ANNUAL COST GUIDE

Cost data

Real Estate

Marcos Sibal

Director

The real estate cost data contained in the report provides an indicative guide only and is designed to assist in the development of initial budgets or to benchmark an estimate. We strongly advise that a cost management professional is engaged on projects to provide independent and specific estimates that reference a specific development and design. Data contained in this cost guide is based on historical, actual project data from over 800 projects across Canada that Turner & Townsend has been involved in.

The unit rates are primarily CA$ per square foot (unless noted otherwise) and are applied to the gross floor area* of the building. These represent a range of costs for each facility type in each geography. The range for each type varies depending on many factors, including but not limited to:

program requirements
gross floor area
systems and material selection (quality)
building configuration (shape, size, floor to floor height etc.)
site and soil conditions
procurement approach
market conditions
sustainability targets

The cost range is for hard construction only and excludes all project soft cost, including but not limited to:

HST/QST
furniture, furnishings and equipment
professional and specialist consulting fees
land and associated costs
legal fees and expenses
project management fees
marketing and advertising costs
permits and development charges
third party commissioning / testing and inspection
interest and financing costs
administration expenses by owner
change order contingency

*Turner & Townsend Canada Inc uses the BOMA standard in definition of ‘gross floor area’.

Real Estate cost per sqft data table

Download the data

Infrastructure

Mohamed Tawfik

Director

The infrastructure cost data contained in the report provides an indicative guide only and is designed to assist in the development of initial budgets or to benchmark an estimate. We strongly advise that a cost management professional is engaged on projects to provide independent and specific estimates that reference a specific development and design.

All costs reflect direct construction elements only and exclude site development, property acquisition, major utility relocations, and architectural premiums beyond standard design. Actual project costs may vary based on site conditions, market volatility, procurement strategy, and project specific requirements. Additional considerations as follows:

Costs are developed using a combination of benchmark data from completed projects, current market pricing, and typical industry productivity allowances.
Unit rates are normalized to reflect average North American conditions and standard delivery methods.
Quantities are based on typical section profiles and representative station or facility footprints.
All figures represent direct construction costs only, excluding escalation, client costs, and extraordinary site-specific conditions.

Infrastructure inclusions and exclusions

Light rail transit

Guideway – Underground Tunnel (per km)

Includes typical tunnel excavation, lining, drainage, and systems rough ins.
Assumes average ground conditions with no extraordinary geotechnical treatments.
Excludes station caverns, complex crossovers, and deep shaft works.

Guideway – At Grade (per km)

Includes earthworks, track structure, drainage, and basic corridor civil works.
Assumes no major grade separations or extensive road reconstruction.
Excludes municipal upgrades and third‑party utility diversions.

Stations – Underground (per m²)

Includes core structural, mechanical, electrical, and finish works within a standard underground station footprint.
Excludes ancillary entrances, pedestrian tunnels, and enhanced architectural features.

Stations – At Grade (per m²)

Includes platform, canopy, circulation elements, and standard finishing.
Excludes large concourses, parking structures, or signature architectural treatments.

Maintenance & Storage Facility (per m²)

Includes building structure, maintenance bays, storage tracks, and core operational systems.
Excludes major yard earthworks, fleet costs, and external site servicing beyond the facility boundary.

Airports

Airport buildings, full service (per m2)

Includes building structure, architectural, services, elevator and escalator systems.
Excludes demolition and alteration for existing building, site development, baggage handling system, air bridges, gates and stand costs.

Runway and taxiway (per m2)

Includes demolition of existing, new construction of flexible taxiway pavement, shoulders, line painting, access roads and services.
Excludes alteration for existing, site development, and signages costs.

Subway

Tunnel Works (TBM‑Bored Tunnels, per km)

Includes: Twin bored tunnels using TBMs, including segmental lining, waterproofing, and standard tunnel systems rough‑ins.
Excludes: Extraordinary ground improvement, deep shafts, or complex structural protection of adjacent buildings.

Track & Systems Civil Interfaces (per km)

Includes: Track slab, running rails, third‑rail power rough‑ins, walkways, drainage, and fire‑life‑safety civil provisions.
Excludes: Full systems installation such as signaling, communications, traction power equipment, and SCADA integration.

Structural Integration with Stations & Portals (per km)

Includes: Structural interfaces with cut‑and‑cover station boxes and the transition structure between elevated and tunnel sections.
Excludes: Station boxes, mined caverns, portal structures, and major utility relocations beyond the immediate tunnel alignment.

Lane Cable Stayed Bridge

Main Span & Tower System (per m2)

Includes: Cable‑stayed main span including tower, stay cables, deck segments, and integrated pedestrian/cyclist pathways.
Excludes: Signature architectural treatments, enhanced lighting packages, or specialized mechanical systems beyond standard bridge design.

Foundations & In‑River Works

Includes: In‑river foundations, piers, and marine works required for tower erection and deck installation.
Excludes: Major river training works, complex cofferdams, or extraordinary environmental mitigation measures.

Approach Structures & Roadway Interfaces (per m2)

Includes: Approach spans, roadway tie‑ins, retaining walls, drainage, barriers, and utility conduits within the immediate bridge footprint.
Excludes: Long approach roadworks, interchanges, grade separations, or large‑scale utility relocations outside the bridge limits.