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DCD Archives
Successfully Launches
Online Conceptual Estimating System
The new DCD
Archives are now online for DCD Subscribers at DCD.COM.
DCD Subscribers now have a resource of actual building costs
online to use as a basis for their conceptual estimates. The
DCD Archives™ provides real building costs and the online
tools to generate estimates at the conceptual level; answer
“How much will this cost?” when posed by a client; run “what
if” scenarios at a moment’s notice; and be ready when a new
market opportunity presents itself.
Launched March 5, 2009, the new DCD Archives responds to
subscribers’ requests with new functionality for online cost
modeling. Over 500 regional modifiers, cost escalators
through 2014, the ability to change the project square
footage, and enhanced search capabilities are now included
in the DCD Archives. Additional cost modeling features
include the ability to add, modify, or delete building cost
divisions and cost subdivisions, and view expanded cost
detail. Projects can also be saved and returned to for later
use.
All DCD Subscribers are invited to visit DCD.COM and Sign Up for
this new powerful subscription benefit, or call 800-533-5680
with any questions.
Get
registered today! Have questions? - call 800-533-5680.
Architecture Billings
Index Continues to
Point to Difficult Conditions
No region or building sector immune
from prolonged
economic downturn
Following another
historic low score in January, the Architecture Billings
Index (ABI) was up two points in February. As a leading
economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI
reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lag time
between architecture billings and construction spending. The
American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the February
ABI rating was 35.3, up from the 33.3 mark in January, but
still pointing to a general lack of demand for design
services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in
billings). The new projects inquiry score was 49.5.
Read More
Wondering Where the Cost Factors in DCD Went
Effective January
1, 2009 the "Cost Escalation Index Table" and "Regional
Modifiers" are now published online at the DCD Archives
(Subscriber Login Area). They are readily available 24/7 to
all our subscribers. You can easily access these by
registering on the DCD Archives™ and clicking on the "Cost
Factors" link.
Not Yet
Registered?
Click Here
Already Registered!
Click Here
Special Note:
Also available online are the digital issues of DCD. Click
"Issue Archives" to access the digital library.
Duro-Last® Introduces New
Rock-Ply™ Product
Duro-Last®
Roofing, Inc. is pleased to announce the introduction of the
Duro-Last Rock-Ply roofing system, part of the Duro-Last
Designer Series of roofing membranes.
The Duro-Last Rock-Ply roofing system is ideal for commercial
and residential roofing applications where appearance is
important, but traditional rock or stone ballast is not
practical because of weight considerations or difficulty
transporting the ballast to where it’s needed on the roof.
The Rock-Ply membrane provides a ballast look and the
watertight performance and long-term durability of a
thermoplastic, single-ply roofing system.
Read More
Introducing “Muffler
Technology,” the
First Thin Profile Sound Control Mat to
Offer Luxury
Performance in About a Quarter Inch
Quiet
Qurl® 55/025 MC MT “MUFFLER TECHNOLOGY” is a nominal 0.25“,
“U” Groove entangled core mat designed to limit impact noise
between floors.
On the top side, a point bonded, moisture resistant fabric is
laminated to the core so that gypsum concrete & other
materials can be placed to create a floating floor. On the
bottom side, a highly compressible polyester fabric is
bonded. This “muffler” almost completely compresses when
installed with a 1.25” gypsum concrete floor underlayment.
Read More
Modular Building: The
Time and Cost Efficient
Approach to Construction
When
evaluating building options, two of the most important
considerations are cost and time. Many designers and
builders are attracted to the accelerated construction
method, as it not only yields a faster time to occupancy but
also offers significant flexibility and financial benefits
over the life of the building. Methods using modular
components decrease the design and construction timeline by
30 to 50 percent, with fewer change orders, earlier
occupancy and improved cash flow.
While accelerated construction techniques are not exactly new
(according to Architectural Record, they have been used
since the 1960s), modular building has become an
increasingly popular method, with tremendous strides in
construction technology and design innovation since the
1990s. Recent data from the Modular Building Institute (MBI)
indicates the commercial modular industry is a $5 billion
business annually, with a revenue growth rate of about 6 to
9 percent per year.
Read More
Homasote Launches
DesignWall 440 at AIA Annual Expo
Attendees Can Visit
Homasote at Booth #S-2257
One of the largest
tradeshows for the building industry in the nation, the AIA
2009 National Convention and Design Exposition gives
attendees the opportunity to experience new technology,
materials and methods from more than 800 exhibitors.
Currently celebrating its 100th anniversary, Homasote will
showcase a variety of products at the event, including its
440 SoundBarrier®, Pak-Line® and Homex® 300 lines. The
company will also launch its new product, DesignWall 440®—a
cost-effective prefinished interior paneling comprised of
Guilford of Maine FR 701® fabric laminated to 440
SoundBarrier fiberboard.
Read More
FGS PermaShine
Concrete Polishing System
Listed On CSI's GreenFormat™
L&M
Construction Chemicals, a manufacturer and distributor of
concrete construction chemicals and products for use in
commercial, industrial or institutional building projects,
announced today that its FGS PermaShine Concrete Polishing
System (www.fgs-permashine.com)
is now listed on the Construction Specifications Institute's
(CSI) GreenFormat.
GreenFormat is a new, Web-based CSI format that allows
building product manufacturers to accurately self-report the
sustainable properties of their products through a
comprehensive, online questionnaire. Their entries are then
displayed in a standard manner through the GreenFormat Web
site.
Architects, designers, engineers and other building
professionals who make product-selection decisions can
search the database at
www.greenformat.com for free. It presents basic
information on the green attributes of building products
using an unbiased and consistent approach, helping save time
for design, construction and operations professionals.
Read More
AEC Firms Must Work
Fast to Win Stimulus-Funded Projects
According to
the Guide to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009, a new report from ZweigWhite, working fast and staying
close to home are two key points that will help firms win
projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009 (ARRA), more commonly known as the
much-anticipated federal economic stimulus bill.
Read More
The Quiet Green
Revolution
Each year
more than nine million people visit the Statue of Liberty
located on Ellis Island in New York harbor. This makes it
one of the busiest tourist attractions in the country.
Unbeknownst to most of those visitors, a Green revolution has
been taking place on the island.
Park managers now recycle 100 percent of the cardboard boxes,
plastic, and aluminum cans delivered and used on the island,
compost all coffee, recycle all cooking oil, and have
reduced the amount of waste normally delivered to local
landfills by an astonishing 71 percent.
Read More
DCD Subscribers: The archives of Design Cost Data are
available online at
DCD.COM
in the DCD Archives™.
The DCD Archives™ contains over 1,200 completed projects, and their
actual cost to build, to assist you in developing preliminary
cost estimates, building type research, cost modeling and
more. The DCD Archives™ includes cost escalators through 2012 and
regional modifiers in an easy-to-use cost modeling database.
Access the
DCD Archives™ with your DCD Subscriber
Number that is located on your DCD Magazine mailing label next
to your last name. To become a subscriber of DCD, you can
subscribe online at
DCD.COM
or call us at 800-533-5680.
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