The Real Cost of a Building HARMONIZING SUSTAINABILITY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND LIFE CYCLE COSTS BY ROHIT SOOD, AIA, LEED AP
So, you want to build a building! After much deliberation and anxiety, you have decided to move forward with constructing a new facility for your growing business. However, before pulling the trigger, you seek advice to better grasp the process, and more importantly, determine how much your new building will cost. After all, your investment must make sense, and affordability is of the utmost importance for your organization’s bottom line.
Life Cycle Cost of a Typical Commercial Building
After much discussion, you soon realize there is no simple answer, as many variables will impact building costs. Undeterred, you decide the investment is worth the risk. Therefore, you obtain financing, set a budget, purchase property, hire an Architect, and eventually a General Contractor to turn your dream into reality...without realizing that every decision you made during design will significantly impact your operating costs for the life of your building. Ask yourself these questions...Beyond the initial cost of construction, how much money will I spend operating and maintaining my new facility...and will these costs affect my organization’s bottom line? You may be surprised to know that the operation cost far exceeds the initial cost.
This diagram represents a proportional comparison of the initial cost of a building (design & construction) in contrast to the cost of operating and maintaining that building for its life.
HOLLY & SMITH ARCHITECTS, APAC