Estimate project cost with this interactive budget calculator

Although the facilities unit is responsible for overseeing construction projects, it rarely has the authority to decide where and how to invest project dollars. Instead, academic or senior campus leaders typically make budget allocation and investment decisions, and these decision-makers often lack a nuanced understanding of design and construction. As a result, construction projects involving multiple stakeholders are more likely to run over budget or reallocate funding from building infrastructure to surface finishes.

To overcome these challenges, the University of Colorado Boulder uses an interactive budget calculator to estimate project costs. This tool also enables them to communicate how decisions such as choosing to build new versus renovating an existing space will affect a project’s budget.