New York City construction costs continue to climb

A study released by the New York Building Congress shows that construction costs in Manhattan have risen 5% in each of the last two years, GlobeSt.com reports.

This number is higher than the average construction cost hikes nationwide, which were 2.5% in 2013 and 3% in 2014.

Hospital construction is the most expensive, at $800-$950 per sf. Five-star hotels follow at $700-$800 per sf, and university buildings at $600-$850 per sf.

City construction company representatives are concerned that costs could continue to rise despite the recent plunge in oil prices, because essential trades such as curtain wall and cast-in-place concrete have been reported to be running out of capacity.

President of the New York Building Congress Richard T. Anderson says that the annual 5% increase rate should be a cause for concern to the city, even though a considerable portion of the recent increase in costs is the product of forces beyond the city's control. He called for the industry and government to look for ways to reduce the cost of construction and eliminate regulations and red tape, according to GlobeSt.com.

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