More Focus – Page 401

  • Sainsbury's distribution centre in Stoke-on-Trent illustrates how distribution has become a key part of the diversification of products sold in supermarkets
    Features

    Cost model: Distribution centres

    2004-08-06T00:00:00Z

    The distribution centre sector is buzzing at the moment, as businesses rush to outsource their goods-handling to logistics firms, and supermarkets adopt just-in-time delivery systems. Here we look at the key issues in affecting distribution centres – and, more importantly, breaks down how much one would cost

  • Features

    Too hot to handle

    2004-08-06T00:00:00Z

    Climate change will make London as hot as Marseille by 2080, which means designers will have to radically rethink how they ventilate schools, hospitals, offices and homes to prevent people from melting altogether.

  • PCKO Architect' eight flats do not conceal their prefabricated origins but have high quality finishes and a front veil of sliding timber louvres
    Features

    Flat out

    2004-08-06T00:00:00Z

    Hyde Housing Association has just built a four-storey apartment block. The job took 14 months less than a traditional build would have, and was £210,000 cheaper than a standard prefabricated solution. We found out the secret of its success

  • Features

    Object lesson

    2004-08-06T00:00:00Z

    It’s gold stars and smiley faces all round for Willmott Dixon and White Design, who have shot to the top of the government’s class with their super-sustainable Cheshire primary school. We deliver a glowing report.

  • The winning crew take it easy
    Features

    BW Interiors warm up for main sail

    2004-08-03T13:20:00Z

    The interior contractor gets some sneaky practice in before the sailing event of the year

  • Features

    Light and flexible

    2004-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Three architects have made the shortlist in David Wilson Homes’ competition to update the Regency townhouse. So what did they have that the others didn’t?

  • McCarthy & Stone
    Features

    The clan McCarthy at work and play

    2004-07-30T00:00:00Z

    John McCarthy helped to create arguably the most successful housebuilder in Britain, then left after a failed buyout and a row. Now sons Clinton and Spencer are hoping to repeat the trick – with a little assistance from dad, of course.

  • Ray O'Rourke
    Features

    What makes Ray run?

    2004-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Out of all the hundreds of thousands of labourers in the industry, a few thousand take degrees. Out of them, a few hundred start a business. But only one has turned that business into a global power in his own lifetime: Ray O’Rourke. We spent three years chasing him to ...

  • Features

    Take a break

    2004-07-30T00:00:00Z

    A recent survey shows that many construction managers think it will help their careers to skip holidays. Andy Pearson reveals why they are very much mistaken

  • Features

    Appointments

    2004-07-30T00:00:00Z

    All the latest industry moves

  • Features

    How did it come to this?

    2004-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Four dead and Terminal 2E at Charles de Gaulle airport in ruins. A nation is waiting for answers. But while the French ministry of transport blames a concrete fault, others have been searching elsewhere for an explanation. Thomas Lane spoke to some of the doubters

  • A rare site
    Features

    A rare site

    2004-07-30T00:00:00Z

    It’s assumed that site workers spend more time wolf-whistling than learning skills. But the UK’s biggest single training effort aims to change all that. In the second of five monthly articles in association with ConstructionSkills, ¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ looks at how the industry will attempt to qualify 500,000 workers in the next ...

  • Features

    Cost study: Belgrave house

    2004-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Developer Grosvenor Estate wanted a sleek office block that could hold its own opposite London’s Victoria Station and attract firms from the West End and the City. Cost consultant EC Harris, architect Squire and Partners and contractor Sir Robert McAlpine explain how the project team achieved all this at 4% ...

  • Amec, Carillio, Mowlem
    Features

    Top 100 Contractors and Housebuilders 2004

    2004-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Since 1993, the nature of the construction industry’s big beasts has changed markedly. We report on the effects of 10 years of stabilisation and increasing prosperity

  • Features

    Manchester: The Remix

    2004-07-29T18:13:00Z

    The city at the forefront of Britain’s industrial revolution and its post-industrial decline is about to become the standard bearer of its urban regeneration, thanks to £1.5bn in funding and the return of the crack team that tackled the Hulme estate. Victoria Madine reports

  • No going back for Kam Birdee
    Features

    £1000 arrives via Mailbox

    2004-07-28T11:15:00Z

    Abseilers in Birmingham conquer fears to raise money for local blind charity

  • Features

    The polo prince and the housebuilders

    2004-07-26T11:06:00Z

    The McCarthy housebuilding family are mad about polo. ¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ joined them at one of the poshest events of the season - the Cartier International Polo at Windsor

  • Features

    Local Lowdown: East Anglia

    2004-07-24T15:08:00Z

    East Anglia is experiencing a building boom on a par with London. Hays Montrose's Robert Smith explains how top candidates are cherry-picking the best jobs

  • Denise Kingsmill
    Features

    The fisher queen

    2004-07-23T00:00:00Z

    Denise Kingsmill’s impressive CV got Ray O’Rourke hooked enough to hire her as head of his advisory group on human capital. Now she’s got to do some more bait-dangling to get industry bods on board. She spoke to us about fluff, grit and wrestling with salmon.

  • The prototype Optima home at Pace Group's factory at Milton Keynes. A wide range of cladding materials was tried out on the building
    Features

    Style to go - the unique flatpack home

    2004-07-23T00:00:00Z

    Cartwright Pickard Architects has helped create an off-site flatpack system that promises flexibility and super-quick build time.