WT acted as construction cost advisors to the Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) on a study aimed at identifying the root causes of cost variances between SHA’s new construction projects and those delivered by nonprofit and for-profit developers in the Seattle region.
The study also assessed the effectiveness of SHA’s construction contract delivery method, which shares similarities with the GCCM (General Contractor/Construction Manager) approach.
WT reviewed five recent SHA residential and mixed-use projects—ranging from 85,000 to 180,000 square feet—at various stages of design and construction. Our work included comparative cost analysis, review of procurement practices, benchmarking, and evaluation of contract structures. The study provided SHA with actionable recommendations to improve cost efficiency and guide future delivery strategies across its affordable housing portfolio.