More Focus – Page 110
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FeaturesRight to buy: Betting the house
Joey Gardiner scrutinises the Tories’ plans to extend right to buy to housing associations
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FeaturesFloating voters: Five years on
Building catches up with a group of senior floating voters from the construction industry to ask them what they learnt from the last election
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FeaturesEd Miliband’s letter to the construction industry
Leader of the Labour party responds to Building’s manifesto aims
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FeaturesNick Clegg’s letter to the construction industry
Leader of the Liberal Democrats responds to Building’s manifesto aims
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FeaturesWater usage: To the last drop
With every person in the UK using an average of 150 litres of water per day, the country’s water usage needs tempering. Ike Ijeh investigates the domestic inventions that could prevent us from running dry
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FeaturesMarket review: Steady progress
Construction activity increased in March against a backdrop of wider economic stability, with low inflation, low unemployment and forecasts for moderate growth. Michael Dall goes through the highlights of Barbour ABI’s monthly Economic Construction Market Review
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FeaturesA diverse approach
Despite an impending skills shortage, the number of women and workers from ethnic minority backgrounds in construction is woefully low. Joey Gardiner asks three employers what their companies are doing to increase workforce diversity
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FeaturesWhat to specify: Water
This week’s water-based products include a limescale-reducing electrical shower, brass tap designs for The Ampersand hotel in London, and cast aluminium rainwater systems for two luxury Hertfordshire homes
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FeaturesBIM survey results: Levelling off?
The government is backing it. Firms are paying top dollar for people that can do it. So why does the number of firms using building information modelling actually seem to be falling?
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FeaturesBIM: Power up for Level 3
The strategy document for BIM Level 3 - Digital Built Britain - is big on aspiration but comes up a little short on the details
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FeaturesMarket forecast: Growing pains
Strong output demand has stretched the industry across the supply chain, with increased tender prices triggered by capacity constraints only the most salient sign of strain. Michael Hubbard of Aecom reports
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FeaturesBIM: Early adopters
Ramboll has developed an early stage modelling process that combines the qualitative capabilities of parametric design with BIM’s algorithmic, analytical strengths. Ike Ijeh wonders where this leaves designers
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FeaturesBrookfield Multiplex: A decade later
As main contractor on the delayed Wembley stadium and chief player in the legal battle afterwards, Multiplex became a byword for tough contracting. But 10 years on the firm is set to become a £1bn turnover contractor
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FeaturesWhat to specify: Residential
This week’s residential products include a penthouse suite’s cantilever staircase, a bespoke heat pump for a luxury new build on the Wentworth Estate, and a whole house mechanical ventilation system
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FeaturesInterview: Mark Naysmith
Since becoming UK chief of WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff following last year’s merger, Mark Naysmith has been busy integrating the two firms into one combined company
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FeaturesSustainability: Energy standards
The new energy efficiency regulations for private rented property may have major repercussions for landlords. Here we examine the key changes made since last year’s public consultation
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Features119 Ebury Street: Cleaning up the neighbourhood
Belgravia is one of London’s most genteel quarters, but its Georgian homes are among the UK’s least energy efficient. Now, David Morley’s BREEAM ‘outstanding’ renovation of a grade II property has shown that heritage doesn’t have to mean high emissions
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FeaturesThe Farrell Review: Into the long grass?
One year on from the publication of Terry Farrell’s review of architecture and the built environment, it’s time to see whether the government is prepared to support good design - or whether it will favour continued procrastination
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FeaturesBodleian library: The new edition
As custodian of millions of precious books and manuscripts, Oxford’s Bodleian library needed a much bigger - and safer - building to house its collection. With the new Weston Library, Wilkinson Eyre provided this and much more
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FeaturesDo priority schools add up?
The picture emerging from some of the few completed priority schools is one of cut-price, smaller buildings with potentially higher long-term maintenance costs