What is important in budgeting a design project?
That is a very tough question to answer. A complete technology design is a conglomerate of systems. There are no two designs that are the same, and there is not an exhaustive list of pricing factors. However, with these items defined, a fee can be developed.
Based on our experience, we typically see prices ranging from 3% to 20% of the project’s value.
Some factors that contribute to overall cost of the design.
STRUCTURED CABLING
ACCESS CONTROL
VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
CATV
SOUND MASKING
AUDIO VISUAL
POINT OF SALE
DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEM
PAGING
NURSE CALL
NETWORK SWITCHES & ELECTRONICS
BATTERY BACKUP
INTRUSION DETECTION SYSTEM
UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS
DIGITAL SIGNAGE
WIRELESS NETWORKS
VIDEO WALLS
NEEDS ANALYSIS
Within each system listed, a needs analysis should be performed before the design starts. This refines the requirements and extent of each system. In addition, it helps produce a more accurate quote for design services.
TYPE OF STRUCTURE
What type of structure is being built? A system in a manufacturing plant is developed completely different than a highrise office building. An apartment complex can reuse the same templates for each building, thus saving time and money.
SIZE OF THE PROJECT
Economies of scale work with design projects. A very small project still requires the basics; specifications, drawings, meetings, conference calls and construction administration. Therefore, a small project would have a higher percentage of construction costs.
DESIGN AND BUILD PROJECT
Is this a design and build project? If it is, then there could be substantial discounts on the design portion.
DESIGN OUTPUT - 2D VS. 3D
Costs to produce drawings in 3D in programs like Revit will be higher than in 2D in AutoCAD.
SYSTEM DENSITY
What is the density of each system? In other words, is this a call center with two data drops every 40 square feet or is this a warehouse with one drop every 400 square feet?
Whether you need some rough numbers to reference in your next meeting or you want to sharpen pencils and talk specifics, one of our ASD® experts will be glad to help you with rapid ballpark estimates tailored to your needs or a detailed quote based on your exact specifications. Have any questions? Ask ASD®.
Common Cost Factors for Most Projects
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
Where is the project located? Some parts of the country are more expensive than others. Some rural areas may require travel due to availability of the field resources which could increase cost.
SIZE & TYPE ENVIRONMENT
Type of environment will impact price. Class A Office, Distribution Center, Manufacturing, Retail, Indoor vs. Outdoor could all impact overall cost.
LABOR REQUIREMENTS
Projects being installed with a Union Labor requirement will be more expensive than projects without the requirement. Some projects require a prevailing wage to be paid to a technician which can also increase costs.
PERMITTING
Permitting varies from state to state and city to city. One city may not require anything more than an application form to receive a permit, while others may want full engineered drawings that go through a plan review process. The full set of engineered drawings carries a substantial price tag that elevates the overall system cost. Another consideration is the time required if the review process is a requirement.
NEW CONSTRUCTION VS RENOVATION
New construction will typically be less expensive than renovation.
LOCAL CODES & STANDARDS
Local codes can drive cost as they vary in requirement. For instance, in some locations across the U.S. all overhead cable must run in conduit while others can be supported with J-Hooks in the ceiling.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Pathways can contribute greatly to overall system costs. Costs of core holes sizing and cutting slab for conduits needs to be considered in your budgeting process.
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
What type of structure is being built? A system in a manufacturing plant is developed completely different than a high rise office building. An apartment complex can reuse the same templates for each building; this saves design time and costs.
INSTALLATION HOURS
Normal working hours will be less expensive than after hours or weekends.