your estimating toolbox that will help you ensure your bids are accurate (on page 49). “Get Real About Turnover”, page 18, explains the three interconnected concepts to prevent turnover and keep people at your firm long-term. And “The Impact of the Skilled Labor Shortage on Smart Homes and Intelligent Buildings” (page 7) explains creative ways to revamp human resources practices to retain skilled labor. We’re also offering our tried-and-true square- foot cost studies of new buildings and renovation projects submitted by your peers. Spoto High School Building 16 Addition (page 8), the cover project, is one of these case studies. The project includes a diverse range of educational facilities, including 20 classrooms catering to specific disciplines such as Culinary Arts, Chemistry Labs, Biology Labs, Multipurpose Classrooms, Teacher Planning, Vertical Circulation, and dedicated support spaces. Other projects covered in this issue include: •A new hangar facility that posed challenges to the construction manager and owner, not the least of which were city and county construction issues that evolved after the engineering and permits were approved (page 22) •Located in the heart of the downtown entertainment district, a once run- down, vacant historic office structure that was adapted into an eclectic mixed-use structure; see page 50 All of these studies include square-foot prices for divisions and regional cost trends to help you convert the total project cost to your area. Thank you for choosing this issue of Design Cost Data. Please give us a call or email if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions. We’d love to hear from you! Design Cost Data ™ Design Cost Data TM is published bimonthly by DC&D Technologies, a div. of BNi Publications, 990 Park Center Dr. Ste E, Vista CA, 92081, Phone: 800-533-5680. • Subscription rates: $177.95 one year, $240.95 two years; Microfilm copies are available from: Department F.A., University Microfilms International, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. • ©2022, a div. of BNi Publications. This publication may not be reproduced, photocopied, stored in any electronic retrieval device, or transmitted by facsimile without the written permission of the publisher. All rights under USA and International Copyright Laws are reserved. • Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use, or the internal or personal use of specific clients, is granted by BNi, only when a royalty of U.S. $1.00 per page, plus U.S. 10¢ per impression is paid directly to: Copyright Clearance Center, 27 Congress Street, Salem, MA 01970, USA. For those organizations that have been granted a photocopy license by CCC, a separate system of payment has been arranged. The fee code for users of the Transactional Reporting Service is [1054-3163/95 $1.00 + 10¢]. • This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information regarding the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a professional person should be sought. Statements of fact and opinion are made on the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. BNi nor Design Cost Data magazine do not guaranteed the accuracy, adequacy, or completeness of any published information and are not responsible for any errors or omissions therein or for the results obtained from the use of such information or for any damages resulting there from •Contributions of articles and pictures of interest to readers within the industry are welcome. Due recognition will be given to such contributors. However, publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. All unsolicited material should be accompanied by SASE. 6 /July-August 2023A new report from Guidehouse Insights explores the “Great Reshuffle” in labor brought on by the coronavirus pan- demic and found that an already existing skilled labor shortage has worsened. However, the shortage’s origins can be traced to government policies from the 1980s, when the work- force associated with creating goods declined precipitously. According to Guidehouse Insights’ report, while the wide- spread lack of skilled labor and its effect on the global supply chain impact many markets, the effect on smart infrastructure is particularly acute. Intelligent buildings and smart homes — the core of smart infrastructure — rely on skilled and semi-skilled labor to con- struct and maintain their smart hardware and software. “When experienced workers re- tire, move to management positions, or change industries altogether, the remain- ing labor force loses in several ways. Be- sides expertise leaving the labor pool, fewer people are on hand to train new hires or develop workers — and the re- maining labor pool must work harder,” ex- plains William Hughes, principal research analyst with Guidehouse Insights. “With- out focused attention on this situation, in- cluding fundamentally rethinking several established practices and policies, the situation will worsen and become a signif- icant delay in the clean energy transition.” Accepting the status quo (the lack of skilled workers in construction) will blunt the impact of many desirable government programs, public-private partnerships, and private efforts associated with install- ing smart systems. This will, in turn, jeop- ardize the timeframes for installing these systems and make some projects unvi- able financially, according to the report. The report, Skilled Labor Shortages Impact Smart Homes and Intelligent Buildings, identifies a range of ways to overcome this undesirable situation. It suggests that hiring organizations increase wages across the board for construction workers. Analysis shows that real wages for construction have decreased in the past decade despite increasing demand and worsening skill shortages. It recommends that con- struction subcontractors, who make up much of this labor force, abandon con- ventional HR practices and focus on nur- turing employee loyalty from all produc- tive employees. The Impact of the Skilled Labor Shortage on Smart Homes and Intelligent Buildings Contractors who employ the labor responsible for installing smart infrastructure must revamp human resources practices to retain skilled labor About Guidehouse Insights: Guidehouse Insights, the dedicated market intelligence arm of Guidehouse, provides research, data, and benchmarking services for today’s rapidly changing and highly regulated industries. About Guidehouse: Guidehouse is a leading global pro- vider of consulting services to the public sector and commer- cial markets, with broad capabilities in management, technol- ogy, and risk consulting. For more information, please visit www.guidehouse.com. MODULAR AL AR VIEW IN This incredibly versatile metal cladding system will inspire you. Stretch your imagination to create unique sculptural faades using PAC-CLAD’s extensive PVDF color palette including brilliant metallics, warm wood grains and elegant ore finishes. Spell words, form logos, shapes or images with perforation. Explore the possibilities. 1 3/8” to 3” Depths Running BondStackedMosaic NEW Metal Wall System PAC-CLAD.COM | 800 PAC CLAD /July-August 2023 7Long & Associates designed a 500-student building (Building #16) addition for Spoto High School. Photo Courtesy: Matt Good Architect Long & Associates Architects/Engineers, Inc. Spoto High School Building 16 Addition Riverview, Florida T he architects at Long & Associates had the incredible opportunity to design a remarkable 500-student station building addition for Spoto High School. Situated on their expansive 53- acre school site, Long & Associates’ goal was to seamlessly integrate this addition into the existing campus fabric while en- hancing its functionality and aesthetics. Long’s design encompassed several key aspects. Firstly, they upgraded the Chiller Plant to accommodate the additional loads, ensuring optimal performance and comfort. Additionally, they strategically rerouted major site utilities around the new building footprint, carefully considering efficiency and accessibility. To maintain a cohesive architectural harmony, Long paid meticulous attention to detail in the tilt wall panel design. Each fenestration was thoughtfully placed to seamlessly match the existing school’s aesthetic, creating a harmonious blend that adds to the overall campus fabric. Inside the new addition, Long created a diverse range of educational facilities. These included 20 classrooms catering 8 /July-August 2023 Educational facilities within the new addition include Chemistry Labs and Biology Labs.o Courtesy: Matt Good Roofing: Johns Manville Entrances & Storefronts: YKK America Flooring: Spectra Lighting: Envision Product Information to specific disciplines such as Culinary Arts, Chemistry Labs, Biology Labs, Multipurpose Classrooms, Teacher Planning, Vertical Circulation, and dedicated support spaces. Their priority was to provide a safe environment for students, so each classroom features operable emergency escape windows and a discreet Shadow Zone design. In the unlikely event of an active security event, students can find a secure, concealed area within the classroom that remains out of sight from the door lite. This unique feature is visually indicated by a distinct flooring pattern, ensuring both students and faculty can easily identify and utilize the safe haven. Furthermore, Long integrated the latest technology and teaching systems into each classroom, aligning them with the campus curriculum. Touch screen televisions, digital tools, alerting systems, and integrated cameras were seamlessly integrated to support modern teaching methods and enhance the learning experience. Long & Associates takes great pride in their architectural design and commitment to excellence. The Spoto High School project allowed them to showcase their expertise in creating functional spaces that seamlessly blend with the existing campus while prioritizing safety and incorporating advanced technology. Long feels it was a privilege to contribute to the transformation of Spoto High School into an inspiring and innovative educational environment. /July-August 2023 9 A new state-of-the-art Culinary Lab was designed for those interested in pursuing a career in Culinary Arts. The color palette is conducive to socializing and learning. A new look on corridor lighting and a more sustainable and long-lasting flooring material (LVT).Next >