Duthie explained that many things are beyond the control of architects and engineers during the design and construction process, such as agency review times, regulatory requirements, increasing costs, and longer lead times. The experts also debunked some common misconceptions about the school construction process. Wozny, vice president of educational projects for EI Associates Architects & Engineers, P.A., added that their firm keeps itself updated on building materials costs and market trends to keep the project on budget. He also noted the necessity of careful budgeting and managing costs.
With the market being so dynamic, he said, bidding early and building time into schedules for potential rebidding is critical. Duthie, principal of FVHD Architects-Planners, shared how his firm is navigating higher interest rates, hot inflation, bank failures, and other economic turmoil. School districts have dealt with this in various ways, such as through early procurement of long lead time equipment and different approaches to construction scheduling. Construction costs have increased substantially with dynamic bid results, impacting general construction, mechanical and electrical work. Scott Downie, principle of Spiezle Architectural Group, explained how the high inflation rate is affecting construction, architecture, and facilities. They discussed how inflation has impacted construction costs, how their firms are navigating the economic turmoil, and how they are adapting to changing trends in school design. To help school districts navigate the challenges of construction and design trends, three experts in the field were consulted. Instead of asking for more funding, the district decided to renovate an existing school. The Woodbridge Board of Education planned to build a new Avenel Elementary School until the pandemic caused a surge in construction costs.
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