Book Description

In today's competitive corporate environment architecture and interior design are too precious a resource to be squandered. America's leading-edge corporations have already begun to recognize building design as a tool that must be considered an important factor in their comprehensive business strategy. An expert on architecture and design, Thomas Walton shows how a successful relationship between architect and executive can enhance corporate goals and even generate new, sometimes unexpected, profits from innovative design concepts.

The first steps to success, as Walton emphasizes, come before construction begins. Being aware of future needs and assuring that construction is economical, flexible and responsive are key objectives for both the executive and architect. Communication networks and specific decision-making processes must be firmly established by client and architect if these objectives are to be met and optimal solutions achieved.

Focusing on five case studies, including the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company office in Sunnyvale, California, and the Hercules Headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, Walton shows how first-rate facilities can improve return-on-investment and foster the high-level creativity and loyalty needed in fast-paced, high-tech industries. These five cases also demonstrate the pitfalls that must be surmounted in the planning process and the significant economic rewards that can follow the implementation of a design strategy that demands a synthesis of many viewpoints, talents, and architectural options. Dramatic positive effects in productivity, corporate culture, values in the work force, cost control, planning flexibility, and social responsibility represent just a few of the additional benefits of a strong design strategy.

The exciting message of this intriguing work is that any corporation, large or small, can transform the traumatic and costly decision to relocate, rebuild, or remodel into an opportunity for greater profits and companywide benefits. The secret to such spectacular results is revealed in this essential guide to making architecture and design a bottom: line advantage. ... Read more

Book Description

In the mid-1960s geotechnical engineers paid the highest liability insurance of any profession and by 1969 were virtually uninsurable. As a result, the ASFE was founded and helped these engineers not only lower their insurance rates, but get to the point where, by 1980, they were the least liability-prone members of the design profession. Now, John Bachner and the ASFE tell all other design professionals how to accomplish the same task. This book, which incorporates the ASFE's Introduction to Professional Practice program for advancing architects' and engineers' knowledge of professional practice issues, addresses almost every aspect of the design professionals' practice as they relate to liability, from procedures for verifying the accuracy of technical output to steps for improving client and project selection, workscope development, personnel training and dispute resolution. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

John is Great!
John is my step dad, and he can write really well. This book he told me, was to prevent lawsuits to engineers. I read some of it and thought it was an excellent read. I think that all engineers should own a copy. I also love, John! ... Read more

Book Description

This book allows the construction professional to gain an insight into the fast moving subject of architectural management. Subjects covered include: organization of design and construction; Computing and the architect; quality and value engineering; performance of buildings; the public estate; professional/construction law and education and training. ... Read more

Book Description

This essential reference book for the profit-conscious construction professional is firmly grounded in reality: the author uses information from recent surveys conducted across a wide range of construction firms and includes useful checklists, models, case studies and summaries. ... Read more

Book Description

The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice offers definitive guidance on running an architectural firm. This annual update of the Handbookoffers crucial information on the emerging issues that are affecting architects' daily business practices. ... Read more

Book Description

The ability to successfully procure built assets is at the heart of the construction process and in turn at the heart of the procurement process is identifying the constantly evolving needs of the construction client.

Despite client criticism and a mountain of reports and statistics, spanning both the public and private sectors, until now the construction industry has failed to transform the diverse and often separate and inefficient processes of design and procurement of built assets into one single integrated production process. There are now signs however that the construction industry is beginning to transform its approach to built asset procurement and client care.

This book draws heavily on the experiences and best practice of other industries and market sectors who have, just as construction is now having to do, taken a critical look at their procurement practices and techniques and the inherent waste in many traditional systems. The text includes practice-based case studies, from both the public and private sectors, to demonstrate how new procurement approaches are delivering value for money over the life cycle of built assets.

This book is recommended reading for a range of students in the field of the built environment from quantity surveyors and commercial managers to architects and an essential and comprehensive guide to all construction procurement professionals seeking to familiarise themselves with the latest approaches to procurement.

*Procurement based on the needs of the client.
*Different procurement systems evaluated.
*Worldwide case studies. ... Read more

Book Description

Providing an overview of specifying, from selecting materials and products to writing the specification documents, Specifying Buildings is a new guide to this important part of the construction process. Where it differs from most books is in covering the management of the specification process, making sure that the design intent is transferred to the building assembly as specified.

Covering a wide range of practices, Stephen Emmitt and David Yeomans have ensured the book has global relevance with specific differences between UK, Australia and the US identified. Case studies demonstrate how specifying works in practice. This book will prove invaluable to students of building, construction and architecture as well as professionals in the industry.

* Improve your skills by learning not only how to write a specification but also how to manage the specification process
* Deepen your understanding with a comprehensive overview of the specifying process from selecting materials and products to writing the specification
* Gain an insight into practice with real-world case studies ... Read more

Book Description

Focuses on how to be competitive through pricing services based upon value to the client. Contains excellent advice on managing cost, contract types, pricing change orders, cost accounting techniques, negotiating methods, liability considerations, bidding approaches and much more. ... Read more

Book Description

The worldwide market for SAN and NAS storage is anticipated to grow from US $2 billion in 1999 to over $25 billion by 2004.  As business-to-business and business-to-consumer e-commerce matures, even greater demands for management of stored data will arise.
With the rapid increase in data storage requirements in the last decade, efficient management of stored data becomes a necessity for the enterprise.  A recent UC-Berkeley study predicts that 150,000 terabytes of disk storage will be shipped in 2003.  Most financial, insurance, healthcare, and telecommunications institutions are in the process of implementing storage networks that are distributed to some degree.  For these institutions, data integrity is critical, and they will spend much time and money on planning.

One of the primary obstacles to implementing a storage network cited by enterprise IT managers is a lack of knowledge about storage networking technology and the specific issues involved in extending a Storage Area Network (SAN) or Network Attached Storage (NAS) over the Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN) or Wireless Area Networks (WAN).  Distributed Storage Networks : Architecture, Protocols and Management addresses the "terminology gap" between enterprise network planners and telecommunications engineers, who must understand the transport requirements of storage networks in order to implement distributed storage networks.  Jepsen comprehensively provides IT managers, planners, and telecommunications professionals with the information they need in order to choose the technologies best suited for their particular environment.

• Addresses a hot topic that will become increasingly important in the coming years
• Enables high-level managers and planners to make intelligent decisions about network needs.
• Includes example network configurations providing solutions to typical user scenarios
• Fills the "terminology gap" between enterprise network managers and telecommunications engineers who must understand the transport requirements of storage networks in order to implement distributed storage area networks

A fundamental resource for all network managers, planners and network design engineers, as well as telecommunications engineers and engineering, computer science, and information technology students. ... Read more

Book Description

Design administrators serve a dual role: while acting as office managers, they must also become a liaison between the designers and client, as well as the consultants on projects. This professional practice book is written for both large and small design firms, with chapters devoted to all aspects of design administration, from project management and marketing, to human resources and accounting. ... Read more

Book Description

Artistic control and financial security…a pipe dream, right?…Not anymore, and this A-to-Z guide shows you how! Writing in an electrifying style that inspires as it instructs, Frank A. Stasiowski fills you in on everything you need to know about organizing, financing, managing, staffing, marketing, budgeting, and above all, succeeding in your own design practice. He also coaches you on a few of the less concrete problems of running a business, such as overcoming your internal obstacles to success and becoming an effective leader. Packed with hundreds of checklists, sample contracts, resumes, and forms garnered from a number of successful design firms, and offering dozens of inspirational true stories about architects and design professionals who did it their way, this book has virtually everything you need to get you up and running in your own successful practice. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Read it now, rather than later!
Ms. Willard is insightful. Her book is both informative and creative. Definitely a bargain purchase for anyone entertaining the notion of beginning a design firm. It is refreshing to find an author who is stacked and has a creative mind.

Read this before starting your practice
This book was an eye opening experience. It should be read by anyone thinking of opening their own firm. Read it two to three months ahead of taking the plunge ... Read more

Book Description

* Now available in paperback * Most widely used guide for students and practicing architects * Updated to take into account changes in practice. Flow charts show a step-by-step guide to making the right moves in the right sequence The most widely used guide for students and practicing architects in which Ronald Green sets out the conventional process by which an architect takes a job from first contact with a client to the settlement of the final account with the builder. ... Read more

Book Description

Galbraith's Building and Land Management Law for Students 4th edition is written for students on technician and degree courses in 'built environment' subjects - building construction, surveying, land management, architecture, quantity surveying and planning.

It gives straightforward and readable accounts of the main areas of the law that affect the industry and its practitioners, with the emphasis on the practical working of the law.

The fourth edition has been fully revised and the growing importance of the law of the European Union has been recognised by the incorporation of a new chapter. Other significant developments which are examined include: the Arbitration Act 1996; the Housing Grants; Construction and Regeneration Act 1996; alternative dispute resolution; unfair terms in consumer contracts; the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996; the Party Walls Act 1996; Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995; Housing Act 1996 and the General Permitted Development Order 1995.

*Fourth edition of an established and popular textbook
*Straightforward accounts of the main areas of the law that affect the industry
*Emphasis on the practical working of the law ... Read more

Book Description

This is both a guide for those preparing for the professional practice examinations and an ideal reminder and reference for those in practice in the UK and other areas following UK rules.

'Professional Practice' deals with the practical issues of being successful in the landscape design business. It provides a framework of the issues that underlie the work of landscape architects in business and in law.

Collected into one volume are all the relevant but diverse legal, business and practical contract management themes of the Professional Practice examination. Valuable information is presented in easy to follow line diagrams and flow charts.Key Schedules and Acts, which are presented and updated on a companion website, www.bh.com/companions/075064818X, are clearly explained and made easy to understand. Topics covered include Landscape Practice, Liability and the Law, Planning Legislation, Environmental Legislation, Tendering and Contract Administration.

The contents of the book reflect the author team's understanding of the working environment of landscape architecture and their experience of communicating that knowledge to their profession.

Relevant in the UK and in all countries in the commonwealth which practice under UK rules

Cover every aspect of the Professional Practice exam with this comprehensive source of information

Gain a clear understanding of the legal and commercial environment of landscape architecture in the UK

Benefit from the author team's 10 years experience of teaching for the Professional Practice exam ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Does not apply to U.S.
This book was published in Great Britain and deals with British standards and laws. While it is interesting to compare with US standards, and some things are essentially the same in both countries, it is not a good LARE review book !

British Invasion
Just a word to the wise if you are looking at buying this book.
It is intended for Landscape Architects in Great Britain, not the United States.

I never really read it, because it didn't apply to me...
so I gave it a neutral(I think) 3 star rating. ... Read more