More Focus – Page 558
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An end to shafting
The trust and shared project objectives of partnering tempt some clients and contractors to abandon contracts. But partnering charters and standard forms are no substitute for a bespoke partnering agreement.
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Bad rates in tenders
Some contractors try to wriggle out of a quoted rate when valuing a variation, but unless the nature of the work changes or they can obtain consent, they are bound to the bill.
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Adjudication: the facts
How much does adjudication cost you? Will you get it back? Who's using it against whom? How much of your claim will you recover? The James R Knowles case log provides the statistics.
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Materials life costs
The lifespan of fully supported metal sheet roofing is examined in the latest of this series on the whole-life costs of materials, which is compiled by Building Performance Group to assist specifiers and clients.
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Appointments
ContractorsBuilding, civil and utilities engineering contractor McNicholas has appointed Geoff Rose regional manager for the Midlands and Wales. Eamonn Taylor has been appointed head of the firm’s London building and civil engineering division.Jon Dale has been promoted to managing director of Kvaerner Construction International. Andy Johnson joins the firm as ...
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Union power is back
Meet the revitalised unions. They can vet bidders for PFI projects, they can influence the Treasury on ownership of hospitals, they can change government policy on staff transferral. Can the PFI survive?
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Can Prescott save the village?
It’s decision time for John Prescott. The report on what went wrong with the Millennium Village is on his desk. Will he choose to resuscitate the model for 21st-century housing, or leave us with just another estate?
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Golden girl
Although she’s in her 80s, Mollie Parsons found herself roped into project managing the refurbishment of a Cornish village hall, complete with the full horrors of dealing with funders, bureaucrats and builders.
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Here’s the new plan
Forget Coronation Street and Brookside. Granadaland is leading the avant-garde in urban design and regeneration – as the next three pages of exciting projects demonstrate.
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The big comeback
Marks & Spencer’s huge new store is leading the regeneration of Manchester city centre after the bomb. And on page 46, a footbridge that celebrates M&S’ legendary hosiery.
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Stocking thriller
Shoppers will slip through a fishnet of steel rods to reach Manchester’s M&S store when a sexy new footbridge linking it with the Arndale opens this year.
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Cullinan’s funky new campus opens for term
Tarmac has delivered this striking university campus on time and within its £33m budget this week – but will it make the grade as an Egan demonstration project?
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Experimenting with drugs
Pharmaceuticals projects are ridiculously attractive: rapidly growing, secure, high-margin work immune to the ups and downs of the business cycle. The only catch is that they’re a “bloody nightmare” to get.
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The producers from hell
The Beeb got two feminists and a couple of builders to live together for a week, then filmed the ensuing scrap. But did they, in addition, do what they could to make sure it was as nasty as possible?
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You know his vision…
… now see his practice. His firm's three buildings in the heart of Berlin are the very model of mixed-use, high-density design – as well as being stunning examples of the architect's art.
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Discovering Columbus
In 1996, Ove Arup Partnership began exploring the uncharted waters of document management systems. The team was unimpressed by what it found. Then an expert from its own computer arm rang. The result is a gift to the industry.
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Rough justice
A quality mark scheme with a consumer complaint element will hit cowboy builders hard. Alas, it will do the same to legitimate outfits.
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The trouble with set-off
Construction firms have shown little reticence in using set-off provisions in contracts as a way of promoting positive cash flow. Adjudicators, like the courts, should be on the lookout for this iniquitous practice.
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The cost of a holiday
The Working Time Regulations cause difficulties for companies that engage workers whose pay or hours fluctuate. On what basis do you work out their holiday pay?