What Michael describes is accurate for a project in the $200+ per sq
foot range. I'd guess your building is at least 15000 sq ft if it has a basketball court so is a $3m project a possibility?
@piersc Another construction cost variable is how hungry are the general contractors (GC's) in your area and how hungry are the various skilled trades
?
If there's lots of work and everyone's swamped for the foreseeable future, costs will generally be higher. If they're in the midst of a construction drought with time and equipment on their hands and little work in the foreseeable future, costs will generally be lower with the GC's and the various trades low-balling their pricing to get signed contracts then counting heavily on extras to make a profit.
Don't be
shocked when you see the "extras" rolling in. Let me give you a couple of examples:
The site is still a parking lot.
You notice there are too few electrical receptacles.
The electrical contractor charges for extras.
The concrete
block and / or drywall contractor charges for extras, even though no walls have been erected yet.
The paint and wall paper contractor charges for "make
goods" as if he had to touch up and match paint finishes even though no walls exist yet.
You may be pleased with the prices you get during a long running construction drought but everyone involved from the GC through the trades and suppliers will be eagerly looking for any / all extra's they can nickle and dime you for.
A new
theatre / performing arts centre in my area built about 2009 was priced while construction work was scarce in our area.
The various movers and shakers wanted things such as:
An acoustically separate studio space with its own
lobby, bars, coat checks, washrooms, entrances, exits, dressing rooms, booth and overhead cat walks .
A separate rehearsal space with
sprung floor and its own washrooms.
Three loading docks instead of two.
A freight elevator with stops at basement,
stage and dressing room elevations.
An
orchestra shell with lighting and convenient storage.
A temperature and humidity controlled, secure, piano and
instrument storage room at
stage level with convenient access to the pit.
A pubilc elevator in the
lobby with doors on the front and rear to service the main and studio spaces.
Two full width
stage lifts complete with rolling seating wagons to provide extra
apron space,
orchestra pit, increased wheelchair space and / or additional seating.
Additional concert lighting over the aprons.
The folks pushing for the
theatre thought they'd have all of their dreams priced as unaffordable extras then only contract for what they could afford.
Surprise, surprise. Pricing rolled in and everyone involved was so hungry, they low-balled all of their prices and the
entire project, including all extras, fell within budget. Everyone was
thrilled and delighted until the extras rolled in and in and in. Every conceivable corner was cut, some shockingly so.
You don't want to be on the receiving end of a
theatre built by a bunch of unhappy, penny pinching, contractors. It wasn't a happy site to be working on.
'nough said.
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard