The following provides a step-by-step description and representation of the user experience in driving CATALYST.
From the home page or your company’s CATALYST portal, start by selecting “Projects” in the upper navigation bar and “Add Project” This will bring you to the first input screen to select “Building Category”. You can also select “Project Counts” to see the number of projects in the database - nationally and from your organization. .
The Program Readiness and Calibration Strength indicators relate to space and cost confidence respectively. Indicators below 50% will display a **WARNING** message. In this case CATALYST provides a well-organized planning and cost management process – but encourages users to find another similar building to record and use as a benchmark for program, scope, and cost. In such cases, Building CATALYST services can readily strengthen predictability if you have a completed project of similar Building Purpose.
The next step is to select “Building Purpose” within the category.
The Project Type (New Building, Renovation, etc.), Location, Construction Start and Floor Counts are key cost drivers and require selection. The Location selection not only factors cost, but also climate. Minneapolis snow load, frost depth, energy loads, etc. add more significant demands than say, Phoenix.
Building CATALYST provides templates for many building types. The template pre-selects the most likely downstream attributes and owner’s business case or building purpose organized by functional groups (lodging units, departments, etc.) and functions. New users should select templates, if available.
Selecting “Continue” brings you to the main Project SET console page. CATALYST uses Set-Based Planning, Programming, Design, and Cost analysis to inform decision-making and to balance the project scope, requirements, and budget.
CATALYST provides construction's first true systems approach. A system is only as effective as its purpose, with every component aligned to support and derive meaning from that central aim. In this case, everything begins with and is guided by the owner's business case, which is captured and defined in the Program section shown here.
In the Project Set Console, navigate to the Program panel. If a template was selected on the “Add Project” page, a predefined composite of likely functional groups or departments will be displayed. The owner's business case, entered in the left-hand panel (Functional Program), serves as the foundation for calculating Core and Common metrics. These metrics are derived as calculated spaces based on the business case but can be revised as needed. To proceed, select the Functional Program edit option to open its page, then expand the first relevant group or department.
Throughout the site, you'll notice small "i" icons. These are tooltips that provide definitions for CATALYST terms and standards. For example, operating rooms are entered directly, but post-op and pre-op spaces are not, as they are derivative spaces. Similarly, condo bedroom units are included, but kitchens, living rooms, and closets are treated as derived spaces.
It's important to avoid adding functional spaces that are actually supporting or derivative spaces if your goal is to inform early planning for owners and program consultants. Area adjustments should be made at the functional or departmental level. Functional groups (i.e., Departments) and their functions can be easily revised, added, or deleted. Whenever possible, it's best to rename departments to align with the owner's program.
Within each functional group, one or more functions are displayed. By expanding the dropdown, you can select the functional category (e.g., Living Units) and standard function (e.g., 1BR - 1Bath) as needed.
We enter operating rooms, for example, but not post or pre-op because they are derivative spaces; or condo bedrooms units, but not kitchen, living, closets which are also derived spaces. There is a strong tendency to add in some functions or functional spaces that are really supporting derivative spaces. This practice should be avoided if your vision includes informing early planning to owners and program consultants . The area adjustments should be made at the functional or department area.
CATALYST's predictions for floor area can be adjusted at the functional level. For purposes like healthcare, where multiple functions share derivative spaces, you can select the edit icon to override the total departmental area. CATALYST will then distribute the difference across all unlocked functional areas.
As functional groups and functions are entered, the derived Supporting Program and Core and Common spaces are calculated automatically. The entire space program is displayed on the Functional Program page. From the Program Panel, you can edit the Supporting Program Area line to reveal those spaces. Public/Administrative and Building Services (BOH) are applicable to nearly all building types, while other supporting spaces are generated based on internal functions.
For example, in a hotel scenario, functional groups like Hotel Rooms, Bar and Restaurant, and Banquet/Conference are supported by a Commercial Kitchen. CATALYST automatically includes and predicts the Commercial Kitchen under the Supporting Program area.
CATALYST also applies attributes such as building type, number of floors, and HVAC approach to calculate core elements and Core and Common areas. This approach eliminates the reliance on grossing factors, which are often prone to error.
Per usual, you can select “Revise” to enter actual information as it becomes available, like the number of elevators and stops. CATALYST recalculates all downstream program, parameter, and cost results, accordingly.
Project outcomes can vary dramatically based on attributes (or cost drivers) like the location, demands (climate, seismic, etc.), and owner requirements. CATALYST is the only solution that can account for the occurrence and interactions between a wide array of attributes as shown here.
Building CATALYST’s default predictions are based on the Market Average baseline, calibrated through a comprehensive analysis of nearly 150 projects spanning 41 different states across the country. While this provides a credible starting point, many users seek greater certainty, as the Market Average baseline is derived from aggregated data rather than specific, familiar sources.
This is where Benchmarking makes a significant difference. By recording your own completed projects, you establish a known, credible standard that refines and adjusts the Market Average model to better reflect your unique project data. This combination of the Market Average baseline, tailored by your benchmarked projects, delivers greater precision and confidence in future predictions. It bridges the gap between general market trends and the specific realities of your organization, providing a reliable foundation for decision-making.
We can guide you through recording your projects, or, for an additional cost, handle the recording process on your behalf to ensure accuracy and ease.
Once you’ve established a benchmark, the detailed Attributes panel (see the figure below) allows further refinement. By selecting “Edit” on the right-hand side, you can modify attributes that have been filtered to your project. For example, a new building project will include site work attributes, while a renovation project will display groups specific to demolition, renovation, and retrofitting. This approach ensures your project’s unique characteristics are accurately represented, further enhancing the reliability of your predictions.
There is a tendency to adjust attributes to achieve a desired outcome, which should be avoided. Instead, it’s better to create additional sets by copying the existing ones and then revising the parameters and/or cost predictions as needed.
Back to the TopNext, open the Parameters panel for review and updates. The left-hand panel is particularly useful for projects that involve a mix of renovations, new construction, and/or fit-outs. The right-hand panel displays high-level parameters for a quick overview. To access and modify all parameters, select the “Edit” option.
The first section, Key Shell Parameters, measures the building's massing and structural attributes. Following this, the Key Building Quantities section further defines the project scope. CATALYST predicts and displays mean and range values in the reports, with the mean values shown here for revision as needed. Any changes made to a Key Shell Parameter will automatically update all related downstream parameters, ensuring consistency across the model.
Take note of the tooltips throughout the interface, which provide parameter definitions and standards. Ensuring all users work with a consistent understanding of terms is essential for accuracy and collaboration.
The third section, Key Site Parameters and Quantities, focuses on site-specific elements. Parking, for instance, is a significant factor in site development. CATALYST dynamically applies attributes like building type and location type. For example, selecting a Dense Urban location would automatically zero out Site Car Spaces. If parking is included within the building itself, those spaces are subtracted from the calculated site spaces.
Although not displayed here, CATALYST also includes schedule milestone modeling. Scheduling and productivity are critical aspects that will evolve further as standards are refined and builders increasingly capture schedule data. These developments aim to integrate scheduling insights seamlessly into project planning.
Based on the Program and Attribute selections, Building CATALYST predicts key parameters (control quantities) and smart, multi-factor, cause-based unit costs that together generate a comprehensive cost model—all in real time.
In the Cost Console shown below, the left-hand panel provides access to Direct Hard Cost predictions for review and revision. The Special Hard Cost panel is user-defined, making it ideal for elements like off-site construction or other project-specific costs. Similarly, Soft Costs can be added manually using the right-hand panel, ensuring flexibility and customization for unique project needs.
CATALYST uses the Uniformat Cost Code Standard, enabling a seamless, end-to-end data system—from early planning through project completion. However, while Uniformat Level 2 (3-digit) provides a useful framework, it often lacks the granularity needed for detailed modeling and management, such as at the level of Partitions and Doors. Conversely, Uniformat Level 3 (5-digit) can be overly detailed, particularly for scopes like Substructure and Services.
An intermediate 4-digit or hybrid level—referred to as Uniformat Level 2.5—strikes the perfect balance, offering an ideal level of detail for effective cost modeling and management.
While CSI Masterformat is a standard often used for detailed estimating and procurement, it is unsuitable for cost modeling and management at early project stages, where design and material selections are not yet determined. Fortunately, Masterformat data can be mapped into a Uniformat data structure, enabling the necessary and seamless translation of data between the two formats. This interoperability ensures consistency and accuracy across all stages of a project.
CATALYST provides multiple ways to edit or revise predicted costs, offering flexibility and precision. For example, from the Direct Hard Cost page, you can apply a cost factor across the entire project (whole-building), at Level 2 (e.g., Electrical), or at Level 2.5 (e.g., Lighting).
Each Uniformat Level 2.5 cost line item has its own dedicated page where you can define and view detailed information, review model predictions, and transition seamlessly from cost modeling to estimating. In this example, selecting "Edit" opens the page for C203 – Floor Finishes. The top section displays the standard scope, including any applicable inclusions and exclusions, providing clarity and context for the cost line item.
From this page, you can choose from several options to adjust or refine the predicted costs: (a) Apply a cost adjustment factor to modify the prediction by a percentage, (b) Enter a total manual dollar override amount to replace the predicted cost entirely, (c) Add or subtract from the CATALYST prediction to account for specific adjustments, (d) Start entering line-item estimates, which can either replace the CATALYST prediction or adjust it by adding or subtracting line items.
Each method has its unique benefits, depending on the level of detail and customization required.
Additionally, the Cost Prediction Reference Panel highlights the depth of detail provided by CATALYST. For example, Floor Finishes are calculated for every Core and Common area, Supporting Program, and Department/Functional Group and Item, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
When transitioning to a more detailed, line-item estimate, you have two options: manual entry or leveraging CATALYST's standard catalog of assemblies and components. You can also combine these methods for added flexibility. In the example below, the Exterior Walls System cost model has been converted into an Assembly-based estimate. This estimate is built from pre-priced defaults for each assembly, normalized to the selected location and construction start date, providing both accuracy and contextual relevance.
When moving from Cost Modeling to Estimating and Buyout, you can assign each line item to a Work Category (aka Bid Category, Subcontract) and Masterformat. This entire UI/UX process applies to both recording completed projects as well as modeling and managing new projects.
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