Architectural Design and Building Permit: For every construction project, a building permit and architectural project is required to identify the scope and features of the proposed building. This also where the costs will start with the fee of the architect and building permit.

Ground Study: A proper ground study is required to start the structural design of the building. The cost of ground study depends on the type of the ground and the footprint of the building.

Structural Project:The structural engineer prepares the structural project of the building based on the architectural project and ground studies. This project covers all the sub and superstructure details of the load bearing concrete and steel members. Steel detailing works may be covered in the scope of the structural project but it is often conducted by the steel contractor.

Ground Works: The ground works covers digging, excavation and backfilling of the soil and the foundation works. There are various steel construction foundations types. The selection of the foundation type is within the responsibility of the structural engineer. Increasing bay space and column spans generally reduces the foundation costs.

Painting: The painting of the steel members is also a major cost driver. Selecting right paint for the steel might gain significant savings. Although its initial cost is high, hot dip galvanization for corrosive environments might be more feasible in the long run providing a long standing protection and limited maintenance requirement.

Steel Erection: Steel erection is the process of field assembling structural pieces to create the frame, roof truss or other structural systems. The building size, height, footprint, project type, site conditions, and construction sequence will primarily influence the equipment, methods, and eventually total cost for the installation. Similar to the fabricator, the total weight of the structure as well as the quantity of the steel parts determines the cost of the erection.

Cladding: Cladding is attached directly to the structure of the steel frame building, making a major member of the building. It protects the building from external elements, such as wind, rain and snow. There are various steel construction cladding systems with different appearance, insulation and finishes. The price difference between these systems is very huge, therefore it requires a clear attention to choose the ideal cladding for the needs of the building. Some cladding systems have built in insulation but some require separate insulation materials for heat protection. While assessing the cladding systems, the insulation capabilities and fire protection levels of the cladding system should also be considered.