All Features articles – Page 640
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Features
IT: Defects database - Perfect match
This year’s Wimbledon is set to be fault-free – at least where the buildings are concerned, as Try tested a new zero-defects system on its latest project for the club.
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Features
Are the Eganites winning over the industry?
On the eve of the third Egan conference, construction is at the Rubicon. Over the next 10 pages, Building reflects on the report’s impact and asks whether the cult of Egan will become the industry’s official religion.
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Features
The essential tool
A specification-writer’s job is never done. The document he or she produces should be kept close at hand throughout the construction process. Proceed without it at your peril.
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Features
Light exercise
Here's how young architect Walters and Cohen transformed a squat, dingy supermarket into a chic, sleek fitness club by bouncing daylight from one end of the building to the other.
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Features
Just the job
Phil Clark meets the chairman of CALdes, the firm that’s integrating design, surveying and 21st-century technology.
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Features
So, what does he think now?
After fathering his report, Sir John Egan has been something of an absentee parent. However, he does think he was rather clever about getting the industry to take it on board …
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Features
The politics of trust
As this year’s winners of the Hudson Prize demonstrate, it is well worth exploring the subtleties of special relationships if you need to tackle subcontractor problems or partnering difficulties.
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Features
Trouble on Quality Street
The government’s quality mark scheme was meant to frustrate the cowboys and help reputable small firms. Bureaucracy and expense mean it might end up doing the opposite. Can the DETR get back on track?
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Features
200-mile-high club
An orbital hotel sounds like science fiction, but it might soon be construction fact. If one international design firm has its way, you could be checking in to space in less than 20 years.
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Features
Danger – slippery law
If an adjudicator makes a decision that contains an obvious mistake, then tough. It’s supposed to be a rough-and-ready system for settling disputes … But then again, surely that’s too ridiculous to be true?
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Features
Clare’s seven days as a surveyor
The jobClare spent one week and two days in the quantity surveying department at Citex. QS Melissa Martin drew up a timetable of events so that Clare would sample building surveying, project management and facilities management. The assignment also included a number of site visits. Week oneMonday I meet Melissa ...
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Features
Does the Construction Act really work?
According to a Building/CMS Cameron McKenna survey, subcontractors are grumbling about its payment system, lawyers are using it to sandbag the opposition, and almost everyone has reservations about its adjudication rules. Two years on and with a review imminent, should changes be made?
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Features
Appointments
Contractors Ballast Wiltshier chief executive Bob Heathfield has been made chairman. He has also joined the management executive committee of its Dutch parent, Ballast Nedam.William Underwood has been appointed non-executive director at Middlewich-based Pochin.HousebuilderPersimmon Homes has promoted Ian Hessay to deputy managing director in the Yorkshire region.ConsultantsConsulting engineer Donald Smith ...
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Features
Beatrice goes on site at Coin Street
The jobBeatrice spent two weeks getting to grips with all areas of contracting at Mansell’s major works division. She spent most of her time on site at an £11m residential scheme for the Coin Street Community Builders near Waterloo Station in London. David Stones, managing director of Mansell’s London Major ...
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Features
Buy now, save later
Expense is putting smaller construction firms off IT – but only if they haven’t looked at the costs of not investing. But how can they find out what’s right for them?
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Features
Career, girls?
The industry just can’t attract enough graduates. To find out why, Building asked two students to give construction a try. Will they be back for more?
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Features
Clash points
In the post-Construction-Act industry, main contractors and the firms that work for them should not be talking about clash points, but about how to work together to achieve their mutual objectives.
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Features
Clash points
Yes, of course. But let’s not get too wrapped up in our noble intentions. Common purposes presuppose common interests, and too many contractors are still looking after number one.
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Features
Services whole-life costs
The third in this series on the lifespan costs of engineering services compares three power and data installation options.
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Features
Materials whole-life costs
Building Performance Group’s guide to the lifespan and whole-life costs of building components tackles flexible floor coverings from PVC sheets to carpet tiles.