More Focus 鈥� Page 129
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FeaturesWhy is talking about mental health taboo in construction?
As 好色先生TV launches its 好色先生TV A Better Balance initiative, shining the spotlight on the hidden concerns of construction workers, we focus on a serious health and safety issues facing the industry: depression, anxiety and stress-related illness
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FeaturesWhitmore Park Primary School, Coventry: Examination time
All eyes are on the newly opened Whitmore Park Primary School in Coventry, the first completion under the government鈥檚 Priority School 好色先生TV Programme. So how exactly was it built in just 47 weeks, for 拢4.8m?
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FeaturesCountry focus: France
The pace of recovery, both in construction and in the wider economy, remains stubbornly slow across the Channel. Charlotte Ho-Souto of Arcadis EC Harris and Barbra Carlisle of EC Harris examine the dynamics driving the French building sector
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FeaturesInterview: Colette O'Shea
Land Securities鈥� Colette O鈥橲hea is about to take over the presidency of the British Council for Offices. And she has a thing or two to say about how parts of the development industry have lost sight of the most important people - the occupiers of the buildings themselves
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FeaturesA lesson in geometry: Knauf's UK headquarters
AHMM鈥檚 design for the new Knauf HQ is a masterclass in lineal precision, fitting seamlessly into its industrial riverside setting despite its modernist white exterior. Here鈥檚 how, with the use of some of the manufacturer鈥檚 own materials, the project stacked up to just 拢1.8m
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FeaturesThe 2014 consultants' salary survey
Wages are still slowly on the up according to this year鈥檚 好色先生TV/Hays Construction consultants鈥� salary survey, but more significant is the drive towards recruitment in 2014, with firms seeking - and competing for - new talent to avoid skills shortages on the horizon
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FeaturesWhat to specify: Commercial
This week we have some interesting settings for commercial products, including a fashion house in Manchester, the depths of Amsterdam鈥檚 subway system and Volkswagen鈥檚 HQ in Milton Keynes
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FeaturesLack of infrastructure investment could hit recovery
Arcadis report finds lack of investment in new and replacement buildings and infrastructure could threaten UK鈥檚 economic recovery
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FeaturesLead times: January - March 2014
Increased enquiries and workload are now affecting most trades throughout the industry, which is showing in increasing lead times. Brian Moone of Mace Business School reports
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FeaturesThe pressure of payment reform
The launch last week of a new payment charter adds to the legitmate pressure on contractors to pay their subbies promptly. But this pressure could also starve contractors of the cash they need to invest, push up prices, and even push some firms over the edge
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FeaturesGarden cities: Back to the future
Garden cities offered a utopian vision of town planning at the dawn of the last century. But could they be the answer to the current housing crisis? The coalition seems to think so
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FeaturesThe eco-supermarket pioneers
As Sainsbury鈥檚 Greenwich, the pioneer of retail sustainability, prepares for possible demolition just 15 years after its opening, we look at how eco-stores have evolved since, with supermarkets attempting to save energy and boost their green credentials
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FeaturesTracker: March 2014
Construction activity showed a slight fall in the third month of the year but remained in positive territory, pointing towards a period of sustained expansion. Experian Economics reports
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FeaturesInterview: Alan Brown
With two investors behind it and the recent purchase of upmarket housebuilder Banner, Cala Group has come a long way from its precarious refinancing in 2009. Alan Brown talks about delivering volume at the top end of the market, and plans to treble turnover to 拢800m a year
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FeaturesSpring in our step
Business indicators point to plenty of momentum in the economy as household consumption expands and employment rises. Michael Dall presents highlights of Barbour ABI鈥檚 latest monthly Economic Construction Market Review, with a special focus on the education sector
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FeaturesMarket forecast: Rebound on track
Although Q1 2014 saw output and price levels taper off, the overall direction of the industry remains encouraging, especially considering its supply and skills constraints
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FeaturesWhat to specify: Doors & windows
You can see clearly now with the latest doors and windows products. Innovations include automatic door operators, top swing reversible windows and electronic roof windows
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FeaturesHow to be cool: Tackling overheating in UK homes
Overheating in homes is set to become an increasingly urgent issue, especially in the capital, as global temperatures rise. With energy legislation demanding that buildings become ever more airtight, what is the best way for designers to respond?
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FeaturesWorkers of the World unite
Bosses of employee-owned companies claim greater engagement and increased profitability. So why isn鈥檛 everyone doing it?
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FeaturesNBS survey: The BIM that will bring us together
NBS鈥� annual BIM survey suggests that uptake of the collaborative technology has risen sharply over the past year. But is it really becoming the industry norm?