City Cost Index: Everything You Need to Know
A City Cost Index helps you compare costs between different cities. Find out more about how a City Cost Index is produced and how to use it effectively.
Blog: Design And Estimating
Value Engineering in Construction: A 6 Step Methodology
The process of value engineering in construction is trusted by design teams to help project owners make the most of their resources and build trusting client relationships. This breakdown of value engineering will cover a brief history of its creation, when to use this tested methodology for optimal benefits and what steps are required in the process.
Construction Materials: Copper Versus Aluminum Wire
The trade-offs for copper versus aluminum wire and how to use RSMeans Data Online to make an informed decision about construction materials.
The Case for Bigger, Better Data in the Federal Construction Lifecycle
Gordian sat down with Tracy Thomas to discuss big data and advancements with technology in the federal construction lifecycle.
What the Data Says: Emerging Cost Increases of Interior Finishes
Our data experts have been monitoring construction costs for decades, tracking price fluctuations impacted by response to public policy, concerns about infrastructure or the effects of the pandemic and natural disasters. We examine the long-term cost trends of the industry’s most vital materials. In this edition of What the Data Says, we examine the continued cost increases of interior finishes.
What the Data Says: Structural Steel Costs Volatility
In this edition of What the Data Says, we’re taking a look at the extraordinary rise in structural steel costs. Over the past several months, we have become accustomed to volatility in this commodity’s pricing but the latest increase is unprecedented. The price of structural steel has increased 91% since the last quarter of 2020, rising 45% in the past quarter.
The Importance of Quarterly Construction Material Cost Updates
There’s a common notion in the industry that estimators can take last year’s price for a given material and add a couple percentage points to account for any increases. But there are two issues with this mindset – issues that are solved by quarterly construction material cost updates.
5 Critical Insights on Federal Cost Overruns
Here are five key talking points on Federal cost overruns given by Federal construction experts from the private, non-profit and government sectors.
Designing Flexible Medical Care Facilities
Medical care facilities were designed with “normal” care business in mind. They were certainly not designed with the flexibility needed to treat pandemic patients. So let’s examine a few ways healthcare facilities leaders can create facilities flexibility.
Materials Make the Difference: 5 Parameters to Help You Select Green Construction Materials
Selecting the right green construction materials can be difficult. It’s hard to know which ones truly follow sustainable practices from their raw state to the supply shelf. As you consider materials, examine the process required to get to that end-state material along these five parameters.
