Having worked as an exhibits manager inside a museum and as a museum
consultant, I've been studying exhibit design and production costs from a
variety of perspectives for about 15 years. While I was still working inside
a museum, I once even tried to do an informal exhibit construction cost
survey by phoning museum colleagues. Responses ranged from laughter, to
confusion, to dollar amounts that were all over the map. After watching this
thread for a while, I may be able to add a point or two.

1. When anticipating costs, Whether you plan to design and build exhibits
in-house, using museum staff or whether you plan to out-source design and
production makes a great deal of difference in end cost. Like others, I was
a bit shocked to see the response indicating $15.00 per square foot as a
viable exhibit cost, but this may be in reference to an in-house process.
Even so, it is a very low projection. I used to manage a very competent
in-house production team with a great facility and the best we ever did was
$75.00 per square foot, not counting indirect costs such as museum overhead
and the cost of staff benefits. If you are calculating an in-house process,
it's probably wise to include all the indirect costs in your calculation.
Most importantly, be sure you really have the in-house capacity to handle a
museum expansion project. During the creation of fundraising and museum
expansion plans, it is pretty common for the focus to be on raising money to
build exhibits and buildings without considering the implications for staff
and support facility expansion adequately. Speaking from personal
experience, it is easy for an exhibit shop to become totally overloaded
during an expansion and have to resort to out-sourcing exhibits at much
higher cost.

2. For out-sourced exhibits, it seems everyone wants some aspect of
interactivity or multi-media in their exhibits these days, and for that, I
think you have to start with a minimum $200 per-square-foot and be prepared
to go much higher depending on the project details.

3. Recently, the N.A.M.E. publication "The Exhibitionist" published a guide
to exhibit costs that is right on target and up-to-date. I encourage you to
find the Spring 2002 issue and check out the article on page 56.

4. I agree wholeheartedly with all the comments on this thread that indicate
that each situation is different. Whether you're talking about buildings or
exhibits, your project will be unique and I encourage you to get ballpark
estimates if at all possible.

Hope this helps!

- John Moser
Moser Productions, Inc.
Richmond, Virginia
804-515-7640


----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Mallerdino" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, May 24, 2002 7:05 PM
Subject: Re: exhibit construction costs


> Hi All,
>
> I would have to say that I could not imagine what you can
> get for $15 a square foot.
> After all is said and done what with research, design,
> engineering/detailing, multiple reviews of content and
> possible meetings requiring travel,graphics/photos/text,
> directional signage, installation, and burn in.
> On average you can figure $150 to $300 a sqr. ft. for
> museum exhibitry.  The $150 is very low end no computers
> or electronics. This cost does not include any type of
> A.V. or A.V. production work.  The $300 dollars reflects
> a higher end but I've worked on projects which ran as
> high as $500 per square foot of space.
> I'm not trying to scare you but skilled labor is very
> expensive add in quality materials, packing, shipping and
> installation and their you have it.
> Also, add between 6% and 9% on top of that for change
> orders and addendums.  You should do the same for your
> construction costs.
> Another bit of advice is to hold back 10% till the punch
> list is done to your satisfaction and you have received
> all the exhibit documentation.
>
> Jim Mallerdino
> > Try this. As a broad generalization... with minimal
> electronics, computers,
> > etc., a historical exhibit = $15/sq.ft. But factor in
> one hour/sq. ft. of
> > experienced exhibit staff time. Add more money and time
> if you use volunteers (I
> > know that sounds bad...) or seconded staff. This is
> just design, fabrication,
> > and installation. Not research, writing, or
> coordinating loans, p.r.,
> > development and such.
> > Figure 1.25 to 1.75 objects/sq. ft.(1000sq. ft. = 125
> to 175 objects needing
> > mounts and placement and lighting and preparation for
> display).
> > Large printed graphics add $5/sq. ft. at one per 100
> ft. sq.
> > Hope this helps.
> > Dave Maschino
> > Try this. As a broad generalization... with minimal electronics,
computers,
> > etc., a historical exhibit = $15/sq.ft. But factor in one hour/sq. ft.
of
> > experienced exhibit staff time. Add more money and time if you use
volunteers (I
> > know that sounds bad...) or seconded staff. This is just design,
fabrication,
> > and installation. Not research, writing, or coordinating loans, p.r.,
> > development and such.
> > Figure 1.25 to 1.75 objects/sq. ft.(1000sq. ft. = 125 to 175 objects
needing
> > mounts and placement and lighting and preparation for display).
> > Large printed graphics add $5/sq. ft. at one per 100 ft. sq.
> > Hope this helps.
> > Dave Maschino
> >
> > Lori Tomlinson wrote:
> >
> > > Hi again, listers!
> > >
> > > Thanks to those who have replied to my inquiry re: general cost
estimates on
> > contructing a new museum building.  On to another project.... and again,
I'm
> > looking for broad generalizations, as I was not given enough time to do
thorough
> > research:  average costs for historical exhibit construction.  Again, I
know > there are MANY variables, but I'm looking for general estimates for
lower-end to
> > moderately priced exhibits.  A per-square-foot estimate would be most
helpful.
> >
> > --
> > Dave Maschino, Exhibit Coordinator
> > The Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum
> > Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine
>
> =========================================================
> Important Subscriber Information:
>
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message
to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help"
(without the quotes).
>
> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
[log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff
Museum-L" (without the quotes).

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).