1. BIM around the world country by country
Accompanying our BIM around the world article, CM summarises BIM progress in some of the major nations of the world, including the US, China, Qatar and Germany. Read more…
2. Level 3 BIM is our ‘Facebook’ revolution
In a discussion hosted by BIM+, BIM Task Group chairman Mark Bew outlined the key priorities in the Level 3 Strategic Plan – and fielded questions from the consulting, contracting and client world. Read more…
3. Balfour Beatty hunts for £300m to improve cash flow after ‘awful’ results
Balfour Beatty could try to squeeze £200m in cash from existing contracts via “claims management” and “commercial management” and cut £100m in overhead costs to offset a fall in its working capital. Read more…
4. World’s largest CLT building starts on site in Hackney
A 121-unit residential block, that when complete will be the largest cross laminated timber (CLT) building in the world, has started on site in Dalston Lane, Hackney in London. Read more…
5. Six contractors offer route to new ‘degree apprenticeship’ and MCIOB
Around 80 school-leavers or recent entrants to the industry will start earning-and-learning on a new two-part, six-year “trailblazer” apprenticeship leading to an honours degree and professional status – without the student debt. Read more…
6. UK construction can’t see the wood for the trees
Our green and pleasant land is covered in trees, yet the UK construction industry imports 80% of its timber. Stephen Cousins looks at efforts to persuade the construction sector to look closer to home. Read more…
7. Tier 1 contractors sign up supply chain to ‘offsite school’
Contractors Skanska, Carillion, Costain and Laing O’Rourke are backing a new government-funded initiative to upskill members of their supply chain in offsite methods of “industrialised” construction. Read more…
8. NBS Toolkit – is it BIM’s game-changer?
BIM+ got an early view of the NBS BIM Toolkit – the new Digital Plan of Work and a unified classification system for buildings’ products, spaces and systems – at a presentation given by the NBS for the London and South East BIM Hubs. Read more…
9. London’s skyline continues to grow upwards, survey reveals
An update to last year’s survey on proposed tall buildings in London has found a significant increase in the number of towers in the pipeline, with 263 either under construction, with planning permission or awaiting a decision. Read more…
10. Contractors sought to trial ‘Smartvest’ safety system
3Squared, the software development specialist working on the “Google Glass” trial with Autodesk, is now looking for industry partners in the construction and rail sector to trial its Bluetooth-enabled “SmartVest”. Read more…
Top in BIM case studies
Sandon Dock, Liverpool: Wastewater treatment works
United Utilities’ carried out a £50m refurbishment of the existing plant, and added a secondary treatment process in the disused Wellington Dock. The dock is protected by English Heritage, and BIM was critical in delivering the project. Read more…
Top in Management
Arithmetic error takes contractors back to court
Trowers & Hamlins’ Theresa Mohammed on a case where an adjudicator’s arithmetic went wrong, but the Technology & Construction Court said the correction was made in good time. Read more…
Top in Comment
Where have all the PFI hospitals gone?
In response to the dramatic drop in the number of new Private Finance Initiative (PFI) hospital projects coming to market, Simon Kydd, head of healthcare for the UK at engineering consultant WSP, asks whether PF2 works for the NHS. Read more…
Top in International
China erects 57-storey tower in 19 days
The 2 million square foot tower built by Broad Group in the south-eastern Chinese province of Hunan, contains 800 apartments and enough office space for 4,000 workers. Read more…
