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Architecture Billings Index
Shows Early Signs of Improving Business Conditions
Business environment remains
unfavorable,
but the bottom of the construction cycle could be
forthcoming
After a series of
historic lows, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) was up
more than eight points in March. 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 March
ABI rating was 43.7, up from the 35.3 mark in February. This
was the first time since September 2008 that the index was
above 40, but the score still indicates an overall decline
in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates
an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry score was
56.6.
Read More
DCD Archives: Real
Project Data,
Real-Time Cost Estimator
It’s been
said that there are no new ideas, just different versions of
those ideas brought forth by new people.
From an architectural standpoint, that’s a gift of sorts. The
ability to reference historical data about an actual project
– and replicate it – generally ensures an end-result that is
physically sound and commercially successful. But where this
data becomes less relevant is estimating project costs.
The value of using historical project data to project costs
is limited without the ability to modify and change the data
to reflect time, place and other variables. And while a
skilled estimator can modify an existing project to account
for changes, it can be a tedious and time-consuming process
that often results in a “best guess” projection.
DCD Archives, a new web-based estimating product recently
launched by Design Cost Data™, the industry’s premier
cost-estimating publication.
To subscribe, go to
www.dcd.com and click on the DCD Archives box, or call
800-533-5680 for additional information.
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Beloved Industry Icon
Arthur F. O’Leary FAIA, MRIAI
1924 – 2009
 Each issue of DCD magazine
for as long as I can remember has included an excellent,
informative column by Arthur F. O’Leary on this page. It is
with great sadness to tell you that Art passed away on March
28 at the age of 84 in County Louth, Ireland where he had
retired with his wife Inny.
Arthur was an expert in the field of architectural forensics.
He graduated in 1951 from the University of Southern
California, School of Architecture with a Bachelor of
Architecture, where he also served on the faculty for 10
years. He served as an arbitrator and consultant on more
than 300 industry litigations and has written, lectured, and
published extensively in over 40 years of professional
activity. He co-founded O’Leary Terasawa Partners, a Los
Angeles architectural firm that became WWCOT in the 1990s
after a merger. He was named a fellow of the American
Institute of Architects in 1976.
Read More
Increase Your
Efficiency with Bluebeam PDF Revu 7.0
New Version Just
Released
In today’s
market it is only logical for companies to look for ways to
maximize their efficiency resulting in better profitability.
One way companies can achieve greater efficiency and cut
costs is to take a close look at routine procedures and
evaluate new tools on the market that will save them money
and increase their effectiveness.
Bluebeam Software, Inc. offers powerful PDF technology that
allows electronic sharing of information. Bluebeam’s PDF
program can be used to mark-up and edit plans during the
design review process, submit RFIs, send out bid documents,
perform on-screen take-offs for estimating and archive files
resulting in great office efficiency.
Just released, Bluebeam PDF Revu 7.0 is the latest version of
Bluebeam’s professional and affordable PDF solution. All
enhancements have been requested by users and include more
flexible options, faster document review, more mark up
tools, and better PDF distribution. puts a positive new spin
on the usefulness of historical project data. DCD Archives
combines the value of actual project data with the
versatility of regional modifiers, cost escalators and other
customized edits in a simple, easy-to-use tool that gives
old projects new life.
Read More
Building Information
Modeling......
A Natural Progression Of Technology
Three years ago, our office
launched an initiative to implement a Virtual Design &
Construction ( VDC ) Technologies system through the use of
Building Information Modeling ( BIM ). Long & Associates is
a full-scope Architecture / Engineering firm founded in
1974, and we see the transition to BIM as the industry basis
for project design and delivery to be a natural progression
of technology similar to the transition from hand drafting
to computer-aided design and drafting in the 1980s. Even
before CADD technologies became very detailed and
sophisticated, and before standardized protocols were
instituted by industry associations, our team developed an
organized and integrated set of standards and methods for
computerized document production. The use of BIM & VDC
technologies and processes represent a change in building
design, delivery, and management exponentially greater than
did the advent of CADD. The corresponding challenge includes
rethinking the entire design and documentation sequence,
setting appropriate parameters for the volume of information
that can or should be integrated into each stage of the
work, and redefining what constitutes the “deliverable” for
a project.
Read More
PPG Debuts New Web-Based BIM Module For Architects
PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG) has
created Building Information Modeling (BIM) files for its
Duranar coatings, Pittsburgh Paints, Porter Paints and
architectural glass products.
The files, which are found on the PPG Ideascapes Web site,
enable architects to download Revit Architecture files so
they can incorporate PPG products into their digital
designs. The files may also be used with Google SketchUp
Viewer, another popular building modeling software.
The BIM modules are part of PPG’s on-going effort to give
architects and contractors a robust collection of Web-based
tools that allow them to streamline the design,
documentation and construction of
environmentally-sustainable buildings.
Read More
New Construction
Confidence Index from McGraw-Hill Construction at 25; Shows
Firms Wary of Slow Recovery
Engineering News-Record (ENR) and McGraw-Hill
Construction Research & Analytics have introduced a new
quarterly Construction Confidence Index to measure industry
sentiment about the construction market, including market
sectors, expectations and trends. The Construction
Confidence Index is 25 on a scale of 100, where a value of
100 indicates all respondents report “improving” activity
and a value of 50 means all respondents report “stable”
activity. Results from the inaugural survey are included in
this week’s issue of ENR, “Survey: Firms Don’t See Quick
Recovery.”
Read More
New Petersen Website
Loaded With Innovation
Petersen
Aluminum has updated its website, www.pac-clad.com, with
useful, easy-to-use innovative features designed
specifically for architects and contractors.
Highlighting the site is the PAC Visualizer that allows
visitors to create a quick, customized look at panel
profiles and finishes. Also new to the site are installation
videos with life-like illustrations and graphics.
Product pages have been expanded to include complete
submittal information with testing/approval data, drawings
in PDF and CAD and downloadable specification sheets.
Read More
American Institute of
Architects (AIA) Upgrades AIA Contract Documents Software
and Releases New Construction Manager Documents
Updated
Software Offers Improved Functionality, Greater Ease of Use;
New Documents in the Construction Manager as Advisor and
Construction Manager as Constructor Families
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) today announced
the release of an updated version of AIA Contract Documents®
software as well as new Construction Manager documents.
Guided by extensive input from hundreds of Contractor,
Owner, Architect and Attorney users of AIA Documents, the
updated software features easier project and document
management, flexible dialogs allowing for easier document
completion, Microsoft Excel® capabilities in several
G-Series forms and one-click custom template creation. The
new Construction Manager documents include new documents in
the Construction Manager as Advisor (CMa) and Construction
Manager as Constructor (CMc) families. Collectively called
the “4.0 Release,” this new software and documents release
builds on AIA Contract Documents’ 120 years of experience in
defining the contractual relationships in the design and
construction industry and deliver additional value, ease of
use and new features that address users’ needs.
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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