Park
A leafy public space improving happiness and environmental quality.
Improves the local environment
- Cost
- $85
- Upkeep
- $0.34 a day
- Construction bill
- 0.5 materials
- Build time
- Opens at once
- Footprint
- 1 tile
- Unlocks
- From the start
Building reference
Civic places and learning
The buildings that make a settlement somewhere people want to stay: green space, a seat of government and places to learn.
Parks and civic buildings rarely pay for themselves directly. They raise desirability around them, keep residents happy and, in the case of schools, libraries and the university, build the skilled workforce that cleaner, higher-paying industry needs. A city without them stalls: lots stop growing because the neighbourhood is not good enough, and factories cannot modernise without educated workers.
| Building | Cost | Upkeep / day | Unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | $85 | $0.34 | From the start |
| Town hall | $0 | $1.4 | From the start |
| Community centre | $700 | $2.2 | 03 · More than houses |
| School | $380 | $2.4 | 02 · Keep the lights on |
| University | $1,500 | $7 | 05 · A skyline of our own |
| Library | $350 | $1.6 | 02 · Keep the lights on |
Civic
Town hall
The seat of your city. Site it once to found the city; it is rebuilt grander on its own as the population grows, and can never be demolished.
Civic jobs · city pride · grows with the city
- Cost
- $0
- Upkeep
- $1.4 a day
- Construction bill
- None
- Build time
- Opens at once
- Footprint
- 3 × 2 tiles
- Unlocks
- From the start
Community centre
A hall for clubs, youth programmes and elders. Streets within 6 tiles feel safer and its families and retirees are happier; crime falls a little citywide (1 point each, up to 4), and it lifts land value around it. Built by a crew over about 8 days; it opens when done.
Safer streets nearby · +6 jobs
- Cost
- $700
- Upkeep
- $2.2 a day
- Construction bill
- 30 timber · 1 materials
- Build time
- About 8 days
- Footprint
- 1 tile
- Unlocks
- 03 · More than houses
Learning
School
Raises education, local walkability, and workforce skill, and adds steady public jobs. Built by a crew over about 8 days; it opens when done.
+9 jobs · higher education and productivity
- Cost
- $380
- Upkeep
- $2.4 a day
- Construction bill
- 30 timber · 1.5 materials
- Build time
- About 8 days
- Footprint
- 1 tile
- Unlocks
- 02 · Keep the lights on
University
A campus that anchors a university district, attracts students, and lifts skills citywide. Built by a crew over about 30 days; it opens when done.
+42 jobs · university-town identity
- Cost
- $1,500
- Upkeep
- $7 a day
- Construction bill
- 40 steel · 60 timber · 4 materials
- Build time
- About 30 days
- Footprint
- 1 tile
- Unlocks
- 05 · A skyline of our own
Library
A public library that lifts skills citywide and counts as education cover for clean manufacturing within 8 tiles, like a school. It lifts land value within 6 tiles. Built by a crew over about 8 days; it opens when done.
Skills and a little happiness · +5 jobs
- Cost
- $350
- Upkeep
- $1.6 a day
- Construction bill
- 25 timber · 1 materials
- Build time
- About 8 days
- Footprint
- 1 tile
- Unlocks
- 02 · Keep the lights on
Figures are the game's base prices. Upkeep is charged every in-game day, and construction bills are drawn from the city's stock of materials, steel, copper wire and timber (see farms and trade).