Our church did a major addition project (bbcourt/multipurpose room/kitchen/classrooms) about 15 years ago. I found myself on several of the design/spec committees. I brought up maintenance costs several times, got shot down every time. Usual shoot-down was: "We're here to build, not maintain, that will be somebody elses budget problem AFTER the building is built."
BUT...I tried to counter...what we design and spec has a DIRECT effect on the cost to maintain it....square footage, materials, etc, etc. Not a valid consideration, I was told.
I've had plenty of (untaken) chances to say "I told you so." Especially after 2009.
