More Focus 鈥� Page 393
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FeaturesTricky business
In the fourth of five monthly articles, 黑洞社区, in association with ConstructionSkills, investigates why construction operates so inefficiently 鈥� and asks what can be done to improve performance.
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FeaturesB-Trac Services: A business success story
Paul Banner is managing director of B-Trac Services, a small maintenance company in the West Midlands working for housing associations. He explains how his firm achieved Investor in People status
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FeaturesIT workshops: How builders are updating their skills
Robin Hood-Leeder explains how the Federation of Master Builders is trying to help its members improve their performance by setting up IT workshops
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FeaturesHolyrood reaction
The Fraser Report may have passed down its judgment on the Scottish parliament building, but the mud is still flying. Here, 黑洞社区鈥檚 readers join the fray and Rob Smith, senior partner at Davis Langdon, defends his firm鈥檚 decisions as cost consultant on the project
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Features
Are parliaments inherently unmanageable?
Solicitor Matthew Bell argues that Holyrood was always going to be a problem 鈥� but at least it is in good company 鈥�
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FeaturesBlob on the Tyne
Foster鈥檚 Sage music centre in Gateshead is positively puffed up with pride. And justifiably so thanks to a dramatic riverfront setting and its promise to put the city on the cultural map
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FeaturesPFI in limbo
Ten years after it burst on the scene, PFI has become bogged down in project delays. As research published this week reveals yet more missed PFI targets, We report on how contractors are upping sticks and taking their expertise abroad
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FeaturesTop 200 Consultants 2004: Monsters, Inc
This year鈥檚 consultants league table ranks the 200 biggest, scariest practices in the UK 鈥� and then breaks them down into bite-sized top 100 architects, engineers and surveyors charts. So who are the Godzillas and the Godzukis of the industry this year? We report from under his desk, Tables compiled ...
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FeaturesInside off-site
Modern methods of construction are now being used on all manner of projects, from restaurants to naval bases. Mark Faithfull looks at the latest developments and asks: could this be the age of off-site?
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OSM experienced
For many project teams, using OSM means embarking on a scarily steep learning curve involving substantial changes to their traditional building processes. So how can they be sure of getting it right? At Mtech Group, we apply this simple checklist, nominally aligned to the RIBA workplan, that focuses the project ...
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Language skills
Learning the right words and phrases is the key to understanding a new culture. So, here with 鈥淥ff-site manufacture: Lesson one鈥� is Mtech Group
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Regulations roundup
A brief guide to recently issued regulations with pointers to upcoming changes in regulations and consultation documents
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Five tips for complying with the DDA
By today, organisations that deal with the public should have complied with the Disability Discrimination Act by making their services accessible to people with disabilities. What constitutes a fully DDA-compliant building has yet to be decided, as this will be determined by a body of case law. In the meantime, ...
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FeaturesFire evacuation
An unusual approach was needed to get the University of Hertfordshire鈥檚 de Havilland campus building to conform with Part B of the 黑洞社区 Regulations, which deals with fire safety.
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FeaturesOpening homes, hearts and minds
Graham Bizley says that allowing Open House visitors into his home was an eye-opener.
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FeaturesWhy the public loves an engineer
Open Site proved a roaring success for the projects that opened their doors to an inquisitive public, says Matt Dawson, relationship development manager at the Association of Consulting Engineers.
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FeaturesBoris walks with the dinosaurs
Boris Johnson pays tribute to air conditioning at the HVAC's bash at the Natural History museum.
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Precious heat
Up until now, housebuilders have responded to demands that they improve the energy efficiency of new homes by simply adding insulation. Next year, they are going to have to do much more 鈥�