T&T opens in Warsaw as Polish market recovers                                                                                                                                           By David Matthews

Consultant Turner & Townsend has opened an office in Warsaw as it looks towards eastern Europe’s buoyant construction markets.

Jon White, managing director for Europe, said that the office would initially have 10 staff, most of whom would be Polish.

“It’s part of our global expansion and a...

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The Changing Role of the Architect
By Rainn Wilson

Architects have previously occupied an uneasy territory on the edge of traditional market forces in the economy: a professional path that continually strides between commercial practice and artistic endeavor.

• This split between market forces and artistic endeavor has been highlighted in the past by not competing on price: with profession wide set fee scales. Architects are no longer restricted on the ...

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Impact of 3D CAD Modeling on Building and Construction Design
By Richard M Bothom

Parametric three-dimensional (3D) modeling of buildings offers numerous benefits over computer-aided drafting (CAD drafting) for structural engineers. Buildings are compound products involving relatively large numbers of individual parts that are assembled in multiple sections for different design, analysis and construction purposes.

Modeling build...

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Construction and Prices
By Eduart Gjokutaj

It would be a great social benefit if the Albanian builders will get out of their hands a satisfactory amount of houses. If their price from year to year will become more appealing to customers, probably a part of new constructions history would be different. But so far none of these did not happen in the real world Albanian builders.

And what we have in this country?
- A "saga" construction with scary quality
- Number of ...

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Benefits of Steel House Framing
By Jack Haymaker

More and more homeowners and building companies are continuing to turn to steel framing for their houses and buildings, and it's a worldwide trend that is gaining a lot of momentum. There is a huge range of benefits for choosing a steel frame for your next home or building, and once you take a look at them, you'll likely want to make the switch for yourself. Here are just a few of the top benefits of using st...

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Assistant Quantity Surveyor
By Angela G. M.

The role of an assistant quantity surveyor most times has the same elements as a head quantity surveyor. While not having the title and the corresponding pay rate, these individuals are responsible for many of the same things. This can include estimates, control over project costs, documentation and assessment. Each aspect of a project falls directly under the watchful eye of this person. With budgets sometimes in upw...

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Advantages of Commercial Steel Buildings
By Borbala Labancz

Without any doubt, in the beginning of the 21st century, industry seems to play a more significant role in our modern lives then agriculture. Although nobody can underestimate the importance of agriculture, people are not directly dependant on it. It is more likely that our lives are being shaped by the precise development of certain industries.

You probably do not remember those days when ...

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History of Construction in the United States
By Jim D Knight

The Empire State Building, the White House, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the United States Capitol - all have one thing in common (except for the obvious fact that they are all situated in the USA): they all testify to the rich history of architecture of the USA.

The architectural timeline of the USA can be divided into 5 different periods viz.

* The Colonial period (1607-1830)
* The Fed...

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Senior Quantity Surveyor
By Angela G. M.

A senior quantity surveyor is a professional who ideals with construction projects and costs. The senior quantity surveyor estimates the cost for product manufacturing, construction projects or services. Some senior quantity surveyors specialize in specific products or services.

Different Levels and Positions

There are several different levels of quantity surveyors. At the bottom of the ladder is the entry level. Above that i...

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Frequently Asked Questions About Building Construction
By Peter K Zeller

How much money should I pay my contractor in advance?

• It depends on whether you are talking labor or materials. If you are dealing with a weak contractor, you may be asked to pay for the materials in advance...This is risky, however, you may want to take this risk to get a lower overall price. Make the check payable to both the contractor and the supplier. And...

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Constructing a New Building? Worried About Getting Fleeced?
By Russell A Dyer

"To build is to be robbed."

Some of you may remember this quote featured in the Banwell Report in the 1960's. It was used in reference to the growing feelings of building clients', resentful towards the spiralling decline of the building industry's performance. Despite the inevitable furore at the time little was achieved in providing a solution.

One migh...

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Paying More to Get Less in Construction - It's a Cultural Thing
By Craig Getchell

The culture in the real estate industry is creating obstacles that are driving up initial construction costs and negatively impacting sustainable operations. Architects & engineers are hyper-focused on the construction effort, and technology is less than 5% of that effort. These professionals have bigger concerns; even a 15-20% swing in such a s...

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Quantity Surveyor Employment and Job Opportunities
By Angela G. M.

A Quantity Surveyor has a very important job in the construction industry. Their job is to control costs. These include costs for the building, as well as the cost in hiring people. In order to be a Quantity Surveyor, one needs to be smart, know how to do math rather well, and of course have proper schooling and training.

When there is a job that a company is going to begin...

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Quantity Surveyor Trainee
By Angela G. M.

Are you a natural financial planner? Can you manage large projects, maintain quality standards, and work well within a set budget? A Trainee Quantity Surveyor strives to do all of the above with accuracy and economic skill.

So what does a Trainee Quantity Surveyor do exactly? Building projects, large and small, require someone who can minimize supply costs while maintaining the utmost quality. They provide professional ins...

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Basics of Taking Offs

As we know Taking Off, sometimes spelled as "taking-off" or "takeoff", is a main part for creating a BOQ in cost estimation process in construction industry. Quantity Surveyors/Estimators are use construction drawings and start taking off quantities of items they will need from those drawings in order to prepare a estimation. They can use drawings, either manually or electronically.

Take off happens in different ways,

• Some do manual takeoffs from field sketches
• Some d...

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QUANTITY SURVEYING PROGRAMME IN QATAR

A flexible mode part time study programme being now offered in Qatar leads to BSc (Hons) degree in Quantity Surveying awarded by University of Wolverhampton in UK. This study programme consists of 2 stages as follows.

     • Stage I – BTEC HND in Quantity Surveying awarded by Edexcel UK. Duration – 24 months (22-30 hours of lectures to  be covered per month on a flexible schedule).
     • Stage II – Top up de...

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Several Aspects of Surveying
By Piter Smith

Surveying is the process of taking measurements of feature on and occasionally above and below the earth's surface to determine their relative positions. It is a science of accurately determining the terrestrial position of points and the distances and angles between them. The practice may be more precisely described as land surveying to distinguish it from other forms of surveying like building surveying or quantity ...

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Benefits of Working With a Quantity Surveyor
By Chris Jenkinson

A quantity surveyor plays an integral part in the construction process of commercial property. Work can ultimately impact the total cost of a construction project. If in Yorkshire, a quantity surveyor Yorkshire consulting firm can help contractors and developers manage the costs related to architectural projects, including increasing the value received for the money spent on a proj...

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Concerned With Construction Costs? Hire a Quantity Surveyor
By Chris Jenkinson

If you are concerned about the construction costs on a building project in the UK, consider hiring a quantity surveyor Yorkshire professional. When you are concerned about the cost of materials and the contracts associated with these material vendors and subcontractors, this type of surveyor can work with your construction team to ensure you keep costs...

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The Role of the Quantity Surveyor
By Sam D Smith

A Quantity Surveyor is an individual who oversees many parts of the construction operation. Traditionally this role has been performed by a highly trained person with extensive knowledge in the operational procedures involved with construction or project management. This position often acts as an independent contractor and is a trusted and respected source for professional consultation. The roles of the Qua...

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What is Quantity Surveyor?
By Bea N

The Quantity Surveyor estimates and monitors the cost of construction. Quantity Surveyors manage all costs relating to building projects Quantity Surveyors are employed to monitor the cost of the project minimising the expenditure and at the same time achieving the required standards and qualities.

The Quantity Surveyor is a professional person responsible for ensuring that the budget developed during the design stage of constru...

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