All Features articles – Page 289
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FeaturesTop 150 Contractors and Housebuilders 2011
Looking at recent trading updates you’d be forgiven for thinking that the industry was on the road to recovery. But there’s a few big hurdles to jump over yet, and this will take some time. Martin Hewes’ annual league tables of the UK’s top contractors and housebuilders show exactly how ...
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FeaturesThe tracker: Slim pickings
Though activity, orders and employment are down, firms are relatively upbeat about tender prices, which are at a three-year high. Experian Marketing Information Services brings the latest figures
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FeaturesSustainability in Brazil: For the trees
Brazil is famous for sustainability: a lack of it. But a new wave of green legislation and client requirements is creating demand for skills local contractors don’t have - and UK specialists are first in line for the work. Luke McLeod-Roberts reports in the second of our special features on ...
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FeaturesRydon's Bob Bond: Safe pair of hands
Rydon boss Bob Bond finds being at the helm of a medium-sized company gives him the agility needed to steer a steady course through choppy waters. Even introducing an innovative investment model shouldn’t rock the boat
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FeaturesHackney Empire vs Aviva Insurance: The Empire strikes back
This is the tale of a theatre project, backed by Lord Sugar, that landed its client with a £3.2m headache. Now eight years on there’s a legal battle over a bond between the insurer and the theatre owner
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FeaturesThe Housing Design awards 2011: The modern tradition
This year’s Housing Design Awards include bite-size adaptable units, more houses and better integrated public spaces. And they all seem animated by a nostalgia for traditional housing
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Features10 ways to make your office outstanding (in BREEAM’s eyes, at least)
These days the corporate world is falling over itself to improve its environmental credentials. Thomas Lane takes a look at the newest, greenest, office building on the block and finds out how your office can be ’outstanding’ too
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FeaturesBuilding intelligence Q1 2011: Some sectors see improvement
Experian Marketing Information Services’ analysis of the first quarter of 2011 shows that despite poor performance in new orders, some sectors - such as private housing - have seen improvement
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FeaturesUK nuclear programme: Time to react
Delays to the UK’s programme could leave us with an energy generation gap in just a few years
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FeaturesThe Middle East: Back from the brink?
The Middle East crash meant job losses and unrecovered debts for many construction firms - and a scaling back of operations. Now, with infrastructure investment and a World Cup to prepare for, it might be worth taking another look. Emily Wright surveys the landscape in Qatar, Dubai and Abu Dhabi
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FeaturesAlan Cumming: Worth the energy
EDF is planning the UK’s first new nuclear plant in 30 years. But it needs contractors with the right skills. Alan Cumming, EDF’s procurement boss, tells Building why it’s worth training up - and that you don’t need a French name to win the work
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FeaturesFinancing infrastructure: the $60tn question
Sponsored content: The value of global infrastructure projects is enormous, but this market also has tough challenges. Building invited a panel of experts to debate the issues at the Infrastructure Executive Forum
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FeaturesCase studies: houses built to 2016 zero-carbon standards
The government’s recent announcement that ’zero-carbon homes’ need not include appliances will allow future green housing to ditch peculiar solar panel-toting designs to resemble, well, normal houses. Building tours some schemes that fit the bill
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FeaturesLead times April - July 2011
The earthquake in Japan has had a negative effect on electronic control equipment and the steel market is fluctuating but enquiries are up and lead times remain stable. Brian Moone of Mace reports
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FeaturesRIBA's Forgotten Spaces
RIBA announces shortlist for competition to find ways to utilise overlooked spaces in London and Sheffield
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FeaturesToulouse School of Economics: An education
How do you get lots of natural light into a university building without it getting too hot? Thomas Lane finds out how to shut out the sultry Toulouse sun using medieval building materials and fresh air
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FeaturesSpecialist costs: M&E
Legislative, economic and technological changes are presenting both challenges and opportunities to M&E firms. Erland Rendall of Davis Langdon, an Aecom company, reports
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FeaturesConsultant growth strategies: Eyes on the prize
If the top UK consultants want to stay at the top they need fast ways to grow, and that’s not easy in a stagnant market. So the hunt is on to find suitable mergers, acquisitions and overseas ventures. Building reports on the latest manoeuvres in the sector
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FeaturesChris Cole: Growth? It’s non-negotiable
In the week WSP issues a major profit warning, boss Chris Cole is still confident he can boost turnover by £300m in four years. Acquisitions across the globe and maybe even a major consolidation are on the cards