DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF AN OFFICE BUILDING 1

Design and Construction of an Office Building

Johnathon Essex

Ashleigh Reynolds

ET 493 – Senior Design I

Southeastern Louisiana University

Author Note

The administrative advisor for this project is Mr. Rudolph Rode’

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Abstract

This project is meant to cover and detail every aspect of a real-world commercial

construction project. This project will demonstrate a fundamental understanding

of the execution of construction engineering processes, development and design

issues, and show a basic competence in the fundamentals of commercial

construction as it relates to the real world. Some items covered by this project will

be engineering calculations for construction, a demonstrated ability to research

building codes and standards commonly used in the commercial construction

industry, design techniques using the industry’s latest software, and a basic

understanding of a practical application of construction techniques in order to

deliver a completed and high quality project while under a given time constraint.

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Table of Contents

Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………..2

Purpose…………………………………………………………………………………..4

Proposal Deliverables……………...…………………………………………………...4

Economic Feasibility Assessment……………………………………………………..5

Building Layout…………………………………………………………………………..6

Elevation Drawings……………………………………………………………………...7

Building Codes…………………………………………………………………………..8

Rough Estimate………………………………………………………………………….8

Cost-Benefit Analysis…………………………………………………………………...8

Next Semester……….………………………………………………………………….9

Conclusion………………………...……………………………………………………10

Division of Work………………………………………………………………………..11

Timeline…………………………………………………………………………………12

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF AN OFFICE BUILDING 4

Purpose

The purpose of our project is to utilize everything we have learned in the

Construction Engineering Technology Program to design and develop an office

building from the ground up. This will include pre-construction plans and

drawings and will progress into a fully completed project that mimics the real-

world phases of construction. These plans will be supplemented with engineering

calculations, industrial design techniques, and will demonstrate an overall and

fundamentally acceptable understanding of the construction engineering industry

expected of a new graduate.

Proposal Deliverables

This semester we planned to deliver a roughly designed and estimated

commercial building that has a strong foundation in order to enter into the next

few phases of design and revision next semester. We have already established a

site for the commercial building and have already drawn up preliminary plans to

submit for review in our presentation. The next step this semester is to perform

an economic feasibility report for the property. This will be followed by

researching the building codes needed to start construction. Next, we will

perform an estimate and materials take off of the building as well as performing a

site survey of the property. This will be supplemented by adding more detail to

our preliminary drawings such as foundation details and so on.

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Economic Feasibility Assessment / Property Details

The lot is located at Airline Hwy. and Hwy. 42 in Prairieville and is ideal for

an office building. The cost of the property is $106,000. There is a right of way

access to the main road making the location easily accessible. Entergy provides

the electrical and the water is with Ascension Water Company. Employees would

avoid most of the traffic created on Airline Hwy. at this location compared to other

office buildings. Buildings that are beneficial to workers such as daycares,

convenience stores, banks, and fast food restaurants surround the property. This

office building will be successful with the right business and right management.

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Building Layout

The one story office building will be 4720 sq. ft. with a concrete slab

foundation and metal stud framing. The building will feature ten offices, a

maintenance closet, an exercise area, two reception areas, a break room, and

restrooms. This preliminary drawing will be used to develop a materials take off

list and to produce an accurate estimate for construction to submit in the bid

package.

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Elevation Drawings

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Building Codes

The codes of this office building come from the NFPA 101 Life Safety

Code book under chapter 38 covering new business occupancies. This chapter

covers the means of egress requirements, protection from hazard, special

provisions, building services, and operating features. A separate report detailing

all Ascension Parish compliant building codes used will be submitted with the

final paperwork next semester.

Rough Estimate

A rough estimate was done on the building layout using cost per square

foot. The rouge initial cost of construction will be around $80 USD per square

foot. This makes the total price of construction for the building $377,600. This

rough estimate was also used to create a cost benefit analysis report for the

potential builder or investor to consider.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

As the cost benefit analysis is just a preliminary and rough approximation

of the costs of construction, next semester we will have specific and detailed

costs for the project once the final estimate of labor, materials, and other incurred

costs is completed. The cost of the property and office building together is

$483,600. After a $50,000 down payment, the total amount financed is $433,600.

The loan terms will be roughly 3% for 15 years. This type of loan will give the

owner a monthly mortgage payment of $2,994.36. The rent of the building should

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be priced at around $5,000 per month according to research done on other

similarly sized office buildings in and around the area. According to these

numbers, the future owner/investor should see a return of $1.67 for every dollar

spent on this project. This is well within the acceptable return on investment

percentages that investors are looking for.

Next Semester

Next semester the estimate will be finalized and the final building cost

package will be put together. Using Primavera Project Planner we will complete

the scheduling and all of the drawings will be finished using AutoCAD or other

engineering software. These drawings will include plumbing, electrical,

construction details, an overall site drawing including parking, foundation plan,

elevations, and floor plans. A complete estimation of costs, labor, and materials

will be done after the drawings are finalized. Financing for the entire project will

be done as well as the building specifications. LEED research will also be

included in next semester’s research and presentations. We also plan to create a

full 3-D layout of the building, property, and even the landscaping. We are

confident that this should fully encompass what this engineering task would be in

the real world phases of a project of this magnitude.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, the site plan and preliminary floor plan together will allow for

a complete bid package to be produced and for the accurate and efficient

development of a polished final project next semester. This project will of course

be supplemented with all the engineering, design, and construction knowledge

required of an undertaking of this magnitude. It is our goal to accurately

represent what we have learned in this program over the past four years. With

this foundation, we hope to provide a real-world example of a finely tuned

completed project that could pass as competently executed by any professional

construction company.

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Division of Work

Below is the division of work breakdown. While this is roughly who did

what job, both team members gave input and helped work on all of the aspects of

this project.

Site Selection and Assessment Ashleigh

Economic Feasibility Assessment Johnathon

Building Layout Johnathon

Preconstruction Drawings Johnathon

Elevation Drawings Johnathon

Surveying Johnathon

Building Codes Ashleigh

Rough Estimate Ashleigh

Cost-Benefit Analysis Ashleigh

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Timeline

January 6, 2016 Meet with advisor

January 7 - January 17 Cont…

January 18 - January 24 Select a project

January 25 - February 5 Research/Begin drawings

February 6 - February 18 Prepare presentation

February 19 - March 4 Cont…

March 5 - March 12 Econ. feasibility assessment

March 13 - March 27 Site survey

March 28 - April 8 Materials takeoff

April 9 - April 16 Rough estimate

April 17 - April 26 Building codes

April 27 - May 6 Finalize prelim. bid package