Becker & Frondorf | Independent Cost Estimating

Trusted Cost Experts
for Over 25 Years

Engage Early, Define the Unknown

Reliable estimates that anticipate scope early on can lead to significant savings in the long run.

Balancing Art & Science

Cost estimating has three essential parts: take-off, pricing, and project review. Our estimators know the science of creating a detailed take-off from design documents. However, the real art lies in seeing what is not in the drawings—understanding how market conditions and unique aspects of the project will impact costs. This is where experience matters, and it is why clients turn to B&F.

Engage Early & Often

We engage early in the design process to anticipate scope that is not yet drawn. We create reasonable cost forecasts for the unknown on an ongoing basis with the design team. This is an important part of the process because fundamental design decisions are being made and can be altered at this stage without great difficulty and less budget impact than during later phases.

Monitor Continuously

We provide comprehensive estimates at specific milestones, such as Schematic Design or Design Development. By reviewing the proposed palette of materials and design intent on a continuous basis, we can foresee cost implications and suggest alternatives when appropriate, rather than reacting to a finished design.

Up-to-Date Cost Information

We have access to current bid results and contractor pricing through the projects our Owner's Rep team manages. This enables us to provide valuable cost input to the design team, considering variables such as escalation, union and non-union construction, LEED goals, MBE/WBE participation, and the influence of government regulations on construction costs.

Formatted for Decision-Making

We take a human-based approach to estimating, rather than defaulting to estimating software. In the early stages of the process, we organize costs by functional systems (i.e., building structure, exterior envelope, etc.) rather than by trade or material divisions. This helps designers and owners to understand the relationship between design choices and cost.

Cost Estimating Projects by Industry

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Healthcare & Lab Projects

Includes projects at CHOP, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Penn Medical, and Carnegie Mellon University Lab.

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University Projects

Includes projects at Yale, Princeton, Temple, the University of Pennsylvania, and Penn State University.

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School Projects

Includes projects at Agnes Irwin, Friends Central, and the Philadelphia Public School System.

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Civic Projects

Includes Philadelphia projects at Penn's Landing, Dilworth Park, Graffiti Pier, and SEPTA's Suburban Station.

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Museum & Cultural Projects

Includes projects from Independence Mall in Philadelphia, PA to the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

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Housing & Dormitory Projects

Includes projects for Ivy League dormitories, ground-up multi-family residential buildings, and private residences.

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Client Testimonials

“We have collaborated with B&F on dozens of projects, from feasibility studies to complex, multi-million-dollar new buildings. B&F’s precise cost estimates and commitment to the project’s success helps us maintain strong relationships with our team.”

Christa Kraftician, AIA, LEED AP, Principal, Spillman Farmer Architects

Client Testimonials

“The value that Becker & Frondorf has added to our work for decades is substantial; we consistently rely on their expertise and informed appraisal of the possible costs involved with a project. They figure prominently in developing our strategy to staying within the budget.”

Emmanuel Kelly, Principal, Kelly/Maiello, Inc.

Client Testimonials

“We have been working with Becker & Frondorf for many years, both as Cost Estimators and as Project Managers. In both capacities, we have always found them to be knowledgeable and collaborative in pursuit of a shared vision for the project.”

Randy Reid, AIA, Principal, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson