The Death of the One-Number Estimate: Why It No Longer Works in Preconstruction

Traditional single-number cost estimates in construction are becoming obsolete as industry complexity and variables have fundamentally changed the way projects must be priced. Modern preconstruction requires more detailed, multi-faceted estimating approaches to provide meaningful certainty and accountability.

For decades, construction estimating has revolved around one number, which typically comes in the form of total project cost, GMP, or estimated cost per square foot. That single total is meant to bring certainty, confidence, and commitment—which it did, for a while. But the industry has changed.…

This story was originally published by Autodesk Construction Cloud Blog.