All Comment articles 鈥� Page 56
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CommentCAD images: Where have all the humans gone?
There鈥檚 nothing so seductive as a CAD image of your dream project, computer-generated visualisations of how we want the world to be. Trouble is, they鈥檙e divorced from reality
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CommentWhat's driving firms to the wall?
KPMG鈥檚 director of restructuring Martin Kelly explains why voluntary insolvency figures have jumped 20%
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FeaturesUcatt: Out for the count?
In 2009 Alan Ritchie was voted leader of Ucatt - put there by 5.3% of its membership. But now the ballot has been ruled void and the union is having to spend its time appealing the decision and salvaging its reputation. How did it get into this mess?
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CommentThe James Review: Now it's up to us
The James Review talks a lot of sense and clarifies what challenges lie ahead. It should inspire architects to use the best of their skills to meet them
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CommentGet defensive
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation could be the industry鈥檚 new best friend 鈥� at least, for those who play the game right
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CommentA lesson in subeconomics
Cost consultants whisper in their client鈥檚 ear, 鈥檛ake the lowest bid鈥�. But by the time they鈥檝e paid for poor quality products and claims and variations, it just doesn鈥檛 stack up
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CommentWhy new build is such old hat
If you want a new building but don鈥檛 want to contend with planning permission and delays, consider refurbishment. It鈥檚 quick, low risk, cheaper and loads greener
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CommentSustainability on a shoestring
The Budget didn鈥檛 do much to raise Pascale Scheurer鈥檚 hopes for the future of the industry. Here she considers what has changed and what you can do to mitigate the effects
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FeaturesOxford Street redevelopment: designing our way out of shopping hell
Oxford Street is famous as a shopping destination but nobody really likes it there. We look at how the redevelopment will change this world renowned location, and also why now is the perfect time to give Oxford Street a makeover
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CommentThe Budget: Time to deliver
Last week鈥檚 Budget made it clear that the construction industry needs to be more responsive if it is to play an influential role in the UK鈥檚 growth strategy
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FeaturesStep 1: Standardise your public building
Efficiency has long eluded the construction industry - but now the government is demanding cuts in costs of up to 20%. So any company wanting public sector work had better think up some pretty clever ways to help make that happen
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CommentUnderstanding nature
The Japanese earthquake and tsunami have reminded us that the environment is core to contemporary architecture. The pity is, we needed reminding
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CommentGrowing pains
It鈥檚 Budget week so we have up to the minute analysis of what this year鈥檚 Budget means for the construction industry. We also look at the effect the recent events in Japan will have on the nuclear industry and the UK鈥檚 new build programme.
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CommentHow clients can protect themselves from contractors that underbid
A legal view on tightening up contract terms and using two-stage procurement to route out unrealistically low bids
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CommentOnce upon a time in the West
We live in turbulent times with the ascendency of the East our most direct challenge. But reports of the death of the West have been greatly exaggerated
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CommentOFT could pay for being over-keen
According to directives from Europe, the OFT鈥檚 fines are levied on the basis of companies鈥� global turnover, not profit
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CommentBusiness planning: home and away
How do you plan ahead and formulate business strategies amid all the uncertainty of political uprisings - and the upcoming Budget?
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Comment
CITB levy: For and against
We hear two opposing viewpoints over whether the CITB construction levy should be axed
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CommentOFT reduced fines: A vindication for construction?
The Competition Appeal Tribunal described the fines as 鈥檈xcessive鈥� but that doesn鈥檛 mean cover pricing is suddenly okay