Renovation and Construction Estimation
Comprehensive renovation estimate for Garden City U.F.S.D., covering structural steel and multi-division scope. Includes labor, material pricing, and CSI-formatted cost breakdowns.
About Project
The Garden City Union Free School District project involved a detailed renovation and construction estimate for a public institutional facility in New York. AH Estimating provided a full-scope, multi-division estimate including structural steel and associated architectural components. The estimate supported the general contractor’s efforts in public-sector bidding, scheduling, and procurement—delivering cost certainty across all relevant CSI divisions.
Given the nature of institutional work, the estimate was structured in strict alignment with CSI division standards to ensure clarity, transparency, and compliance with school district and state-level requirements. With a strong emphasis on quantity accuracy, waste allowances, and trade-specific labor and material rates, the estimate enabled stakeholders to evaluate scope confidently and competitively. AH Estimating’s work on this project highlights its capability to manage complex, multi-trade public sector projects where precision, documentation, and accountability are critical.
Scope and Participants
Located at 170 Rockaway Ave, Garden City, NY 11530, the Garden City Union Free School District (U.F.S.D.) project involved a multi-trade scope covering both structural and architectural elements. AH Estimating was engaged to provide a comprehensive estimate spanning all relevant CSI divisions—ranging from Division 01 (General Requirements) to Division 05 (Metals) and more.
The estimate was intended to serve as both a budgeting and procurement tool, supporting the general contractor in competitive bidding, resource planning, and schedule development.
Key Challenges
Estimating for a school district renovation involved navigating public-sector compliance, cross-trade coordination, and structural detailing. Each component had to be precisely tracked and priced to ensure transparency and bid readiness.
- Public Sector Compliance: Accuracy and transparency were critical to meet school district and public sector bidding standards.
- Multi-Trade Coordination: The scope included steel columns, scaffolding, project closeouts, and temporary facilities—requiring cross-discipline consistency.
- Structural Complexity: Significant structural steel components (e.g., W8 X 31 columns at various heights) had to be precisely quantified and priced.
- Detailed Quantity Tracking: Every line item included waste factors, labor unit cost, and total division cost—necessitating tight control of formulas and formatting.
Estimation Approach
AH Estimating utilized a CSI-aligned, quantity-driven process to structure the estimate. Every trade element—from structural steel to temporary facilities—was measured, priced, and documented with clarity for institutional review and contractor use.
- CSI Division Format: Estimates were organized in CSI format to clearly communicate scope across divisions.
- Takeoff Precision: All materials, including steel members and temporary items, were calculated with appropriate waste factors and measurement units (e.g., lbs, LS).
- Integrated Labor & Material Pricing: Custom unit rates were applied for both labor and material, enabling accurate total cost rollups per item and per division.
- Line-by-Line Clarity: Each item included quantity, unit, waste percentage, labor hours, and cost extensions—ensuring auditability and ease of review.
Summary
The Garden City U.F.S.D. estimate reflects AH Estimating’s ability to handle large-scale, multi-trade institutional projects with a high degree of structure and precision. Our format and methodology ensured transparency, compliance, and practical usability for public-sector tendering.
With a deep understanding of CSI standards and project-specific challenges, AH Estimating remains a dependable partner for educational and institutional construction projects.
