Why does it cost so much? is a question often asked about university construction. On college and university campuses, the cost of new construction and renovation will appear high relative to other construction efforts in our communities. Part of the explanation of the high construction cost lies in the complexity of what we build, the codes and standards we must meet, and the unique environment within which we build. Moreover, budgets are driven up by the choices we make when we demand that our new facilities serve as visual articulations of institutional image and quality. In short, the high cost of construction is driven by myriad strategic choices and requirements that lead to building a better university. (Contains 1 figure.)