ABSTRACT
To 'control' something one has to review future produced work against the original baseline in order to identify the variances so that the project manager can decide on solutions to the variances. Gross square foot as the budget baseline does not give much to use when it is the sole check against future design work. To control cost you must control the quality of construction being designed and the true program, technical content, and criteria to which the project is being designed. Therefore, it is these things that must be used as the basis for project budgeting. Until now, the development of design parameters associated with a design program, design criteria, and a design concept was not practical. However, the establishment of the UNIFORMAT system of estimating increased use of the computer, and the availability of commercial cost data sources providing data support for UNIFORMAT, program needs can be specified and budgeted based on selected design criteria.
