Realigning Budgets and Achieving Cost Savings with Eolus

Overview

In 2024, a major engineering firm used Eolus to plan and price a $85M amenities project with a city management agency, balancing diverse features, sustainability, and budget alignment.

Exploring Options

The project team needed to balance a fixed budget with the desire to include additional amenity features and explore sustainable design options. Challenges included:

Budget Constraints

Aligning designs with the preset $85M budget.

Scope and Variability

Adjusting square footage allocations to explore over 20 layout variations.

Sustainability Goals

Incorporating features like geothermal systems and green roofs without exceeding the budget.

Sustainability Enabled

Eolus enabled the team to deliver real-time pricing analysis throughout the project, starting with:

• An initial cost estimate of $78M based on programmatic documents, allowing the inclusion of additional features while staying under budget.
• The ability to explore multiple layouts by dynamically updating cost effects as square footage allocations were adjusted.
• Integrating sustainability features into two final layout options, which were initially thought to be cost-prohibitive.

Eolus provided the flexibility and precision needed to shape the project scope confidently.

Implementation

The design process unfolded in several stages, with Eolus as a key tool:

Initial Scope Definition

Eolus returned a $78M estimate, providing confidence to expand the amenity program.

Layout Adjustments

Real-time cost analysis for multiple layout changes, culminating in three base options.

Sustainability Features

Enabled the inclusion of green roofs and geothermal systems in two options, increasing value without exceeding budget limits.

Concept Design Pricing

Eolus estimates were validated by the owner's representative during the concept design phase, confirming costs within 3% of Eolus predictions.

Measurable Results

Eolus helped the project achieve critical milestones while delivering measurable benefits:

Budget Alignment

Initial pricing estimates ensured all designs stayed within the $85M budget, maximizing project scope.

Scope Flexibility

Allowed the team to explore variations and finalize three fully-optimized options

Sustainability Integration

Made sustainable design features viable, improving long-term project value.

Accuracy and Validation

Eolus pricing accuracy was independently verified within 3%, providing confidence during early design stages.

Risk Reduction

Improved decision-making and minimized financial risk by incorporating dynamic cost analysis into the planning process.

Eolus streamlined planning and budgeting, delivering innovative designs that met budget and sustainability goals. It optimized costs, supported design flexibility, and provided reliable estimates, showcasing its value in large-scale projects.