Steel remains the most competitive construction material

Structural steelwork remains the most competitive solution for the typical commercial developments analysed in the latest construction costs update from Gardiner & Theobold (G&T).

The cost update bases its comparisons on two typical developments; an out of town speculative, three-storey business park office with a gross internal floor area of 3,200m², and an L-shaped eight-storey speculative city centre office building with a gross internal floor area of 16,500m².

For both buildings a number of cost models, using various framing solutions, have been updated. Structural steelwork remains the most competitive solution for both developments.

Steel Insight #13, recently published in Building Magazine presents all of the latest G&T cost data for steel frames as well as two high-profile case studies of steel structures used in regenerating town centres.

In order to reflect the latest cost data from G&T, Tata Steel and the BCSA have also updated their Steel construction – Cost supplement.

This guide is designed to take building professionals through each stage of the cost planning process and it sets out the primary considerations when cost planning during the initial design stages, through option analysis and into detailed design to support informed decision-making throughout the design process.