Blog: Planning

Life cycle cost analysis is the act of considering the initial, sustainment, and the cost of replacement or disposal over the lifespan of the facility. It is the full measure of a facility’s cost and is instrumental in the comparison of multiple facilities. So how can you estimate, plan, and prepare for a facility’s life cycle costs?  How can you easily compare multiple facility’s life cycle costs against each other? What does the geolocation of facility life cycle costs look like and what are the advantages? This article attempts to answer these questions and more using cost data by RSMeans and external resources.  

“What are the “appropriate” markups for overhead, profit and contingency when budgeting facilities construction projects?” I get this question a lot from my architect friends when helping them budget their projects through the design process. The answer can get messy considering all the factors that can impact the bottom line. There are many variables to consider. With this blog post I will answer the “markup” question for an average facilities project and try to keep it simple but still useful.  

If the construction calendar were laid out on a timeline graph, it would likely resemble a bell curve, with the bulk of construction work being shouldered in the summer months. Here are some things to keep in mind for your summer construction project planning.

Many times a facility manager receives their budget for the year at the beginning of their Fiscal Year (FY). This budget may include set-aside funding for repair, maintenance or small construction projects.  

Change orders bring frustration to the construction industry, spiking costs and prolonging project schedules for owners and contractors. Even when the project is well-planned in advance and details seem in order, a last-minute alteration can throw everything out of sync...