Library buildings cost on average $153.2 a square foot to build last year, up 5.9% from 2007, according to a December 2008 cost comparison report on 25 major U.S. cities by RSMeans.
New Orleans saw the biggest jump in library construction costs (7.8%) with an average cost/sf bump of nearly 10 dollars to $134.4—presumably due to a shortage of labor and commodities in the region.
Denver (6.9%), Dallas (6.8%), and Miami (6.8%) also experienced steep price increases, while Philadelphia and Portland saw the smallest rise (both 4.1%). |
| |
Library cost comparisons
in 25 major U.S. cities
|
’08
|
’07
|
% chg
|
|
|
| Atlanta |
136.51 |
128.04 |
6.6 |
| Baltimore |
140.64 |
131.87 |
6.6 |
| Boston |
174.91 |
166.30 |
5.2 |
| Chicago |
173.91 |
163.98 |
6.1 |
| Cleveland |
150.73 |
142.94 |
5.5 |
| Dallas |
129.12 |
120.94 |
6.8 |
| Denver |
143.76 |
134.46 |
6.9 |
| Detroit |
156.28 |
148.54 |
5.2 |
| Houston |
133.38 |
125.44 |
6.3 |
| Kansas City |
154.86 |
146.35 |
5.8 |
| Los Angeles |
163.96 |
154.82 |
5.9 |
| Miami |
136.51 |
127.77 |
6.8 |
| Minneapolis |
166.37 |
158.24 |
5.1 |
| New Orleans |
134.38 |
124.62 |
7.8 |
| New York City |
198.51 |
187.62 |
5.8 |
| Philadelphia |
171.35 |
164.66 |
4.1 |
| Phoenix |
134.52 |
127.36 |
5.6 |
| Pittsburgh |
147.89 |
141.02 |
4.9 |
| Portland, Ore. |
152.87 |
146.90 |
4.1 |
| St. Louis |
155.85 |
147.72 |
5.5 |
| San Diego |
158.98 |
150.72 |
5.5 |
| San Francisco |
187.70 |
176.01 |
6.6 |
| Seattle |
157.42 |
147.99 |
6.4 |
| Washington, D.C. |
150.87 |
141.71 |
6.5 |
| Winston-Salem, N.C. |
118.74 |
112.05 |
6.0 |
|
|
|
