The findings of a recent report have indicated the growing need for independent merchants to find the right balance between fulfilling in-person trade sales and providing support via digital channels. The new report from National Buying Group (NBG), Valuing Local Independent Trade Merchants in a Digital World, analysed the role
BM TRADA/Warringtonfire will be returning to FIREX with a stand explaining the process of fire testing and classifying construction products, and the importance of third-party certification. Delegates attending the show at the London ExCeL between 16 – 18 May 2023, can visit the BM TRADA/Warringtonfire stand (FI.1430) to interact with
New City College is proud to announce the launch of FE’s first low carbon technology lab which will provide green skills training for London’s workforce. The lab, equipped with cutting-edge technology, was launched at a special breakfast presentation on Thursday 4 May, attended by industry experts and business leaders who
Environmental Product Declarations offer facts for environmental and climate protection The building sector is responsible for over 30 percent of global CO2 emissions. In the fight against climate change and for an environmentally friendly future, it is therefore particularly important to build in a sustainable and resource-saving way. But how
Autodesk, Inc. has unveiled the first set of capabilities of Autodesk Forma, an industry cloud that will unify workflows across the teams that design, build and operate the built environment. Forma’s initial capabilities target the early-stage planning and design process with automations and AI-powered insights that simplify exploration of design
Your construction company’s efficiency relies on many aspects of doing business in 2023. The world changes all the time, and you need to change with it. Fortunately, you don’t need to make huge changes. And you only need to make minor changes to how you manage your business. Of course,
The casino business is a multi-billion-dollar industry, with operators splashing a fortune to design some of the most glamorous buildings worldwide. After all, most gamblers with money would easily want to associate themselves with a casino with state-of-the-art interior and exterior designs. In this article, we’ll list 6 top casino
The findings of a recent report have indicated the growing need for independent merchants to find the right balance between fulfilling in-person trade sales and providing support via digital channels. The new report from National Buying Group (NBG), Valuing Local Independent Trade Merchants in a Digital World, analysed the role of digital in the traditionally low-digital builders’ merchant sector. Specifically, it surveyed UK tradespeople to find out if and how buying channels had changed post-COVID, why customers continue to buy from independent builders’ merchants, and the role digital has to play in the industry. Despite the post-COVID rise of digital channels, the survey revealed that 92% of trade sales continue to be made over-counter, marking the builders merchants’ sector as uniquely low-digital. Although 61.5% of tradespeople said they bought more online during the pandemic many have now reverted to a hybrid approach to sourcing supplies, with 60.5% claiming to buy both in-store and online now. According to NBG Managing Director Nick Oates, these findings demonstrate the strength of the sector, which is adopting the best of both the physical and non-physical worlds. “As our new report demonstrates, while digital sales have made huge inroads across the retail sector post-COVID, builders’ merchants are bucking this trend,” he explains. “This is understandable – unlike in some other industries, there are many factors to in-person buying in this sector, and especially with independent merchants, that are hard to replicate online. “But this is not to say that the sector, and more specifically, our Partners and Suppliers, is not implementing digital practices. As our report makes clear, tradespeople are using these channels to carry out activities that complement the trade counter, including research, price-checking, basket building, videos, reviews and business administration. It is clear there has been a sea-change in best practice, and the role of digital for tradespeople may not lie solely in sales, but mainly in support functions that bolster over-counter sales.” The survey highlighted the main reasons tradespeople choose to buy in-store or in-person, with location (54.5%), customer service (54%), convenience (40.5%) and access to product knowledge and advice (32.5%) deemed the main lures of the trade counter. By comparison, when it comes to buying digitally, convenience (60.5%), price (41.5%) and product range (41.5%) were given as the main reasons why tradespeople choose to buy online. The report also collected qualitative evidence from respondents to further explore the reasons behind these findings. According to Nick, the data demonstrates the key role independent merchants can play in customers’ buying decisions, citing factors such as personal relationships, expertise, personalisation and feeling part of a community. “While it has been heartening to see that the digital literacy of tradespeople is increasing, it is also highly encouraging to see feedback showing how customers have returned to trade branches,” Nick concludes. “This is testament to the strength of independent builders’ merchants, and the value of strong relationships. We believe tradespeople are more inclined to work with merchants they know and trust on a personal level, and this will be vital to ensuring all parties are able to thrive despite the challenges 2023 might bring.” To download National Buying Group’s latest report, Valuing Local Independent Trade Merchants in a Digital World, click here. For more information on National Buying Group, including how to join the premier buying group for independent merchants, visit https://www.nationalbuyinggroup.com/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
BM TRADA/Warringtonfire will be returning to FIREX with a stand explaining the process of fire testing and classifying construction products, and the importance of third-party certification. Delegates attending the show at the London ExCeL between 16 – 18 May 2023, can visit the BM TRADA/Warringtonfire stand (FI.1430) to interact with display models of key construction products including fire doors, glazing systems, pipes and cables, all of which have been subjected to fire resistance testing. The team’s technical experts will also be on hand to discuss the principles of third-party certification for manufacturers, installers, and maintainers of passive fire protection products and the important role played by its Certifire and BM TRADA Q-Mark certification schemes. Each day, BM TRADA/ Warringtonfire, which are UKAS-accredited third-party certification bodies, will carry out live demonstrations of correct fire door installation, and how to install fire stopping measures – running at 12pm and 2pm respectively. Visitors attending on Wednesday 17th May can hear about the methods used to derive European classifications for construction products, when technical manager, Peter presents in the FIREX theatre at 2.15pm. The European classification standards (EN 13501 series) define harmonised procedures for classifying the resistance and reaction to fire performance of construction products. Peter’s presentation will cover test methods, the extension of scope using direct (DIAP) and extended application (EXAP) rules, classification process, product families and using classifications for UKCA marking and third-party certification. Peter Barker, technical manager at Warringtonfire, said: “Third-party certification is once again the overriding theme of FIREX, given its fundamental importance to the design, construction and operation of safe and secure buildings. We are looking forward to engaging with delegates on a broad range of topics and hope to provide direct and informed guidance on navigating the fire safety challenges facing today’s built environment.” For more information, please visit: www.warringtonfire.com / www.bmtrada.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New City College is proud to announce the launch of FE’s first low carbon technology lab which will provide green skills training for London’s workforce. The lab, equipped with cutting-edge technology, was launched at a special breakfast presentation on Thursday 4 May, attended by industry experts and business leaders who had the chance to tour the new facilities and hear about the benefits they will provide in the challenge for a new way of working to meet cleaner energy and net zero targets. The launch followed the creation of the Central London Forward Partnership, led by New City College, which comprises nine colleges across Central London. The partnership successfully secured a £2.7million bid from the Strategic Development Fund (SDF) to deliver high quality technical education in the low carbon energy industry. The lab has been developed at New City College Hackney and will be invaluable to employers who need to retrain employees in green skills and low carbon technologies. Courses and training for the next generation of installers include Solar PV, Solar Thermal, Air Source Heat Pumps, Electric Storage, Electric Vehicle Charging, Retrofit, and Energy Efficiency. Gerry McDonald, CEO and Group Principal of New City College said at the launch: “This new and innovative training facility represents a major step forward in our commitment to sustainability and makes us the sector leading college for the low carbon energy agenda. We have invested in it and have delivered, making us well placed to be pioneers in this essential work.” To the attendees, Gerry added: “You are the people who are going to make this happen. And you need a college to work hand-in-hand with industry and other partners, to make sure that London and the UK has the right people and skills to make the necessary changes to reach net zero.” Guest speaker Catherine Barber, Director of Environment and Energy for the GLA, congratulated New City College on the lab launch and said: “The Mayor wants London to be net zero by 2030, so this agenda on climate change, on clean technology and providing the skills that London needs to meet this ambitious target, is so vital. “There are currently about 4,000 people working in retrofit in London, but that figure needs to be closer to 60,000 people, so there is an enormous demand for skilled workers and the training you are offering.” As well as tours of the facilities, guests also saw Gerry McDonald unveil a commemorative plaque and present awards to two Low Carbon Skills Champions, industry experts Dan White from MCS and Hazel Mealy from Lewisham, Lambeth and Southwark Councils, who had been instrumental in helping to set up the lab. In accepting the award, Dan said: “There is an immediacy about where we are in renewables. They are not our future, they are our now. One of the greatest challenges is persuading employees out of their old ways and into the new. Older people need to retrain in the middle of their carers – and this is the first challenge we are facing. “Right now the market is going crazy, searching for skilled staff. We need to lift the standard of training, of qualifications and of competence in low carbon technologies – that’s what the customer deserves. And this lab is where it will all start.” Jamie Stevenson, NCC Group Executive Director for Apprenticeships & Business Development, who leads the SDF project for Central London, thanked key partner Quantum Group. He said: “I am delighted this project has culminated in FE’s first low carbon lab, which is an excellent resource for Londoners and industry. We can now deliver tailored, hands-on and bespoke training to existing employees and the future workforce to help London work towards net zero. “The SDF funding has enabled us to invest in facilities, resources and our staff, to deliver the green skills required for today and for future proofing our tomorrow. “We’re excited about the impact our project is having on the local community. We will continue to develop our offering and invest in the next generation of low carbon energy professionals.” Guests at the launch were treated to a fantastic breakfast prepared by NCC Hospitality and Catering students who train in Hackney’s OKN1 restaurant. For more information, visit Central London Forward Green Skills Partnership. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Environmental Product Declarations offer facts for environmental and climate protection The building sector is responsible for over 30 percent of global CO2 emissions. In the fight against climate change and for an environmentally friendly future, it is therefore particularly important to build in a sustainable and resource-saving way. But how to find the most climate-friendly among all the products? How is sustainable planning and building possible? The best way is with measurable data and transparency. This can be found in the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). Environmental Product Declarations are a method for the standardised presentation of the environmental impacts of products or services. EPDs provide a data basis that maps the entire life cycle of a building product or parts thereof and quantifies its environmental impacts. Environmental Product Declarations are based on the international standard ISO 14025, which applies to all sectors, but the construction industry is the pioneer in its application. The idea is that the standardised collection of environmental data on building products creates a comparable basis for sustainable construction planning. Planners, architects and builders then use this information to make an informed decision when making their selection. They use the EPD to determine which building products will minimise the environmental impact of their project. This supports sustainable construction and advances climate protection. At the same time, a sustainable way of doing business is also supported, which aims to conserve resources and reduce environmental pollution. In addition, customers can use them as evidence for various building certification systems such as LEED, BREEAM or DGNB. The most important contents of an EPD In an EPD, the environmental impacts of a product are recorded along the entire life cycle or in parts, including raw material extraction, production, transport, use, disposal and recycling, among others. For each area, various environmental criteria such as greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption are recorded and evaluated. These results or environmental indicators flow into the EPD and enable comparability between building products. An important component of an Environmental Product Declaration is the assignment of the product to a specific product category. This classification in the Product Category Rules (PCR) is necessary to establish comparability between similar products. In each product category, the relevant environmental factors are recorded and included in the EPD. Environmental Product Declarations and Life Cycle Assessments – two that belong together Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) are two key elements of sustainability in the construction industry that are closely linked. Simplified, one can say that the EPD is a standardised summary of the results of a LCA. The LCA is carried out in four phases. First the purpose and scope of the LCA is defined. This is followed by a life cycle inventory, which records data collection and calculation methods to quantify relevant inputs and outputs of a product system. In the impact assessment phase, potential impacts on the environment are analysed with the help of the results of the life cycle inventory. In the final evaluation, the results of the life cycle inventory and the impact assessment are considered together. Depending on the building product, there are different approaches to assessing environmental impacts. All start from cradle and differ over the further life cycle of the product. The concept “cradle to grave” covers all phases of a product’s life, from raw material extraction to production, transport, use and disposal. It shows the complete ecological footprint from beginning to end. The approach “cradle to gate” records the ecological footprint of a product until it leaves the factory gate and before it is transported to the consumer. It does not take into account further environmental impacts during use and disposal. “Cradle to cradle” is the most comprehensive consideration. It is based on the principle of the circular economy, where products are designed so that they can either be fully recycled or composted at the end of their life cycle. It avoids the generation of waste and promotes the conservation of resources. How does aquatherm support its customers and partners with the LCA? aquatherm has had an ISO-compliant LCA carried out for four product families, which has been verified by an independent institute. Based on these Life Cycle Assessments, aquatherm provides customers with the corresponding EPDs for their projects. The results show that aquatherm piping solutions made of polypropylene have clear advantages compared to other materials such as copper or steel with regard to energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and the amount of waste. The aquatherm environmental product declarations can be found at https://www.aquatherm.de/sustainability-2/?lang=en. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Autodesk, Inc. has unveiled the first set of capabilities of Autodesk Forma, an industry cloud that will unify workflows across the teams that design, build and operate the built environment. Forma’s initial capabilities target the early-stage planning and design process with automations and AI-powered insights that simplify exploration of design concepts, offload repetitive tasks, and help evaluate environmental qualities surrounding a building site, giving architects time to focus on creative solutions. The release marks the first step for the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations industry cloud, as new features and capabilities will be added to Forma on a continual basis. “Forma gives architecture professionals the agility to work iteratively rather than sequentially between planning and detailed design, supercharging what they can accomplish,” said Amy Bunszel, Executive Vice President of Architecture, Engineering and Construction Design Solutions at Autodesk. “From rapidly evaluating a large set of factors–from sun and wind to noise and operational energy– to offloading computational tasks to the cloud and connecting with Revit, Forma unlocks great value for our customers.” Forma will help users to rapidly evaluate dozens of design options and improve upon the desired qualities of a design. Productivity gains will be realized from quick project setup; users can unlock advanced capabilities without requiring deep technical expertise; and data can be used to tell a convincing story about the design vision to secure buy-in and bring stakeholders along. These outcomes will help architecture firms to better meet client demands and achieve higher-quality deliverables, thereby winning more bids and driving business growth. Included in Autodesk Forma’s initial capabilities: CUBE 3, an architecture, interiors and planning firm, is migrating its work to digital, cloud-based solutions to future-proof its business. “We pride ourselves on creative, intelligent designs that take our clients’ needs, budgets and the environment into consideration,” said Tony Fiorillo, Chief Information Officer at CUBE 3. “When we evaluate software solutions, we’re looking for ways to improve communication with our clients, increase speed to market, allow our team to work with flexibility in a hybrid environment, and help us adapt quickly to change. Solutions like Autodesk Construction Cloud and Forma are a huge value-add–giving us unprecedented access to data, which allows us to work smarter and go where our clients need us.” With Forma, Autodesk now offers a full end-to-end solution for building design–from early-stage planning through to design in Revit with its vast ecosystem of connected products including Autodesk Construction Cloud. For existing subscribers, Forma is now included in the Autodesk AEC Collection. “This is just the beginning,” said Bunszel. “I’m excited for the future as we continue to build out Forma, reimagining BIM to focus on achieving outcomes instead of modelling, and connecting data, teams, and workflows across the entire project lifecycle.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Your construction company’s efficiency relies on many aspects of doing business in 2023. The world changes all the time, and you need to change with it. Fortunately, you don’t need to make huge changes. And you only need to make minor changes to how you manage your business. Of course, any changes must be handled correctly. So, here are some good starting tips. Better HR and Staff Management From the smallest freelance or self-employed role to the larger multinational corporations, your employees are your bread and butter. Yet with so many things to do on a day-to-day basis, managing staff can slip away from you. But don’t worry, since you can get help from expert HR consulting companies and recruitment agencies. When you use services like these, you are rewarded with more time to focus on your business and leave the complex work to others. Outsource Where You Need To Like using HR companies, you can get immediate access to qualified, certified, and expert staff using outsourcing agencies. You can use outsourced services for pretty much anything. And over 90% of businesses do for at least one core service. These typically include services such as IT management, virtual assistants and receptionists, and even logistics services. Outsource services are often tiered and priced according to your needs, so they are affordable. Invest In Tech for Construction Company Efficiency Technology moves at such a rapid pace it can be hard to keep up. The modern expansion of artificial intelligence systems is a perfect example. But even lesser technologies, such as the way we use the web and cloud systems, have now become a core part of life and business. And in construction specifically, you can use improved technologies like these to improve your services, manage efficiency and collaborate on existing projects from anywhere in the world. Upgrade Existing Equipment Construction equipment is expensive. So you must do all you can to maintain it. This keeps costs low and also ensures your projects are as safe as possible. But the time comes when you need to invest in equipment and upgrade certain parts as required. Alternatively, you can hire or outsource equipment. When you do this, you are not responsible for upgrades, you don’t need to worry about insurance, and you can replace items when needed, or you require an upgrade. Manage Your Projects Effectively Effective project management is key to the successful completion of a construction contract. You need a clear plan in place before starting. This should include a realistic timeline, budget allocations and constraints, and continuous monitoring. This used to be more challenging. But today, you can use project management and collaboration apps such as Autodesk BIM, Revisto, and Co-Construct. All of these apps have pros and cons, taking time to find what you need. Summary You can improve construction company efficiency this year with some minor adjustments. You can use HR and outsourced teams, invest in your technology and manage projects using mobile apps. These will help bring your business into the digital age to meet customer expectations.
The casino business is a multi-billion-dollar industry, with operators splashing a fortune to design some of the most glamorous buildings worldwide. After all, most gamblers with money would easily want to associate themselves with a casino with state-of-the-art interior and exterior designs. In this article, we’ll list 6 top casino buildings with the most impressive structural architecture. #1: The Venetian (Las Vegas) The Venetian is one of the most standout casino resorts worldwide. Located in Las Vegas, this land-based casino was designed by KlingStubbins, an engineering firm in Philadelphia. The groundbreaking for this resort started in 1997 before opening its doors to tourists and gamblers in May 1999. The building cost a staggering $1.4 billion to erect, making it one of the most expensive modern resorts. The Venetian houses multiple facilities, including The Opaline Theatre, The Sands Showroom, the Grand Canal Shoppes, and the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum. #2: Luxor Casino (Las Vegas) Luxor is an ancient city in Egypt often associated with the majestic pharaohs. That said, Luxor Casino and Hotel is a 30-story building in Las Vegas that tries to copy everything about the ancient town. Opened in 1993, this casino was designed by Veldon Simpson and erected by Perini Building Company. However, after a year, the pyramid was topped off to give the casino a more Egyptian style. This venue was the tallest building on the Strip when it opened, although it was displaced by Treasure Island 11 days later. Just like online casino sites, Luxor Casino and Hotel offers diverse slot games, roulette and Poker tables. #3: Wynn Palace (Macau) Wynn Palace by Wynn Resorts in Macau is one of the largest entertainment venues worldwide. It’s a modern-looking structure that opened in 2016 after the pre-foundation for the building started in 2013. Steve Wynn even described this building as the most aggressive, ambitious, and lovely project ever undertaken by Wynn Resorts. The facility houses modern attractions, including a 320k square feet performance lake, a 1,700-room hotel, pedestal gardens, gondolas, and more. Chinese floral themes and fine arts inside the resort will surely attract the wealthiest gamblers. #4: Monte Carlo Casino (Monaco) Casino de Monte Carlo or Casino di Monte Carlo is one of the standout buildings in Monaco, France. This entertainment building was opened in July 1865 as a spa to treat various diseases. Later, a casino was opened inside the building before being expanded using the designs of Charles Garnier and Jules Dutrou. The former is famous for designing the iconic Paris opera house. The design alterations of Monte Carlo Casino included adding public spaces, gaming rooms, and concert halls. Monte Carlo Casino was again expanded in 1881. #5: Bellagio (Las Vegas) Opened in October 1998, Bellagio is an Italian-themed casino restaurant in Last Vegas designed by Jon Jerde. This venue was designed and built using $1.6 billion and is operated by MGM Resorts International. It’s a 36-story tower located on 77 acres. You will find more than 3,000 hotel rooms and a 156k square feel casino floor inside Bellagio. The venue’s signature attraction is the dancing water fountain, Fountains of Bellagio, synchronized with music. There is also an 8-5-acre artificial lake. #6: Caesars Palace (Las Vegas) If you’re looking for a casino with a classic Roman Empire theme, Caesars Palace is the place to be. The construction began in 1962 before the venue was launched in 1966. Caesars Palace’s most attractive aspects are the 18+ fountains, using 240+ million gallons of water yearly. On the entrance driveway, you’ll be greeted by a massive Julius Caesar statue hailing a taxi. The building also has statues of David and Venus greeting guests. And yes, the pool designs will make you feel like you’re taking a Roman bath.
