Black Power at Work chronicles the history of direct action campaigns to open up the construction industry to black workers in the 1960s and 1970s. The book's case studies of local movements in Brooklyn, Newark, the Bay Area, Detroit, Chicago, and Seattle show how struggles against racism in the construction industry shaped the emergence of Black Power politics outside the U.S. South. In the process, "community control" of the construction industry especially government War on Poverty and post-rebellion urban reconstruction projects became central to community organizing for black economic self-determination and political autonomy.

The history of Black Power's community organizing tradition shines a light on more recent debates about job training and placement for unemployed, underemployed, and underrepresented workers. Politicians responded to Black Power protests at federal construction projects by creating modern affirmative action and minority set-aside programs in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but these programs relied on "voluntary" compliance by contractors and unions, government enforcement was inadequate, and they were not connected to jobs programs. Forty years later, the struggle to have construction jobs serve as a pathway out of poverty for inner city residents remains an unfinished part of the struggle for racial justice and labor union reform in the United States.

Contributors: Erik S. Gellman, Roosevelt University; David Goldberg, Wayne State University; Trevor Griffey, University of Washington; Brian Purnell, Fordham University; Julia Rabig, Boston University; John J. Rosen, University of Illinois at Chicago"

Black Power at Work chronicles the history of direct action campaigns to open up the construction industry to black workers in the 1960s and 1970s. The book's case studies of local movements in Brooklyn, Newark, the Bay Area, Detroit, Chicago, and Seattle show how struggles against racism in the construction industry shaped the emergence of Black Power politics outside the U.S. South. In the process, "community control" of the construction industry especially government War on Poverty and post-rebellion urban reconstruction projects became central to community organizing for black economic self-determination and political autonomy.

The history of Black Power's community organizing tradition shines a light on more recent debates about job training and placement for unemployed, underemployed, and underrepresented workers. Politicians responded to Black Power protests at federal construction projects by creating modern affirmative action and minority set-aside programs in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but these programs relied on "voluntary" compliance by contractors and unions, government enforcement was inadequate, and they were not connected to jobs programs. Forty years later, the struggle to have construction jobs serve as a pathway out of poverty for inner city residents remains an unfinished part of the struggle for racial justice and labor union reform in the United States.

Contributors: Erik S. Gellman, Roosevelt University; David Goldberg, Wayne State University; Trevor Griffey, University of Washington; Brian Purnell, Fordham University; Julia Rabig, Boston University; John J. Rosen, University of Illinois at Chicago"

U.S. architectural, engineering and construction (AEe firms doing business in China are minimally successful because they are unfamiliar with the Chinese market. To assist the U.S. AEC firms to become more competitive in the Chinese market, a comprehensive investigation of the Chinese construction industry after the Culture Revolution was conducted. The development of the industry was divided into three stages: the first stage was from 1978 to 1992, the second stage was from 1992 to 2001, and the third stage was from 2001 to 2007. In each stage, the administrative framework, laws and regulations, procurement methods, and market structure were studied. In addition, statistical data, such as Gross Domestic Product, Gross Output Value, and the numbers of employees and companies during each stage, were analyzed. Next, economic indicators of the Chinese and U.S. construction industries were compared. Finally, the future growth trend of the Chinese construction industry was projected. The results of the investigation can help the U.S. AEC firms become more familiar with the Chinese construction market and be more competitive in this market.

Bid/no-bid decisions in international construction markets are considered difficult, being characterized by its uncertainties and complexities, especially in today's competitive market. Some authors claim that many companies still utilize tools and methods that are fragmented, incomplete and rudimentary based on "personal intuition" or "previous-experience-based" (Han & Diekmann 2001a/b). On the other hand, other authors emphasize that most of the bidding models found in the literature 'remained in academic circles and did not find their way into the practical world' (Wanous et al, 2000). The focus of this work is to make a contribution towards the reduction of the gap between theoretical and practical bidding decision models and contribute to the development of models that could satisfactorily support bidding decisions for international construction projects. An investigation of practical bid/no-bid decision models is performed combined with an evaluation of the degree of applicability of theoretical models in practice. An important contribution can be done not only to the academic field but also to managerial one if future research focuses on the improvement of practical models.

Project finance has spread worldwide and includes numerous industrial projects from power stations and waste-disposal plants to telecommunication facilities, bridges, tunnels, railway networks, and now also the building of hospitals, education facilities, government accommodation and tourist facilities.

Despite financial assessment of PF projects being fundamental to the lender's decision, there is little understanding of how the use of finance is perceived by individual stakeholders; why and how a financial assessment is performed; who should be involved; where and when it should be performed; what data should be used; and how financial assessments should be presented.

Current uncertainty in financial markets makes many sponsors of construction project financings carefully consider bank liquidity, the higher cost of finance, and general uncertainty for demand. This has resulted in the postponement of a number of projects in certain industry sectors. Governments have seen tax receipts drastically reduced which has affected their ability to finance infrastructure projects, often irrespective of the perceived demand. Equity providers still seek to invest, however there are less opportunities due to market dislocation. Due to the demand for global infrastructure it is believed that project financings will return to their pre-crunch levels, or more so, however lenders' liquidity costs will be passed on to the borrowers. Lenders will also be under stricter regulation both internally and externally.

The steps outlined in the guide are designed to provide a basic understanding for all those involved or interested in both structuring and assessing project financings. Secondary contracts involving constructors, operators, finance providers, suppliers and offtakers can be developed and assessed to determine their commercial viability over a projects life cycle.

Special Featuresa structured guide to assessing the commercial viability of construction projectsexplains economic metrics to use in the decision making processdetailed case study shows how stakeholders apply the concept of project finance

Comprising The Construction, Setting-Out, And Working Of Stairs, Circular Work, Arches, Niches, Domes, Pendentives, Vaults, Tracery Windows, Etc. To Which Are Added Supplements Relating To Masonry Estimating And Quantity Surveying, And To Building Stones And Marbles, And A Glossary Of Terms For The Use Of Students, Masons, And Craftsmen.

The construction industry has not had a good record on health and safety and faces tough legal and financial penalties for breaches of the law.
This book provides a unique resource for all those who construct or procure the construction of projects of all sizes and in all countries and for clients who need to keep abreast of their own and their contractors' responsibilities.
It gives practical guidance on best practice, including:
* measuring performance and recording information
* developing a safety policy and method statements
* assessing risk
* training and understanding people
* the basics of the construction/environment interface
The book addresses several topics not found in other reference works, discussing techniques of health and safety and basic environmental management as applied to the industry. It uniquely provides 50 quick reference guides setting out solutions to common problems. These include falls, manual and mechanical handling, work with asbestos and noise. It also summarises the main UK legal requirements on construction safety and health and includes a number of useful checklists and model forms.
Written by a very experienced health and safety practitioner, who is also author of the highly successful IOSH book Principles of Health and Safety at Work, this book will be welcomed by all responsible for health and safety. It will also provide an excellent text for the NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) Construction Safety and Health national certificate.
The author
Allan St John Holt has twice been elected to the Presidency of the UK's professional body, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health. He is a Fellow of the Institution and a Registered Safety Practitioner. An internationally-known lecturer and writer on safety management and other topics, he has presented seminars and featured as keynote speaker at conferences on every continent.
Allan Holt's lifetime contribution to injury prevention was recognised in 1997, when he was inducted into the Safety and Health Hall of Fame International in Chicago, Illinois for services to international safety management. He is the only non-American to have been elected Chairman of the US National Safety Council's Construction Section (1991) and he received the Council's Distinguished Service to Safety Award in 2000.
His current position as Head of Safety at Royal Mail Group follows his previous position as Global Director of Environment, Health and Safety for Bovis Lend Lease. Allan Holt has served as a Justice of the Peace since 1987.
From reviews of the book
'The book is full of valuable advice and practical help in the form of checklists, assessment criteria and so on ... a fine addition to safety publications.' - Construction Manager
'Written by a long-experienced health and safety specialist ... this is an impressive and very satisfactory work.' - The RoSPA Occupational Safety & Health Journal
Also of interest
CDM Regulations Procedures Manual
Stuart Summerhayes
1 4051 0740 5
Second edition
Design Contribution to Health and Safety Management
Stuart Summerhayes
1 4051 3275 2
Cover design by Simon Witter
Photograph courtesy of FREECPD LIMITED
www.thatconstructionsite.com

Herman and George R. Brown, formidable figures in the construction industry and Texas politics, made a unique business team. Practical and decisive Herman and university-trained, soft-spoken George, a natural salesperson, combined their individual strengths, strong work ethic, and ambition to develop Brown & Root, one of America's preeminent construction companies. Builders serves both as a history of their lives and as an examination of business life in mid-twentieth-century America. In addition to examining the brothers' business accomplishments, the authors address the Browns' philanthropic work, political influence, antiunionism, and longtime relationship with Lyndon Baines Johnson.

A fascinating history of a family firm and their predecessors the Townesends, who over 200 years have built a significant number of architecturally important buildings in and around Oxford. (BAR 254, 1997)

"For my very first day in union construction I was sent to a bank in downtown Boston where a journeyman needed a hand pulling wire. Arriving early with my new tools and pouch, I knocked on the glass door in the high-rise lobby and explained to the guard that I was a new apprentice working for the electrical contractor. He refused to let me in. So I sat down on the tile floor, my backpack and toolpouch beside me, and waited for the man whose name I had written down alongside the address and directions on a piece of paper: Dan. The guard explained to Dan later that he'd figured I was a terrorist planning to bomb the bank. In 1978, that seemed more likely than that I might actually be an apprentice electrician."Susan Eisenberg began her apprenticeship with Local 103 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in 1978, the year President Jimmy Carter set goals and timetables for the hiring of women on federally assisted construction projects and for the inclusion of women in apprenticeship programs. Eisenberg expected not only a challenging job and the camaraderie of a labor union but also the chance to be part of a historic transformation, social and economic, that would make the construction trades accessible to women.That transformation did not happen. In this book, full of the raw drama and humor found on a construction site, Eisenberg gracefully weaves the voices of thirty women who worked as carpenters, electricians, ironworkers, painters, and plumbers to examine why their numbers remained small. Speaking as if to a friend, women recall their decisions to enter the trades, their first days on the job, and their strategies to gain training and acceptance. They assess, with thought, passion, and twenty years' perspective, the affirmative action efforts. Eisenberg ends with a discussion of the practices and policies that would be required to uproot gender barriers where they are deeply embedded in the organization and culture of the workplace.

Changes in vehicle weight limits and revisions to safety standards inevitably increase the demands placed on bridges. Increases in traffic flow seen over the past years also mean that many bridges are carrying much greater loads than their designers ever anticipated.Following from the very successful Bridge Modification conference in 1994, this volume contains papers describing the current issues, thinking and technology behind the assessment and improvement of existing bridges.

"It goes a long way in mapping out the agenda for health and safety professionals in this most dangerous and populous industry." Annals of Occupational Hygiene, Derby, United Kingdom Changes in working practices and conditions in the construction industry over the past decade have meant that the competent authorities, health and safety committees, management or employers' and workers' organizations, in particular, should take a fresh look at such aspects as the safety of workplaces, health hazards, and construction equipment and machinery. This code of practice takes account of new areas in the sector which require improved health and safety practices and other protective measures.

In 1994, Ray Anderson felt a 'spear in the chest': he realised that his company, billion-dollar carpeting manufacturer Interface, Inc, was plundering the environment with its unsustainable business practices, and that it desperately needed to change direction. Under his leadership, Interface went on to set unprecedented targets for cutting waste, instigated revolutionary recycling initiatives, and encouraged employees at every level of the company to contribute ideas on how to save resources. As a result, the company's greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 82% and are on target to reach zero level by 2020. Not only that, these changes also brought down costs, improved quality, and increased profits. In Confessions of a Radical Industrialist, Ray Anderson shares the remarkable story of how Interface turned itself around, and proves that running your company sustainably isn't radical at all - it's just good business.

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"

Defective construction work, whether the result of inadequate design, faulty workmanship or poor materials - or some combination of these failings - is a frequent cause of legal disputes. Someone is usually to blame, either the builder or one or more of the professional consultants, or even the entire project team. It is important therefore that the project team should possess a good working knowledge of their responsibilities and liabilities.
Written by a solicitor with over twenty years of experience of building disputes, this book examines the responsibilities and liabilities of the project team when defects occur. It sets out the background role of the common law and statute and includes detailed discussion of important case law affecting the construction process from inception through to completion, together with a consideration of the impact of letters of intent, 'no contract' situations, and specific provisions of model conditions of contract.

A guide to the procurement of privately financed projects: an indicative assessment of the procurement process outlines the concept of privately financed projects (PFP) that can be used for both public-private and private-private interactions. Utilising models from many countries the guide develops a robust procurement system applicable to PFP and project finance in both the EU and overseas.This guide provides a systematic approach for the preparation and evaluation of privately financed projects (PFP) and services. It is intended to assist both the 'Principal' (often a public body) and the 'Promoter' (private body) at each phase of the procurement process, from inception through to financial closure. Principals using this guide should be able to adapt the private finance procurement process for their specific organisation and business sector. Moreover, in the case of the promoting organisation, the guide provides an appreciation of the steps that occur and the various processes undertaken and the associated costs of bidding.A guide to the procurement of privately financed projects: an indicative assessment of the procurement process provides an invaluable understanding of the critical facets involved in PFP and suggests frameworks for developing objective orientated procurement elements.

anaging the Construction Process: Estimating, Scheduling, and Project Control, Fourth Edition, covers all areas of the Construction Management industry-with a balanced focus on both theory and practicality. Helping readers gain a working knowledge of the whole Building Industry, this text provides the technical skills required to manage a construction project from conception through occupancy. Emphasizing current industry practices, it makes a useful reference for the construction professional. KEY FEATURES: Covers integrated project delivery and LEED/Green applications; Photos and illustrations throughout; Background theory, fundamentals and practical applications.

Book & CD. There has been a greater concern globally as to how to minimise construction accidents and their consequences on construction workers, contractors, clients, design and project management consultants, and insurance companies. This book introduces new strategies and models that will facilitate readers in the construction and insurance industries in revamping their existing practices towards minimising accidents, improving profitability, and alleviating liabilities. This is a research-based book and chapters in the book are grounded on recent research and best practices. They demonstrate how innovative insurance and construction companies can exploit contemporary research to drive the re-structuring of poor practices that compromise their business sustainability. With diverse audiences in mind, the chapters are written in clear and easy-to-follow styles. The CD enclosed with the book contains the prototype of the KBS that the book discusses. Readers will appreciate this useful appendix of the book that underpins the practical implementation of new theories.

This book seeks to educate and equip aspiring professionals, industry practitioners, and students in the knowledge and practice of contract administration and procurement in the Singapore Construction Industry. It discusses the roles of and relationships between the different parties (e.g. Owner, Architect, Quantity Surveyor), tendering procedures, project delivery methods, payments, variations, final account, and other aspects for the administration of construction contracts in Singapore.This second edition has been updated to include:The book is written in an easy and readable form. Technical jargon is minimised. The topics include both common and less common issues in industry that practitioners and students should be aware. Most of the examples are obtained from industry (with modifications) and reflect current practices. Timelines, flowcharts, sample forms, sample letters, and other documents illustrating the processes are provided in this work, for the easy understanding of the readers.The contract administration process takes into account the Singapore Institute of Architects' Measurement Contract (9th Edition), the Public Sector Standard Conditions of Contract for Construction Works (7th edition), and also the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act.

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 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.