BIM in the old days

BIM = "High quality results are produced faster and more economically than by traditional techniques" - a strap line from 2011? No.

I was at a customer event earlier in the week and was flicking through some of the old copies of NBS 1973 (first edition). Anyone thinking that digital construction is something new to 2011 may be interested to see the following advert. (click for bigger images).

"Automated specifications" and "Computer bill of quantities" in the early 1970s!

"High quality results are produced faster and more economically than by traditional techniques"

Plenty of other nostalgic adverts too - a selection of three or four below.

Beautiful bedrooms

Beautiful buildings

Beautiful bathrooms

And one (hundred) too many needless pictures of young ladies with nothing to do with the construction product!

Also an extract from the front pages of NBS 1973

Inception

The idea of a National Building Specification began to crystallise in 1967 when the Economic Development Committee for Building agreed to finance a feasibility study. A steering committee was set up under the chairmanship of Anthony Laing FRIBA, and John Carter ARIBA was appointed to carry out the investigation and draft a report. This was completed in 1968 and outlined the principles that might guide the preparation of a National Building Specification. The Committee considered that the project was feasible and desirable, and that its preparation should be put in hand without delay.

The original NBS team had six architects, two quantity surveyors, a builder and a structural engineer.