Why do university buildings cost so much?

hen you hear the cost of new buildings at MU, you are probably amazed at the millions of dollars involved. Curators, professors, parents of MU students — just about everybody — want to know, "Why do university buildings cost so much?"

Popular theories range from secret, plush faculty lounges to wasteful overspending by construction companies. These theories aren't correct. The truth is that university buildings aren't like other buildings, and the higher costs reflect how they are different.

It's not like building a house

A misconception shared by many people is that constructing a building at MU is like building a house — just on a larger scale. Many people have had experience with building a house, and they draw on that frame of reference.

Unfortunately, comparing residential buildings with institutional buildings is misleading. Here are a few examples: Did your house include a research lab on the second floor? Is it accessible to people with disabilities? Could your carpet handle the traffic of hundreds of students every day?

In other words, meeting the needs of "a family of four" is very different than meeting the varied needs of university departments.

MU buildings are complex

University buildings are complex. They are specialized facilities which house diverse educational and research programs — from veterinary clinics to computer labs to art studios.

Different "kinds" of space — classrooms, labs, offices — are often mixed together in one campus building. Why would this affect cost? Classrooms on a building's first floor might require more expensive, heavy beams to support the weight of research equipment on the second floor. Offices and research labs grouped together might entail more lengthy, convoluted utility systems than if the labs and offices were grouped separately.

Most university buildings also have multiple stories. To construct multiple-story buildings, designers must add stairwells and elevators and enhance the foundation and structure.

You probably don't give much thought to mechanical and electrical systems, but those pipes and wires can add to building cost. At MU, these systems must provide much more than basic heating and lighting. They support research projects, multimedia in the classroom, and thousands of computers.

On the most basic level, complex buildings call for more materials: space dividers, doors, windows, pipes, and wiring.

They are built to last

MU just celebrated "100 years on the Quad." The buildings on the Quad were built in 1896, and they are still in use today. Designers at MU must account for this amazing building longevity when they plan for new additions to the campus.

More durable, higher-quality materials must be used so that the university isn't paying to "reconstruct" buildings every 10-20 years.

With over 30,000 people at MU, building interiors also receive heavy use. Durable finishes — carpet, tile, paint — are necessary, or these materials would quickly disintegrate under wear-and-tear. Even items such as classroom seating, chalkboards, and bathroom fixtures must be "institutional grade."

Durable materials drive up the cost now, but MU will save money throughout the life of the building.

MU follows codes and standards

To ensure the safety of the people who learn and work here, MU follows institutional codes and standards in construction. Fire and safety codes for institutional buildings are quite extensive — calling for wider corridors, stairwells, fire-resistant construction, fire separations, fume hoods (for laboratories), and other requirements.

MU also follows regulations such as the Americans with Disabilities Act so that buildings are accessible with ramps, wider doors, automatic doors, signage, restrooms, and seating.

These codes and standards add to the cost of every building, but they are essential to the safety and well-being of MU's faculty, staff and students.

Creating the "place" that is MU

The bottom line is that university buildings cost more than commercial or residential buildings. However, this higher cost reflects the unique functions that these buildings serve. They handle complex program needs. They last for decades — even centuries. And they ensure the safety of a large, diverse group of people.

Constructing buildings that can do all these things is a daunting task. Yet MU's group of planners, designers and construction staff have taken it a step further.

They have added one more challenge — to construct buildings that contribute to "a sense of place" at MU. MU's new buildings aren't the ugly monoliths you sometimes find on other campuses. These well-designed buildings capture interesting architectural details, reflect MU's history, and add to everyone's pride in the campus.

These buildings under construction today just might find their anniversaries being celebrated 100 years from now.

Editor's note: Portions of this article were based on E. Gene Kershner's article, "Why do university buildings cost so much?" republished in the Summer 1995 issue of Facilities Manager magazine. This article is the first in a series of articles discussing construction and renovation costs at MU.