Pursuing historical analogies between nineteenth-century theories and the current practices captivated by digital reproducibility, this book offers a critical take on architecture's contemporaneity through four essays: tectonics, materiality, cladding, and labor. Fundamental to this proposition is the historicity of Gottfried Semper's theorization of architecture amidst the outpouring of new materials and construction techniques during the 1850s. Starting with Semper's differentiation between theatricalization and the tectonic of theatricality, this book closely examines thematic essential to architecture's self-representation. Even though the title of this book recalls the Semperian four elements of architecture, its argument encapsulates a unique historico-theoretical project probing the tectonic of theatricality beyond Semper. The invisible tie between technique and labor is the cord running through the four subjects covered in this book. In exploring these subjects from the theoretical standpoint of Marxian dialectics, this book's contribution is focused on, but not limited to, the topicality of labor today when its relationship with capital has been further obscured by the prevailing digitalization of commodity exchange value, starting roughly in the 1990s. Each essay examines Semper's theorization of architecture in contradistinction to the ways in which technology's mediation has dominated architecture's representation. Burrowing through the invisible tie between technique and work, asymptomatic of architecture's predicament in global capitalism, this book advances the scope of architectural criticism beyond the exhausted formalism and architecture's turn to philosophy circa the 1980s and the present tendencies for presentism. It will therefore be of interest to researchers and students of architectural history and theory.

The construction sector is one of the most complex and problematic arenas within which to manage people. As a result, the applicability of much mainstream human resource management (HRM) theory to this industry is limited. Indeed, the operational realities faced by construction organizations mean that all too often the needs of employees are subjugated by performance concerns. This has potentially dire consequences for those who work in the industry, for the firms that employ them and ultimately, for the prosperity and productivity of the industry as a whole. In this new edition of their leading text, Andrew Dainty and Martin Loosemore have assembled a collection of perspectives which critically examine key aspects of the HRM function in the context of contemporary construction organizations. Rather than simply update the previous edition, the aim of this second edition is to provide a more critical commentary on the ways in which the industry addresses the HRM function and how this affects those who work within the industry. To this end, the editors have gathered contributions from many of the leading thinkers within construction HRM to critique the perspectives presented in the first edition. Each contributor either tackles specific aspects of the HRM function, or provides a critical commentary on industry practice. The authors explain, using real-life case studies, the ways in which construction firms respond to the myriad pressures that they face through their HRM practices. Together the contributions encourage the reader to rethink the HRM function and its role in defining the employment relationship. This provides essential reading for students of construction and project management, and reflective practitioners who are interested in theoretically informed insights into industry practice and its implications.

In recent years, Information Technology (IT) has been transforming business practice in many sectors resulting in efficiency gains and improved services for the client. The construction industry lags behind other manufacturing and service industries in adopting the new technology. To promote the wider use of IT in construction, it is essential to equip practitioners and graduates of construction related disciplines with knowledge of existing construction IT applications. This book provides an overview of a broad range of IT applications currently available for all stages throughout the life cycle of a building project from essential office and information management through to computer-aided design (CAD), cost estimating, project planning and scheduling, and facilities management and building maintenance. It is an invaluable and handy reference for construction professionals and clients, as well as being a clear and comprehensive text for students studying construction, building or architectural courses.

This book provides construction professionals, designers, contractors and quality auditors involved in construction projects with the auditing skills and processes required to improve construction quality and make their projects more competitive and economical. The processes within the book focus on auditing compliance to ISO, corporate quality management systems, project specific quality management systems, contract management, regulatory authorities' requirements, safety, and environmental considerations. The book is divided into seven chapters and each chapter is divided into numbered sections covering auditing-related topics that have importance or relevance for understanding quality auditing concepts for construction projects. No other book covers construction quality auditing in such detail and with this level of practical application. It is an essential guide for construction and quality professionals, but also for students and academics interested in learning about quality auditing in construction projects.

The fourth edition of Wilmot Smith on Construction Contracts continues to take a clear and practical approach to the law and practice relating to construction contracts in the UK. It provides comprehensive coverage of the substantive law and modern dispute resolution procedures in the field of construction and gives clear guidance when seeking difficult answers. Paul Darling Q.C. has joined Richard Wilmot-Smith Q.C. as co-editor. Together they have updated, refined and extended the work's coverage. The author team includes new and high-profile practitioners in the field of international arbitration (including Peter Rees Q.C. and David Bateson) and ADR (with Edwin Glasgow Q.C. joining Marion Smith Q.C. in re-casting the chapter on mediation). David Sawtell has considerably re-cast the chapter on adjudication. The law on extra contractual claims (unjust enrichment) has been substantively revised and updated by a leading expert on unjust enrichment. The work provides key practical tips including: where and when you issue proceedings; what the judges will expect and their preferences; and how trials can be made shorter. A separate section analyses enforcement of adjudicators' awards, covering recent case law on this area. This is carefully examined and digested in detail to ensure the reader has an understanding of the pitfalls of enforcement. Richard Wilmot-Smith QC and Paul Darling QC ensure that the work continues to provide an essential source of reference on this area of the law. Their practical approach and reliance on clear exposition is prevalent throughout this book, and it is allied with deep scholarship to secure its position as a definitive work on construction law.

Learn how Single-Task Construction Robots (STCRs) can improve productivity in the construction industry with this cross-disciplinary text. This third volume in The Cambridge Handbooks in Construction Robotics series discusses the STCRs employed on construction sites since the development of the approach in the 1980s, presents current applications, and highlights upcoming trends in the construction automation and robotics field. Two hundred different types of STCR are presented, from the simplest models comprising simple manipulators and mobile platforms, to those utilizing more sophisticated technologies such as aerial robotics, swarm robotics, exoskeletons, additive manufacturing technologies, self-assembling building structures, and humanoid robotics. Real-world case studies demonstrate the different application scenarios for each approach, and highlight the key implementation and management issues. With an easy-to-follow structure, and including hundreds of color illustrations, it provides an excellent toolkit for professional engineers, researchers, and students.

The construction of housing, commercial property and infrastructure projects - roads, bridges, tunnels, railways, airports - for both the private and public sectors is one of the biggest industries in the world. It contributes around 10 per cent of world GDP, employs 7 per cent of the global workforce, and consumes around 20 per cent of the world's energy. It is also a highly fragmented industry with very low profit margins and a high risk of failure for the many firms operating in its complex supply chain. Stephen Gruneberg and Noble Francis present an up-to-date analysis of how construction markets operate, how firms collaborate on projects, and how their business models work. They explore the many distinctive features of the economics of the industry, such as the use of cost-reduction rather than profit-maximizing behaviour, the processes of tendering and procurement, and the often cyclical nature of demand. Particular challenges for the industry, such as the frequency of disputes between firms and the low productivity of the sector, are shown to be the outcomes of a business model that tends to focus on the volatility of demand and managing risk at the expense of improving efficiency. As well as discussing industry-wide issues, the authors also examine how individual projects are costed. The book offers authoritative analysis and expert insight into the economics of a much misunderstood industry and is suitable for a range of courses in business schools and departments of architecture and the built environment.

Questions of insurance arise in virtually all constructions cases. Providing a much-needed guide to the complex interface between insurance law and construction projects, this fully revised and updated second edition of Insurance Law for the Construction Industry will be of practical everyday use to both contentious and non-contentious lawyers. Written by an experienced team of practising solicitors from Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP, this work combines an overview of the relevant insurance law with the specific detail specialists will require. The book provides comprehensive coverage of the issues involving insurance encountered in the process of construction. It gives practical answers to all the problems likely to be encountered when negotiating construction contracts, insurance policies or insurance claims. Insurance Law for the Construction Industry is divided into four clear sections for ease of reference. It begins with an exposition of the principles of insurance law and then describes in detail the typical clauses found in insurance policies, the policies to be taken out by standard form construction contracts and how insurance is distributed and regulated. The many strands of insurance law are expertly drawn together to provide an excellent point of reference for all those working in this sector.

Across the nation, construction projects large and small--from hospitals to schools to simple home improvements--are spiraling out of control. Delays and cost overruns have come to seem "normal," even as they drain our wallets and send our blood pressure skyrocketing. In "Broken Buildings, Busted Budgets," prominent construction attorney Barry B. LePatner builds a powerful case for change in America's sole remaining "mom and pop" industry--an industry that consumes $1.23 trillion and wastes at least $120 billion each year.
With three decades of experience representing clients that include eminent architects and engineers, as well as corporations, institutions, and developers, LePatner has firsthand knowledge of the bad management, ineffective supervision, and insufficient investment in technology that plagues the risk-averse construction industry. In an engaging and direct style, he here pinpoints the issues that underlie the industry's woes while providing practical tips for anyone in the business of building, including advice on the precise language owners should use during contract negotiations.
Armed with "Broken Buildings, Busted Budgets, "everyone involved in the purchase or renovation of a building or any structure--from homeowners seeking to remodel to civic developers embarking on large-scale projects--has the information they need to change this antiquated industry, one project at a time.
"LePatner describes what is wrong with the current system and suggests ways that architects can help--by retaking their rightful place as master builders."--Fred A. Bernstein, "Architect Magazine""" "Every now and then, a major construction project is completed on time and on budget. Everyone is amazed. . . . Barry LePatner thinks this exception should become the rule. . . . A swift kick to the construction industry."--James R. Hagerty, "Wall Street Journal"

Construction Project Administration, Tenth Edition, shows readers how a successful construction project is managed and administered from design through construction to closeout. From start to finish, the topics pertinent to each stage of a project are introduced and discussed as they occur throughout the life of the project. Readers learn how to unite the key stakeholders (contractors, architects, engineers, etc.) and provide them with a workable system for operating as an effective construction team. Reflecting the latest technology, laws, and regulations, the text addresses concepts using simple, straightforward language and numerous real-world examples.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1953.

This book takes the reader to a journey through times and spaces to live the stories and glories of some eight great projects shaping the world's skyline. It uncovers the secrets of construction greatness through living the project stories first-hand, meeting with the great builders and world leaders behind the projects.The reader will witness the merger of souls into bodies of the newborn buildings, live their lives, and sometimes even their death. The journey begins with the pyramids of ancient history, on to the magic of the middle ages, to the passion of the renaissance era, down to the industrial revolution and modern ages. The book contains PMBOK Guide, Agile, and Design-Build project management reviews, hence good for both project managers and construction history fans, alike. Enjoy!

This innovative Research Companion considers the history, nature and status of construction economics, and its need for development as a field in order to be recognised as a distinct discipline. It presents a state-of-the-art review of construction economics, identifying areas for further research. Contributors explore topics that have been under-discussed in the literature, including the philosophy of construction economics and its practice in classical antiquity. Chapters also offer new takes on the development of the construction industry, the economics of housing, construction labour and the economics of informatics applications. Comprehensive in outlook, the Research Companion goes on to provide in-depth analyses of procurement, bidding, stakeholder management, construction data, transaction costs and sustainability in construction. The Research Companion will be critical reading for scholars and students of construction economics, construction management, cost engineering, quantity surveying, urban economics and institutional economics. Its use of empirical research and exploration of the methods of analysis used in construction economics will also be beneficial for administrators of the construction industry and practitioners in these fields.