HardHatChat

SEPTEMBER 28, 2009

Is Your Vertical Retail Construction Project a Mess or a Success? Some may disagree, but we at Englewood Construction think the challenges commercial developers face in opening a store in a vertical mall are more complex than any other type of retail store construction. Why? Because a vertical shopping center can be made of many floors within a tight city block foot print that has only one opening (and if best two elevators) where all goods, materials, and debris can enter and exit.

Retail 136

Retail Construction Security Defense 136

Carol Hagen

SEPTEMBER 16, 2009

According to an MIT Sloan Center for Information Systems Research Study, the average firm spends 71% of their IT budget on running current systems and some blow as much as 80% of their budget keeping the status quo. What if you could reduce this to 50-60% of the IT budget? . That’s what can be achieved over time according to “ IT Savvy ” by Peter Weill & Jeanne W.

Budgeting 129

Budgeting Budget CFMA Profitability 129

Help Everybody Everyday

SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

Website 101 View more presentations from mhan7474. . Sometimes I am asked to do odd yet useful things at work. For example, I was asked to create a document that taught people the basics of website technologies. From a marketer’s perspective, many of us don’t know a whole lot about how websites work. Things like HTML, PHP, ASP, XML, MYSQL, RSS, and CMS sound more like crazy drugs you would take in college than things we would deal with on a day to day basis.

ASPE 48

ASPE Deals Documentation US 48

Green Home Design Architect

SEPTEMBER 15, 2009

We’re greening up our new office by replacing the incandescent light bulbs with Earthmate energy saving bulbs. By using Earthmate bulbs, we will use an average of 75% less electricity, help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, we replaced our 45 watt overhead bulbs with Earthmate 8-watt Dimmable Reflector Bulbs, which will save us about $61 and last up to 7 times longer than our standard light bulbs.

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Overhead Green Electrical Office 49

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Software

PSMJ Resources

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

Media blogger Charles Warner wrote in today's Huffington Post that media content is no longer king. Among other things, the proliferation of content of all types of quality on the Web was key to arriving at this point. Warner goes on to assert that mystery of parsing out the good bits of content has been solved by Google, which has become the largest media company in the world by being an aggregator of content, not an originator, a creator of content.

Design 45

Design Consulting Agreement Mobility 45

HardHatChat

SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

What Every Developer Should Ask General Contractors During the Retail Construction Bid Process. For my first blog post, a lot of people at Englewood Construction suggested I write about how to choose a retail construction company. But one person said that would be “boiling the ocean.” After she explained to me what that meant, I agreed – it’s a topic too ambitious for me to conquer in one post.

Retail 136

Retail Bidding Construction Contractors 136

Carol Hagen

SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

My Friend Tom Davanaugh is more enthusiastic about his iPhone than any other tech gadget he’s ever had. That’s significant since Tom has lived and breathed IT for decades and is dedicated to educating the construction industry on ECM solutions. Whenever we chat he mentions new apps he’s using. The latest excitement has come from JotNot and Evernote since document imaging and mobility are required in the construction business today.

Mobility 120

Mobility Documentation Industrial Education 120

Help Everybody Everyday

SEPTEMBER 16, 2009

What is the perfect client relationship (CRM) management tool? Does it exist? If not, what would it be like? What functionality would it have? What information would it hold or display? How would it be priced? There are many different CRM tools out there and the term CRM has taken to mean many things. In today’s world, it can be your contact database, project database, or even your accounting system.

Management 48

Management Rhode Island San Diego Transportation 48

Green Home Design Architect

SEPTEMBER 4, 2009

One of our current projects is designed to be built to earn ENERGY STAR certification. The barn style home design fits in nicely with the architectural style of the surrounding area of Old Lyme, Connecticut. The home will include ENERGY STAR approved insulation (SIP panels), duct system, mechanical ventilation system, windows, heating and cooling units, lighting, and appliances.

Plans 45

Plans Housing Connecticut Certification 45

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As the use of Enterprise Resource Planning systems in the construction industry is critical to optimizing operations, it's critical that decision makers conduct a thorough software evaluation to find the one that best aligns to their needs.

Industrial

The Korte Company

SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

The Korte Company has begun construction on a $40.1 million multi-aircraft hanger for the 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group at Tinker Air Force Base near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The 164,443 square foot facility, when completed, will perform programmed depot maintenance for a variety of aircraft. The hangar includes open and private offices, administration areas, break room, latrine/shower areas, open bay work area, technical order library, and building utility rooms.

Oklahoma City 40

Oklahoma City Oklahoma Office Construction 40

Do

SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

This is what I would I consider to be an "old technique" but it has come up recently around the firm. How to make objects that are above the view's cut plane (in plan) visible (I suppose it might work in section/elevation, but I never tried). If you've read the wonderful Revit series "Introduction to Revit Arch" & "Mastering Revit Arch" (both solid books, thanks to the authors, whom I've been meaning to blog about), you should already know that certain objects will show-up, even if they are

Revit 40

Revit Plans Drawings Deals 40

HardHatChat

SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

There’s no doubt that local businesses will have much to celebrate if on October 2, 2009, Chicago wins the 2016 Summer Olympics bid. But just how would Chicago hosting the Olympics affect the city’s restaurant and retail construction activity ? Here are a couple of my predictions…. Given the fact that most national and international retailers already have stores in Chicago, most retail construction will involve remodeling and expansion of existing stores.

Chicago 120

Chicago Retail Bidding Permits 120

Carol Hagen

SEPTEMBER 18, 2009

The Arizona Society of Professional Estimators and the American Subcontractors Association held a joint meeting in Phoenix entitled, “Building Technology into Estimates: Tech Features That Keep You Competitive” James Benham of JBKnowledge did a fabulous job in engaging the audience and touched upon a variety of topics in the estimator’s toolkit, social networking and augmented reality.

Education 120

Education Arizona Estimating Sketchup 120

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Choosing the right procurement software is a crucial step in ensuring third-party risk management, process governance, and bidding efficiency. With so many procurement solutions to choose from, it can be overwhelming without a frame of reference and a solid starting point. This free buyer’s guide will cover: Benefits of Procurement Software –– Why do you need it?

Procurement

Help Everybody Everyday

SEPTEMBER 12, 2009

One of the key tools in any Rainmaker’s arsenal is a great Client Relationship Management (CRM) system. Unfortunately. many rainmakers and their firms struggle to successfully implement these systems. On September 21, 2009, a group of rainmakers and experts will provide their own unique perspective to answer the question, “what is the perfect client relationship management system?”.

Drawings 48

Drawings Accounting Management US 48

Green Home Design Architect

SEPTEMBER 28, 2009

Anyone planning to build a new energy efficient home, addition, or remodel their existing home is encouraged to attend a Free Green Home Seminar and Timberpeg® Green Open House Tour on Sunday, October 11, 2009. Here are the important details: Free Seminar on Building a Green Home: Best Western Sunapee Lake Lodge, Newbury, NH 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (registration starts at 8:30) Timberpeg® Open House Tour: Lot 22, Summit Road, Sutton, NH (green home under construction) 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM You'll have p

Green 40

Green Remodeling AIA Roads 40

The Korte Company

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

The Korte Company has recently been awarded the design and construction of a 37,000 square foot child development center for Beale Air Force Base, just outside Marysville, California. The $11 Million center, issued under the USACE Sacramento District, will accommodate over 300 children.

Sacramento 40

Sacramento California Design Construction 40

CAD Shack

SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

Maybe it is common knowledge, but for those of you looking for tricks when Revit goes unresponsive, I have something that has worked for me. Folks have been talking about minimizing Revit to free up virtual memory. Others are saying nothing really happens. For me I have noticed that if Revit gives me a ' Memory Low or Out of memory ' error and it seems to be unresponsive, minimizing the Revit application then immediately bringing it back up seems to wake Revit up long enough to save to local and

Revit 40

Revit Drawings 40

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Contractors

HardHatChat

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

Key Steps Commercial Developers Can Take to Ensure Their Contractors are Financially Stable. In today’s market there’s no such thing as too much due diligence – especially when it comes to checking the financial stability of your contractors. Whether you’re hiring a general contractor , architect, engineer or some other consultant, their ability to pay their subs directly and on time affects the success of your commercial construction project.

Commercial 120

Commercial Banking Lien Construction 120

Carol Hagen

SEPTEMBER 29, 2009

This isn’t really techie but I feel compelled to help you all today. I just finished reading The Hamster Revolution by Mike Song, Vicki Halsey and Tim Burress. I must say that you if you teach me how, I will tell others so that they too can educate everyone on improving our email. These are my top 7 takeaways from the book to reduce email volume and make you more effective: If you can say it all in the subject line please do so, then end the subject line with EOM (End of Message).

CFMA 111

CFMA ABC AGC Education 111

Help Everybody Everyday

SEPTEMBER 6, 2009

I believe very strongly that “sending client satisfaction surveys” – whenever you send them, and whether you send hard copy or a link to an online survey – are a great way of saying to a client, “Hi there. We didn’t want to waste our valuable time calling you, but we’d like to you to take your valuable time and answer these questions to tell us how good our work is!

Consulting 48

Consulting Office Environment Management 48

Do

SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

This started as a little "show & tell" to Zach , and now its a movie. (mine didn't work nearly as well as his). I think this goes further to suggust what you can do with these tools to handle complex geometry we just could not model before. Easy? No! Cool? Yes! Further disclaimer - Zach made the video, not me. I just got the conversation started.

Architecture 40

Architecture Modeling Revit Design 40

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Supply chain challenges and rising material costs are forcing specialty contractors to pay more for what they need to complete each job. Following a simple set of principles, this easy-to-follow guide can help you manage job costs, ease the pains of accounting, and run a more profitable businesses. If you are a Specialty Contractor or Self-performing GC, you do not want to miss out on this essential guide!

Contractors

PSMJ Resources

SEPTEMBER 23, 2009

The American Institute of Architects' Architecture Billings Index gave back some of the increase it registered in July as its August ABI rating was 41.7, down slightly from 43.1 in July. That July number was a six-point increase over June, so while things were a bit sluggish in August, they are still above what they had been in June. That said, the August numbers represent the continuation of an up-and-down pattern that has plagued the ABI all summer and is indicative of the changing nature of t

Equity 40

Equity AIA Banking Finance 40

Green Home Design Architect

SEPTEMBER 21, 2009

The home design process is continuing for our clients in southern NH. One of our clients’ priorities is having enough space to entertain about 20 people four times a year. To add more living / entertaining space in the floor plan, the dining table was reduced in size and moved to replace the informal banquette. While the table is still large enough to seat extended family for holiday meals, the enlarged open living area is better suited toward hosting cocktail parties.

Design 40

Design Plans 40

HardHatChat

SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

How Developers Can Decrease Operating Costs by Thousands of Dollars. How would you like to “find” thousands of dollars in your operating budget? All you need to do is answer a couple questions. How did you file the documents for your last commercial construction project? Did your general contractor give you a big fat binder of information including your warranty letters, operating manuals, as-built drawings, etc?

Commercial 120

Commercial Documentation Construction Project Management 120

Carol Hagen

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

Apparently many managers think SharePoint is the defacto industry standard when it comes to collaboration. While Microsoft has indeed designed a flexible solution with more features and functions, it seems to have become Microsoft’s solution to all things social too. After reading a few posts at Digital Landfill on the topic, we all need to consider how SharePoint addresses content management, collaboration, Enterprise 2.0, etc.

Documentation 111

Documentation Bargains Management Negotiation 111

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Construction

Help Everybody Everyday

SEPTEMBER 2, 2009

. “Money itself isn’t lost or made, it’s simply transferred from one perception to another.” – Gordon Gekko. I just saw the movie Wall Street for the first time this weekend. I guess everybody knows the famous scene in the movie where Gordon Gekko, a corporate raider played by Michael Douglas says, “Greed, for the lack of a better term, is good.” But this is not the main speech that Gordon Gekko gives.

Banking 48

Banking Maine Risk 48

Do

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

I was working on a family here at the company, and it turned out we need to use a formula that involved using a Log function (you remember Calculus right? Cause I don't.). In excel the Natural Log (that is the log taken of e , your handy dandy mathematical constant) is notated with the function ln(). Which is fine and dandy. If you look in Revit help under valid syntax, is conveniently says that the "log" can be taken of any number, what they fail to mention is the base the Revit log function op

Revit 40

Revit Deals Documentation 40

PSMJ Resources

SEPTEMBER 18, 2009

Earlier this year, the Boston University Mens' Ice Hockey team won the NCAA National Championship. Their long-time coach Jack Parker originally planned to raise his team's championship banner during one of the first home games of the season vs. Notre Dame. Recently Coach Parker changed his mind and opted to raise his banner during a scrimmage game against the US Under-18 Development team.

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Boston US Organization Plans 40