New Projects & Mechanical Budget – Ontario Cost Zones (2026 Median Scenario)
This block shows a simple mechanical budget breakdown for a 100-unit residential building in Ontario
(median 850 ft² GFA per unit, ≈ 85,000 ft² total), across three cost zones:
Zone A (Toronto core), Zone B (GTA & Ottawa) and Zone C (secondary cities).
Values are order-of-magnitude engineering estimates, not binding quotes.
1. Select Cost Zone
Click on a zone to jump to its median construction cost, mechanical budget and detailed split for HVAC, plumbing,
fire protection, pumps and valves.
2. Zone A – Toronto Core (High-Cost Market)
High-rise residential in downtown Toronto and core areas, with union labour, higher construction cost levels
and typically more complex mechanical systems.
| Median construction cost | $550/ft² × 85,000 ft² ≈ $46.8 M |
| Mechanical systems share | ≈ 14.5 % of construction → $6.8 M mechanical budget |
| Valves, balancing & controls | ≈ 5 % of mechanical → ≈ $0.34 M |
| Typical systems included | Central heat-pump or high-efficiency boiler plant, hydronic distribution, HVAC airside, domestic plumbing, fire protection, pumps & circulation sets, PICVs, automatic balancing valves and DDC controls. |
Mechanical Budget Breakdown – Zone A
| Mechanical subsystem | Share of mech. budget | Approx. cost (M CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC plant & airside | 55 % | ≈ $3.74 M |
| Plumbing systems | 25 % | ≈ $1.70 M |
| Fire protection (sprinklers, standpipes) | 10 % | ≈ $0.68 M |
| Pumps & circulation sets | 5 % | ≈ $0.34 M |
| Valves, balancing & controls | 5 % | ≈ $0.34 M |
Visual Split – Zone A
100 %
14.5 %
5.0 %
3. Zone B – GTA & Ottawa (Medium-Cost Market)
Mid- to high-rise residential projects in the broader GTA, Hamilton and Ottawa, with moderate construction cost levels
and mixed gas / heat-pump mechanical strategies.
| Median construction cost | $375/ft² × 85,000 ft² ≈ $31.9 M |
| Mechanical systems share | ≈ 12.5 % of construction → ≈ $4.0 M mechanical budget |
| Valves, balancing & controls | ≈ 4 % of mechanical → ≈ $0.16 M |
| Typical systems included | Mixed gas / heat-pump plants, hydronic loops, domestic plumbing, fire protection and a selective use of PICVs or automatic balancing valves plus localized pump sets. |
Mechanical Budget Breakdown – Zone B
| Mechanical subsystem | Share of mech. budget | Approx. cost (M CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC plant & airside | 54 % | ≈ $2.16 M |
| Plumbing systems | 24 % | ≈ $0.96 M |
| Fire protection (sprinklers, standpipes) | 10 % | ≈ $0.40 M |
| Pumps & circulation sets | 8 % | ≈ $0.32 M |
| Valves, balancing & controls | 4 % | ≈ $0.16 M |
Visual Split – Zone B
100 %
12.5 %
4.0 %
4. Zone C – Secondary Cities (Lower-Cost Market)
Regional cities and smaller centres with lower construction cost levels, simpler mechanical layouts and more
cost-sensitive procurement.
| Median construction cost | $270/ft² × 85,000 ft² ≈ $23.0 M |
| Mechanical systems share | ≈ 10.5 % of construction → ≈ $2.4 M mechanical budget |
| Valves, balancing & controls | ≈ 3 % of mechanical → ≈ $0.07 M |
| Typical systems included | Simpler mechanical and plumbing layouts, more mini-split or ducted heat pumps, basic fire protection and targeted balancing / control devices in key hydronic circuits and pump groups. |
Mechanical Budget Breakdown – Zone C
| Mechanical subsystem | Share of mech. budget | Approx. cost (M CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC plant & airside | 52 % | ≈ $1.25 M |
| Plumbing systems | 26 % | ≈ $0.62 M |
| Fire protection (sprinklers, standpipes) | 9 % | ≈ $0.22 M |
| Pumps & circulation sets | 10 % | ≈ $0.24 M |
| Valves, balancing & controls | 3 % | ≈ $0.07 M |
Visual Split – Zone C
100 %
10.5 %
3.0 %
5. Why This Matters for Valve & Balancing Design
In all three zones, valves, balancing devices and controls typically represent only a
small percentage of the mechanical budget, yet they heavily influence
delta-T, pump energy, comfort and heat-pump COP. In other words, relatively small investments
in hydronic design and quality valves can protect a much larger mechanical and construction budget over the life of the building.
6. Notes & Assumptions
Values above are median-style engineering estimates for a 100-unit residential project with
850 ft² GFA per unit (≈ 85,000 ft² total). Cost levels and percentages will vary by project type,
specification, union requirements, market conditions and procurement strategy. For real projects, always use
a project-specific cost plan from the design and QS team.
