Why Does Construction on Campus Appear to Cost So Much?

The Physical Plant develops Preliminary Cost Assessments as a free service to the campus to aid in management decisions. It is done without benefit of drawings and detailed investigation.
Occasionally, upon receipt of a construction cost "estimate" for a building alteration, campus clients have related they experienced "sticker shock."
Many people make the comparison with costs they have experienced in their own homes, frequently on do-it-yourself projects, where only the cost of building materials is taken into account. Those who have recently altered a kitchen or bathroom, or added a fully heated and air-conditioned room on their home, realize that building alterations are very costly.
Houses are relatively simple structures with uncomplicated environmental, electrical and communications systems. The major buildings on the MSU campus are very complicated, usually multi-storied, with complex systems and are governed by codes and regulations far more restrictive than those governing house construction.
Some examples:
- NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) - Fireproofing, egress and fire suppression
- ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) - Accessibility for persons with disabilities
- BOCA (Building Officials and Code Administrators) Building Code - Minimum regulations for protection of public health and safety, including asbestos and lead removal/remediation
- ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers) - Air changes, percent outdoor air, energy conservation
It is a rare alteration project on campus that doesn=t require engineering and/or architectural design due to the unique configuration and/or sophistication of the building system.
In order to keep maintenance operating costs at the lowest possible level, as well as assure campus security, commercial grade long life items such as doors, windows and hardware are required.
Contractors performing work on the MSU campus must include in their bid: prevailing wages, insurance, overhead, profit, workers compensation and business activities taxes.
Do not hesitate to call the individual who prepared the Preliminary Cost Assessment or any other Physical Plant manager to discuss concerns. The Physical Plant Division is committed to identifying low cost and effective solutions to the campus facility challenges.