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Contractors plan for a mixed outlook in 2002

Contractors plan for a mixed outlook in 2002


By Staff | August 11, 2010
This article first appeared in the 200201 issue of BD+C.

From the contractor's perspective, the construction outlook for 2002 is mixed, with the expected timing and strength of economic recovery varying by region and industry segment. According to Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Washington, D.C.-based Associated General Contractors of America, while airline traveler-dependent hotels continue to suffer, destinations within driving distance of large populations, such as New England and Mid-Atlantic coastal and mountain resorts, are seeing an upturn that will lead to selective additional construction.

The industrial sector will decline, but import warehouse facilities may show growth as businesses expand facilities to ensure the availability of just-in-time parts and supplies, Simonson says.

Many construction executives foresaw the economic slowdown and have been preparing for a softening market, says Michael J. Meagher, vice president of marketing for James McHugh Construction Co., Chicago. In the Chicago area, for instance, Meagher says contractors had already begun adapting to the reality that private-sector work was tapering off. "Savvy contractors will place a new emphasis on public-sector projects, renovation and renewing their commitments to existing clients in a buyers' market," he adds.

Simonson and Meagher expect most cost increases to ease and labor shortages to subside. However, rapidly rising insurance and bond premiums continue to be an industry issue.

Cost comparisons per square foot in select metro markets

Parking garage Underground parking Town hall Community center
NOTE: Costs are for the basic building and do not include sitework, land, development, specialty finishes or equipment. Square foot costs vary significantly from project to project because of quality, complexity and economic climate. For a detailed list of building components included in these figures, see Means Square Foot Costs.
R.S. Means Co., P.O. Box 800, Kingston, MA 02364, (781) 585-7880, (800) 448-8182
For more data, visit R.S. Means on the Web atwww.rsmeans.com. To use an interactive tool that helps estimate costs, visitwww.buildingteam.com.
'02 '01 % chg. '02 '01 % chg. '02 '01 % chg. '02 '01 % chg.
Atlanta 28.40 27.40 3.7 44.08 42.28 4.3 92.74 89.81 3.3 89.20 86.61 3.0
Baltimore 29.01 28.26 2.6 45.02 43.61 3.2 94.70 92.64 2.2 91.09 89.33 2.0
Boston 36.46 35.36 3.1 56.58 54.57 3.7 119.03 116.95 1.8 114.48 111.78 2.4
Chicago 35.50 34.26 3.6 55.10 52.86 4.2 115.92 112.29 3.2 111.50 108.28 3.0
Cleveland 32.56 31.64 2.9 50.53 48.83 3.5 106.29 103.72 2.5 102.24 100.02 2.2
Dallas 27.01 26.14 3.3 41.92 40.33 3.9 88.18 86.98 1.4 84.82 82.76 2.5
Denver 30.21 29.27 3.2 46.89 45.17 3.8 98.64 95.96 2.8 94.87 92.53 2.5
Detroit 33.76 32.66 3.4 52.40 50.39 4.0 110.23 107.05 3.0 106.02 103.23 2.7
Houston 27.99 26.97 3.8 43.44 41.61 4.4 91.39 89.57 2.0 87.90 85.24 3.1
Kansas City 31.92 30.75 3.8 49.54 47.45 4.4 104.22 100.80 3.4 100.25 97.20 3.1
Los Angeles 34.33 33.36 2.9 53.28 51.48 3.5 112.09 110.03 1.9 107.81 105.46 2.2
Miami 26.98 26.48 1.9 41.87 40.85 2.5 88.08 86.79 1.5 84.72 83.69 1.2
Minneapolis 34.52 34.32 0.6 53.58 52.95 1.2 112.71 112.49 0.2 108.51 108.48 0.0
New Orleans 27.10 26.35 2.8 42.07 40.66 3.4 88.49 86.39 2.4 85.12 83.30 2.2
New York City 42.67 41.36 3.2 66.22 63.82 3.8 139.31 135.58 2.8 133.99 130.73 2.5
Philadelphia 35.25 34.26 2.9 54.71 52.86 3.5 115.09 112.29 2.5 110.70 108.28 2.2
Phoenix 28.34 27.46 3.2 43.98 42.37 3.8 92.53 90.01 2.8 89.00 86.80 2.5
Pittsburgh 32.24 31.18 3.4 50.04 48.11 4.0 105.26 102.80 2.4 101.24 98.56 2.7
Portland 33.54 32.81 2.2 52.05 50.63 2.8 109.50 107.55 1.8 105.32 103.71 1.6
St. Louis 32.65 31.73 2.9 50.68 48.97 3.5 106.61 104.03 2.5 102.54 100.31 2.2
San Diego 33.54 32.69 2.6 52.05 50.44 3.2 109.50 107.15 2.2 105.32 103.32 1.9
San Francisco 39.43 37.70 4.6 61.20 58.17 5.2 128.75 124.29 3.6 123.84 119.17 3.9
Seattle 33.41 32.10 4.1 51.86 49.54 4.7 109.09 105.62 3.3 104.93 101.48 3.4
Washington, D.C. 29.96 29.15 2.8 46.49 44.98 3.4 97.81 96.08 1.8 94.07 92.15 2.1
Winston/Salem 23.90 23.34 2.4 37.10 36.01 3.0 78.04 77.13 1.2 75.06 73.77 1.7

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