Escalating material costs have led Nazareth College to halt renovations of its major theater. And Renaissance Square Planners may, at some point, have to deal with the same problem.

Ren Square planners have accounted for about a 20 percent increase in building materials, says project spokesman Mike Power. It's too early to tell whether that's enough, he says, since construction is still a ways off.

"This is a cost-driven project," Power says. "If the costs escalate beyond what we've already built in, then we're going to have to regroup and account for that because it's not going to go over $230 million."

Project officials have selected a preliminary design. Their construction consultant, LeChase, has said the project can be built for $230 million, Power says.

"It's something that bears watching," he says.

A story in today's Democrat and Chronicle outlines the troubles facing Nazareth. Steel prices alone have increased between 30 to 46 percent in recent months, chief architect Jeffrey Roloson, of LaBella Associates, told the paper. The $9 million project has been halted for retooling. To bring it back in line with the budget, planners are considering changes in seating and configuration.