According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, costs of building materials have increased dramatically over the past year. For example, in February 2004, the price of one ton of asphalt was $165.72; in January 2005, the cost had risen to $187.91.
"There is no question that prices have gone up," Bodnarchuk said. "The cost of energy has increased, as has the cost of fuel and electricity - and therefore, so has the cost of raw materials."
Tufts, however, has not experienced much in the way of financial setbacks in dealing with the new construction on campus.
The construction of a new music building, as well as Sophia Gordon Hall, the new residence hall, have been the major projects of the year.
For these projects, Tufts has been working with the Linbeck Construction Company, whose offices are located in Lexington, Massachusetts.
Mitch Bodnarchuk, Director of Construction at Tufts, explained that the contractor Linbeck was hired for the new music building and dormitory jobs a few years ago; thus, pricing was done ahead of time.
"Every year construction prices go up, so it is important to make commitments in a timely fashion," said Bodnarchuk, describing Tufts' initiatives towards locking in prices early during the construction period.
The construction process is long and thus fixing prices and making arrangements early on in the project is key to producing effective innovations.
"As long as you don't buy at the last minute and as long as you are buying in the right windows, you will not be greatly affected by the overall inflation," Bodnarchuk said.
In discussing how Tufts deals and works with reputable firms, Bodnarchuk said that it is important to establish good relationships with suppliers, and that they are currently "dealing with a construction community with integrity - so no matter when it happens, it is always good construction."
Linbeck is a company of popular choice among educational institutions: Its current projects include the Yale University Environmental Science Facility, the Groton School Athletic Facility at the Groton School and the MIT School of Architecture.
"Locally, we are all grappling with the issue of rising prices," Bodnarchuk said. "However, the key is to continue good planning as well as good business relationships."
