for Schools
School Facility Feasibility Tool
You've got a facility need.
Let's see if the budget holds up.
Plain language. No specs, no drawings. Describe the project — HVAC, roof, a renovation, an addition — and get a real cost range in 30 seconds. Then see how Indiana districts are funding work like this without a referendum.
Delivery path comparison
Traditional
Design-Bid-Build
- Designer hired first; documents completed before bidding
- Design fees paid before any bids received (8–12% of project)
- 12–18 months from design start to groundbreaking
- Changes after award handled through change orders, which can increase final cost
Worth a look for schools
BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer)
- No bond referendum required. A private developer finances and builds; the district makes structured payments from its operating budget. The facility transfers to the district with clean title at the end.
- A Guaranteed Maximum Price is locked before construction — cost certainty up front, not change-order surprises later
- The district picks its own contractor and design team based on qualifications and trust — not lowest bid
- Authorized for school corporations under Indiana Code § 5-23, with statutory safeguards: competitive RFQ, public-hearing board approval, payment and performance bonds, and district approval at every design milestone
BOT is well-established in Indiana municipal projects but still rarely used by K-12 districts. Your school attorney should advise on how it fits your procurement requirements.
Key assumptions
How This Estimate Was Built
Building cost methodology...
School Board Briefing
AI-drafted points to help you bring this to your board of education. Review and edit before using — you know your board best.
Drafting your school board briefing...
Estimated Project Timeline
From today through construction completion — with regional notes for your state.
Estimating project timeline...
Buyer's Advocate Guide
Questions to ask designers and contractors before committing. Red flags to watch for.
Building buyer's advocate guide...
Email yourself this report
We'll send a complete summary to your inbox — cost range, methodology, timeline, board briefing, and buyer's guide.
What to Do With This Number
A preliminary cost range is the starting point, not the finish line. Here's how to move a real project forward from here.
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Pressure-test the number internally.
Share this with your business manager or CFO before any outside conversations. Knowing your range early puts the district in a stronger position.
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Understand your funding and delivery options.
How you fund and procure this project affects total cost, timeline, and risk — and whether you need a referendum at all. Review the delivery path comparison above, including BOT, before engaging design or construction professionals.
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Bring it to your board.
Use the school board briefing above to frame the conversation. A cost range with a confidence rating and a clear funding path gives your board what it needs to authorize next steps.
This is a preliminary feasibility indicator only, not a formal cost estimate. It is intended to support early internal go/no-go decisions and should not be used for budgeting, procurement, or board appropriations without professional verification. Actual costs depend on site conditions, design requirements, local labor markets, and material prices at time of bid.