Many things—from a cup of coffee to tickets to a ballgame to a month’s rent—are expensive in New York City and San Francisco.
Add construction costs to the list. A report from the CBRE's Valuation & Advisory Services found that new office space core and shell construction costs are highest in the two coastal cities.
In New York, new office construction costs between $500 and $550 per sf, as of Q3 2015, the highest amount of the cities studied. San Francisco was second, with costs between $350 and $400 per sf.
Boston ($280 to $320 per sf), Seattle ($250-$300), Chicago ($240-$290), and Houston ($220-$270) finished the list.
“These numbers are for prices associated with the direct hard construction costs, and the ranges do not include acquisition costs or indirect soft costs,” said Robert Barone, of CBRE’s Valuation & Advisory Services, in a statement. “Indirect soft costs, which include costs for things such as architect/engineering fees, legal, administration, marketing, financing, FF&E and tenant improvements, can represent an additional 30% to 40% of the direct hard costs ranges.”
In addition, New York ($70.54 per sf, per annum, as of Q3) and San Francisco ($67.33) had the highest asking rents for offices, too.
Related Stories
| Oct 28, 2013
Metal roofs are topping more urban dwellings
Given their durability and ease of use, metal roofs have been a common feature on rural houses for decades. Now they’re becoming an increasingly popular choice on urban dwellings as well.
| Oct 25, 2013
Hoffmann Architects announces launch of U.S. Capitol Dome restoration
The Architect of the Capitol will undertake comprehensive restoration of the 150-year-old cast iron Dome, which has not undergone a complete restoration since 1959-1960.
| Oct 23, 2013
Gehry, Foster join Battersea Power Station redevelopment
Norman Foster and Frank Gehry have been selected to design a retail section within the £8 billion redevelopment of Battersea Power Station in London.
| Oct 23, 2013
Some lesser-known benefits of metal buildings
While the durability of metal as a construction material is widely recognized, some of its other advantages are less commonly acknowledged and appreciated.
| Oct 18, 2013
Meet the winners of BD+C's $5,000 Vision U40 Competition
Fifteen teams competed last week in the first annual Vision U40 Competition at BD+C's Under 40 Leadership Summit in San Francisco. Here are the five winning teams, including the $3,000 grand prize honorees.
| Oct 18, 2013
A picture’s worth a thousand words… if you can find it
Photographs are becoming more essential to project communication and documentation. Recently, I sat in a local airport integration project meeting in which the owner outlined their expectation for construction documentation. One of the first requirements was to provide photographs throughout the building process.
| Oct 18, 2013
Researchers discover tension-fusing properties of metal
When a group of MIT researchers recently discovered that stress can cause metal alloy to fuse rather than break apart, they assumed it must be a mistake. It wasn't. The surprising finding could lead to self-healing materials that repair early damage before it has a chance to spread.
| Oct 16, 2013
5 secrets of successful entrepreneurs
If you’re on the outside looking in, successful entrepreneurship may seem mysterious. But it isn’t. Here are five patterns of behavior that are common to successful entrepreneurs.
| Oct 15, 2013
High-rise Art Deco courthouse gets a makeover in Amarillo, Texas
Recognized as one of the most significant Art Deco courthouses in Texas, the Potter County Courthouse is modernized and restored to its 1930s aesthetic.
| Oct 10, 2013
Behind the scenes at the U40 Summit: See the $5,000 U40 Vision competition in progress [slideshow]
Sixty-five up-and-coming AEC leaders are battling for $5,000 in prizes today at BD+C's Under 40 Leadership Summit in San Francisco.
