Paving the Way for Progress: Conceptual Cost Modeling Shapes Urban Development

Services: Planning, Cost Modeling, and Risk Mitigation 
Dept: Construction Solutions 
Market: Historic Preservation

GOALS 

The owner of an existing vacant building, immediately next to another prominent business they also owned, needed to decide on its future use. The unique aspect of this project was that the vacant building had historical and architectural significance which garnered a lot of community interest in its future use. The client preferred to demolish the building but was receiving negative feedback from preservationists and needed more data, projected costs, and recondition/reuse information to make an informed decision. 

SERVICES/SCOPE 

STRUCTR personnel worked with the client to determine what may be the best direction for the building which included: 

• Investment cost: Identifying the required investment versus the negative feedback the client may receive. 

• Demolition: Determining the cost associated with demolishing the building. STRUCTR did not provide comment on the level of negativity the client may receive for demolishing the building. 

• Versions of recondition and reuse: Providing costs and options for various types of reuses for the building. 

• High level cost & schedule duration: Providing pros and cons from a cost & construction viewpoint. 

APPROACH AND CHALLENGES 

Providing various options to the owner for the building’s future use including demolition, reuse, and recondition required a deep level of planning and engagement to understand the design and programming scenarios and applying cost and schedule ranges for each scenario. Our team was able to quickly provide these options to the client so that they could make a decision that was best for their investments and reputation in the community.  

IMPACT  

With the data that STRUCTR provided, the client was given accurate information to make the best decision for their finances and reputation in terms of how to proceed with the vacant building.