Building Groups Explained
One of the fundamental parts of calculating a design fee as a percentage of construction cost is characterizing the complexity of the project. There is a different fee table for each level of difficulty. The terminology may vary, but the solution is to place each type of building into the Group representing its level of complexity / difficulty. Traditionally there were five Building Groups. Here is what those Groups look like.
Building Groups
Building Groups decrease in complexity as you step through the levels, usually. Sometimes the complexity increases. Let's start with the highest complexity in Building Group I. The following are common groupings of building types.
GROUP I
Custom Residences
Special Decorative Buildings
Custom Designed Furnishings
Mausoleums And Memorials
Special Lighting
Complex Laboratories
Medical Hospitals
Custom Swimming Pool
Official Government Residence
Decorative Work
Exhibition Display
Public Garden
Air Traffic Control Tower
Flight Service Station
Legislative Building
Mint
GROUP II
Laboratory Classrooms
Libraries
Auditoriums
Museums
Air Terminals
Food Service Facilities
Specialized Detention Areas
Detention-Treatment Areas
Average Laboratories
Mental Hospitals
Simple Medical Hospitals
Clinics
Court Houses
Theaters
Complex University Buildings
Special Purpose Classrooms
Aquariums
Art Galleries
Aquariums
Communications Buildings
Airport Terminals
Computer Centers
Convention Centers
GROUP III
Schools (Elementary And Secondary)
General Office Space
General Teaching Space
General Detention Facilities
Specialized Factory Buildings
Maintenance Hangars
Banks And Financial Institutions
Luxury Apartments
Amphitheaters
Medical/Dental Office Buildings
Major Post Office Buildings
Convalescent Hospitals
Public Health And Service Centers
College Classroom Facilities
Convention Facilities
Correctional And Detention Facilities
Extended Care Facilities
Institutional Dining Halls
Medical Schools
Medical Office Facilities And Clinics
Mental Institutions
Office Buildings With Tenant Improvements
Parks, Playground And Recreational Facilities
Police Stations
Public Health Centers
Research Facilities
Vocational Schools
Country Clubs And Marinas
Restroom And Shower Buildings
Firing Range Buildings
Specialty Shops
Field-Houses And Natatoriums
Stadiums And Sports Facilities
Emergency Response Stations
Theaters, Auditoriums & Casinos
Fraternal Buildings
Veterinary Hospitals
Hotels, City
Clubs/Resort Lodges
GROUP IV
Armories
Exhibition Halls
Hangers
Manufacturing Plants
Office Buildings Without Tenant Improvements
Printing Plants
Regional Shopping Centers
Fraternity And Sorority Houses
Group Care Homes
Health Clubs And Fitness Centers
Branch Post Offices
Bus Stations
Apartment Buildings
Dormitory Buildings
Service Garages
Day Care Centers
Specialized Parking Structures
Visitor Centers
Hotels, Motels
Gymnasiums
Laundries And Cleaners
Cold Storage Buildings
Department Stores
Public Recreation Facilities
Racquetball And Tennis Clubs
GROUP V
Storage Warehouses
Storage Facilities
Recycling And Waste Transfer Structures
Utilitarian Type Buildings
Parking Structures
Industrial Buildings Without Special Facilities
Simple Loft Type Structures
Warehouses Exclusive Of Automated Equipment
Greenhouse Structures
Storage Garages
Prefab. Booths And Shelters
Of course, lists like this can't list every building type, so you will often need to categorize your project based on "a similarity to" rather than "a match to" what you see listed here.