The options available for organising and procuring construction work have extended considerably over the last decade, bringing about a wide range of new contracts. Some of these have evolved to meet specific clients’ requirements, such as greater speed, more concentration of responsibility, greater accountability or earlier introduction of construction expertise into the design process; others have grown up round the marketing strategy of professions or contracting organisations. S.B. Tietz
This article reviews the history of courses run by Constrado, and the writer’s involvement in them. It offers suggestions, based on this experience, in the matters of defining the aims of a course, determining the syllabus, and selecting speakers. Comments are made on appropriate venues and publicity, with observations on the need for proper stage management, and course monitoring. Finally, some remarks are offered on effective lecturing techniques. F.H. Needham
In 1972 the major engineering institutions decided to renounce any involvement in the commercial aspects of professional practice, to devote themselves to their learned-society functions. Since that time the Association of Consulting Engineers, which draws its members from those institutions, has defined the conditions of engagement that generally form the basis of professional appointments in consultancy practice. Peter Campbell
In 198l , Martin Barnes Project Management was appointed to design, from first principles, a radical new method for commissioning the design and construction of buildings. The British Property Federation, representing the majority of private developers, were concerned that building in the UK took too long, cost too much, and did not always produce creditable results. They wanted a system which they could trust and which would provide them with value for money. A.S. White and M. Barnes
The paper describes some aspects of the structural design of the new headquarters building for a leading cement manufacturer. The 13 OOO m2 building was designed to make practical use of concrete in a wide variety of visually attractive ways. D.J.A. Alsop
We are all aware of the increase in ‘non-traditional’ forms of contract which have been introduced into the construction industry over the past 2 decades. The reasons for them initially related to the demand for rapid construction techniques to satisfy the development ‘boom’, of the 1960s. The subsequently proven unsatisfactory performance of many of the buildings constructed at that time diminished not only the reputation of the parties concerned in a particular failure, but also that of the industry as a whole. C.S. Tyler
Two Houses of Worship recently constructed for the Bahá’i Faith in Western Samoa and India are examples of integration of structure and architecture. A.R. Flint, D.I. Cooper and S. Naharoy
Settlement and liability Responsibility in dealing with the settlement of terrace houses was first raised by Mr J. A. Tanner last July. Contributions to the discussion were received from Messrs E. J. Skilton, N. E. Hindley, and J. Pryke, in October, from Mr B. W. Totterdill in November, and from Mr R. C. Hairsine, writing on a number of subjects, in December. Another contribution has now been received from Mr G. Brandt, writing from Liverpool. Verulam
I am sorry this letter is rather long but I am not sure that, as a mere working engineer, I have the time or skill to write a short one. As a modern engineer I do of course have the ability to write a long letter when a short one would be preferable, and perhaps this is one of the problems with our profession! G.J. Austen