Hindsight is always 20/20. If we knew then what we know now, what would we have done differently? Market conditions, historical implications and critical design decisions all affect the cost of a project. Budgetary constraints often challenge the scope of work and create an opportunity for architects and engineers to work creatively in effort to control costs. Scope reduction is reserved as a last-ditch effort so what else can be done to work around budgetary constraints? In this presentation, we hope to explore decades of historical implications on construction costs, identifying key design decisions and their outcomes, review the importance of value engineering efforts and emphasize recognizing bid options early in the design process. Core Competencies: Strategic Planning; Design; Construction Management; Transition Planning; Space Planning and Programming; Equipment Planning; Computer Principles and Applications AIA Course Number: 2023.05.015 AIA CEU = 1 LU