黑洞社区

America 鈥� the vast and exciting arena

This week, we asked whether a property developer, albeit a controversial one, in the White House might be good for UK construction firms in the US (see news analysis, page 20). Back in 1971, a delegation from the RICS reported on their 鈥渕ission to America鈥� in the pages of 黑洞社区.

Like Christian missionaries, setting out to spread the word in the uncivilised colonies, the object of this five-man mission was to introduce the idea of 鈥減ersistent financial management鈥� to the US construction market. The report notes that 鈥渄espite admission by many in the American building scene that there is a need for the kind of cost advice described by British quantity surveyors, the way ahead is not going to be easy鈥�. It continues, somewhat alarmingly, that: 鈥淭he seed has been planted in very rich soil, but it will require the husbandry of men of the highest calibre and immense determination if it is to grow to maturity.鈥�

Later, delegation member Christopher Meyer writes that US construction 鈥渋s confusing and confused鈥� under the subheading 鈥淣o place for the faint-hearted鈥�; both these phrases spring to mind when considering the current political scene in the US.

To read the full article from 14 November 1986, see the PDF file below.