All Features articles – Page 596
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Features
Sounding off
The debating chamber of the Greater London Authority building has very precise acoustic requirements. But how could the acoustician communicate these to designers unfamiliar with the "black art of sound"?
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Features
Industry standard
As repeat clients become more common, construction can benefit from standardisation
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Features
In deep water
Stephen Hodder's Clissold Leisure Centre in Hackney was supposed to show how first-rate public buildings could tackle urban deprivation. Now it is two years late, four times over budget, and the council is slashing public services. How did it all go so wrong?
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Features
An inspector calls
AWG's massive overpayment for Morrison holds out a vital lesson for companies on the acquisition trail: make sure you leave no piece of paper unturned when investigating the value of a business.
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Features
The family business
Family can't be allowed to come a second to work, but striking a balance is tough
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Features
Five tips for building your business
Satisfy your customerCustomers hold the key to long-term profitable growth. The customer should therefore be accorded the same respect as a manager: your business must ensure regular contact, provide innovative ideas, timely delivery of factual data, and keep appointments. Consider a single point of contact for your customers by appointing ...
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Features
Ticking away
Housing associations have three years to become Egan-compliant if they want funding for their schemes. Does this herald a real change in culture – or just a bureaucratic obstacle course?
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Features
Appointments
ContractorsBryan Diggins (right) has joined Kier Construction, the civil engineering arm of Kier Group, as operations director. He joins from Laing.HousebuildersTry Homes Thames Valley has promoted Zoe Dobbs to field sales manager. Graham Bell has been appointed planning and design manager. In addition, Tom Nicholson will head Try's new office ...
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Features
Are you doing it right?
Everyone wants to achieve best practice, but how do you know if you have? One way is to use the Construction Best Practice Programme's online test. We asked three firms to put themselves under the Eganscope and report how they scored
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Features
Making tracks
Michael Grant, chief executive of the Strategic Rail Authority, has the Herculean task of upgrading the UK's network. What chance does he have of pulling it off?
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Features
Just the job
Megan Maclauran, project director for structural engineer Techniker tells Eloise Seddon why concept design gives her such a buzz and dogmatic people make her mad
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Features
Stepping on the gas
BP man Struan Robertson is the first outsider to run the Wates' family concern in its 104-year history, and he's driving forward something of a quiet revolution.
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Features
Five ways to make partnering work
Do you really need a partner?Do not enter into a partnering arrangement just because it is fashionable. Undertake a value management exercise to see whether effective change can be internalised: carry out an audit of your staff, resources and premises. You may find that you do not need to partner ...
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Features
Margins of error
Cut-throat tendering is doing no good to the industry. Why do firms undersell themselves?
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Features
The joy of decks
CZWG has taken the idea of 'streets in the sky' from the dustbin of history, repaired it and painted it red – and it wants us to join the fun. We report from the frontline of a sociable revolution.
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Features
Glazed and confused
Changes to the Building Regulations mean that most of the window systems on the market will be obsolete in less than a year, but contractors appear oblivious to the danger they're in. Time to wake up?
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Features
A credit to the City
Merrill Lynch's new City HQ is the biggest building you'll never see – its groundscraping design has satisfied the needs of modern bankers and the heritage lobby