School Construction Costs FACILITIES PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION s

School Construction Costs FACILITIES PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION s to s Prepared November 25, 2007

Comparisons (Apples to Apples) Consider: – – – Type (Elementary, Middle, High, Special) Size (Cost per Square Foot) Timeframe (Estimates, Bid Date, Completion Date) Cost Components (Land, Site, Building) Region (Local, State, National) Quality (Life Cycle Costs, Green Design, High Performance, Safe School, Technology, etc. . ) – Features (Athletic Facilities, Special Programs, Community Use) – Future Growth (Core Capacity, Program Capacity)

Market Stability $152. 89 ? ? Construction costs for North Carolina schools climbed 53. 7% between 2003 and 2006 Source: NCDPI School Planning

Benchmark Data North Carolina Department of Public Instruction School Planning Services Compiles Annual Construction Cost Data Based on: • Standard Cost Components Based on Bid Day • Break Down by School Type, Bid Year • Analysis by School Size, Total Costs per Square Foot Source: NCDPI School Planning 10/24/07

GCS Elementary Schools Source: NCDPI School Planning 10/24/07

NC Elementary Schools Source: NCDPI School Planning 10/24/07

GCS Middle Schools Source: NCDPI School Planning 10/24/07

GCS High Schools Source: NCDPI School Planning 10/24/07

Commentary – Wake County “There are no simple solutions to managing the growth and escalating costs in our school construction program. This is complicated stuff. When you try to save in one area, you may be raising costs in another. ” Mr. John Mabe, Co-Chair, Wake County Citizen’s Facilities Advisory Committee

Commentary - Guilford County “Critics say that Guilford County overspends on schools, but a comparison suggests that may not be the case”. Greensboro News and Record September 30, 2007 “Practical and forward thinking” Editorial Greensboro News and Record November 9, 2007