If I can add my two cents here, as someone who is also in the middle of the bell curve-- I've done more exhibits than some, and a lot less than others. Cost per square foot is a very helpful tool. It provides an order of magnitude estimate. As Eugene points out, the figure is useful at the beginning of a project, but it also is helpful as a communications tool. The combination of cost per square foot with images can provide pretty good information about an exhibit planner/manager's capabilities, though you need to know what questions to ask to understand what went into the cost. (There is no standard for what costs are included in an exhibit budget.)
We have to have some agreed- to way to communicate and cost per square foot is one way that emerged quite a while ago. Yes, costs differ in different places. Yes, some vendors are more expensive than others. Yes, some kinds of interactivity drive up expense, and high-end theming is very costly. Some cars are more expensive than others too, but it's still possible to compare cost and options between different makes and models.
Ann Mintz
Chester County Historical Society
-----Original Message-----
From: Eugene Dillenburg <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Mar 30, 2005 11:59 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Exhibit budgets
(Nor is this a flame.)
1) The original inquiry came from a person at the very beginning of an
exhibit project, before they have a schedule of tasks -- the point when a
general cost per square foot estimate is most useful. Obviously, this
figure will get refined as plans progress.
2) When one eventually sends out 100% D&D plans, you will of course get a
range of responses. Those responses form a bell-shaped curve. In my
experience, the middle of that curve usually aligns pretty nicely with the
initial cost per square foot estimate.
3) I've been at this a long time. And I've worked with many folks who've
been at it a lot longer than I. In my experience, everyone uses cost per
square foot for initial budget estimating, for the reasons outlined above
and in other posts.
4) While I agree the Exhibitionist article is shorter than I might have
liked, this is the first time in three years that anyone has ever complained
about it. (As Membership Chair of NAME, I am aware of most of the
complaints.) People request copies. People tell me how useful they have
found it. Your mileage may vary.
Eugene Dillenburg
(Ford Taurus)
Science Museum of Minnesota
[log in to unmask]
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 09:44:03 -0500, L Dewey <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>(This is not a flame.)
>
>In my experience, general contractors or construction management
>organizations that do this type of thing estimate costs based on
>specific tasks and trades - such as the area cost for poured in place
>concrete decking, or the area cost installed of Lambda-output graphics.
>I would venture to guess that Exhibit Works does that type of
>estimating as well, and uses a schedule of said costs when preparing a
>quote.
>
>In my experience, sending a well documented RFP, with 100% design
>drawings and specifications, to multiple well-qualified firms will
>return a range of responses. I have seen that range vary by more than
>100% on multi-million dollar values among US firms.
>
>If a square foot of the reified concept "exhibition" could possibly be
>quantified, it would then be reasonable to expect that three or four
>production firms responding to the same information would return
>similar quotes. Conversely, averaging the range of responses cannot
>serve a useful purpose.
>
>In fact, there are variables not comprehended by an abstract 'cost per
>square foot' (or 'cost per square meter' for the rest of the world). I
>cited one type of variable.
>
>An earlier post in this thread suggested drawing up a schedule of
>included elements and estimating those categories as an alternative to
>the $/SF illusion. That suggestion aligns more closely with how the
>real world functions.
>
>However, I maintain my earlier critique of the (<500 word)
>Exhibitionist article, Gene Dillenburg's protest notwithstanding.
>Unsubstantiated references to 'informants' does not make a convincing
>argument and the estimates cited ranged from $120/SF to $550/SF. As I
>said earlier, 'brief to the point of useless.'
>
>L.D.
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