http://www.constructingexcellence.org.uk/blog/?p=35 Constructing Excellence in the Built Environment Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:20:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 http://www.constructingexcellence.org.uk/blog/?p=35&cpage=1#comment-94 Elemental » Links for October 30th through November 5th Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:01:52 +0000 http://www.constructingexcellence.org.uk/blog/?p=35#comment-94 [...] Constructing Excellence in the Built Environment » Blog Archive » Never Waste a Good Cri... – Another report added to my 'must read and comment pile': "Government, as a client, needs to understand the enlightened thinking that better and more intelligent designs improve patients’ recovery in hospitals and learning outputs in schools. So, rather than reduce the number of schools and hospitals being built, it must sponsor smarter and more productive solutions and reduce the amount of money wasted on the procurement process. For Government as a policy maker, the challenge is to create an environment that incentivises innovation and speeds up the modernisation process." [...] [...] Constructing Excellence in the Built Environment » Blog Archive » Never Waste a Good Cri… – Another report added to my 'must read and comment pile': "Government, as a client, needs to understand the enlightened thinking that better and more intelligent designs improve patients’ recovery in hospitals and learning outputs in schools. So, rather than reduce the number of schools and hospitals being built, it must sponsor smarter and more productive solutions and reduce the amount of money wasted on the procurement process. For Government as a policy maker, the challenge is to create an environment that incentivises innovation and speeds up the modernisation process." [...]

]]> http://www.constructingexcellence.org.uk/blog/?p=35&cpage=1#comment-66 Tony Baldwinson Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:32:18 +0000 http://www.constructingexcellence.org.uk/blog/?p=35#comment-66 Agreeing that "Surely the key comment is ‘there has been some progress, but nowhere near enough.’" and adding "We believe that the era of client-led change is over, at least for the moment, and that it is now time for the supply side ...." maybe we have to approach the problem differently. I'd suggest that city-regions have a coherent labour market in construction as in other sectors, albeit that senior players are very mobile. So, low carbon city-regions will want a built environment which gives them a comparative advantage, and the refurbishment & maintenance knowledge, skills, products and processes can be amassed into clusters of excellence. City-focussed interventions might now give the most benefit, and urban trends in the USA seem to confirm this. Agreeing that “Surely the key comment is ‘there has been some progress, but nowhere near enough.’” and adding “We believe that the era of client-led change is over, at least for the moment, and that it is now time for the supply side ….” maybe we have to approach the problem differently. I’d suggest that city-regions have a coherent labour market in construction as in other sectors, albeit that senior players are very mobile.
So, low carbon city-regions will want a built environment which gives them a comparative advantage, and the refurbishment & maintenance knowledge, skills, products and processes can be amassed into clusters of excellence. City-focussed interventions might now give the most benefit, and urban trends in the USA seem to confirm this.

]]> http://www.constructingexcellence.org.uk/blog/?p=35&cpage=1#comment-56 Tim Pollard Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:25:28 +0000 http://www.constructingexcellence.org.uk/blog/?p=35#comment-56 Surely the key comment is 'there has been some progress, but nowhere near enough.' The statements made are well put, and pertinent to the major issues which we all have to address. However, the evidence is that the appetite for change is little different and that effective change is only possible through legislation and regulation. The 3Cs, cycnicism, conservatism and cost, still dominate the industry which is complex and divided. I fervently hope that this report gains more support and practical outcomes than it's predecessors, for all our sakes. Surely the key comment is ‘there has been some progress, but nowhere near enough.’ The statements made are well put, and pertinent to the major issues which we all have to address. However, the evidence is that the appetite for change is little different and that effective change is only possible through legislation and regulation.
The 3Cs, cycnicism, conservatism and cost, still dominate the industry which is complex and divided. I fervently hope that this report gains more support and practical outcomes than it’s predecessors, for all our sakes.

]]> http://www.constructingexcellence.org.uk/blog/?p=35&cpage=1#comment-55 Tweets that mention Constructing Excellence in the Built Environment » Blog Archive » Never Waste a Good Crisis -- Topsy.com Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:00:44 +0000 http://www.constructingexcellence.org.uk/blog/?p=35#comment-55 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Paul Wilkinson and BernieJMitchell, constructingexc. constructingexc said: New CE blog post on Never Waste a Good Crisis. Sets the future agenda for industry improvement http://bit.ly/DEDTO [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Paul Wilkinson and BernieJMitchell, constructingexc. constructingexc said: New CE blog post on Never Waste a Good Crisis. Sets the future agenda for industry improvement http://bit.ly/DEDTO [...]

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