Tour of the Sage Gateshead

We held the final session of our current Advisory Panel at the Sage Gateshead yesterday. In addition to discussions on CAD, online specification systems and proposed enhancements to NBS and RIBAProductSelector.com, we also were fortunate enough to get a tour of the building by Peter Udall from Gateshead Council who had been project manager of the construction.

It was fascinating how:

• Gateshead was chosen for the development. After proving they could make big projects such as The Angel of the North, The Baltic and the Millenium Bridge happen they had an excellent track record. Also having land in such a prime location available overlooking the Tyne helped win the bid.
• Gateshead had three main reports, the cost consultants, the lead designers (Fosters) and the specialist acoustic designers (Arup). From the start they made it clear that the quality of the acoustics and the accessibility to the public were the number one priorities.
• In terms of the acoustics, it has been designed so well, that many international musicians rate The Sage in the top 10 or even top three venues for acoustics world-wide. Gateshead are happy they have achieved the aim of providing a truly world class venue.
• In terms of accessibility, the public can always walk through the main concourse, it's not an exclusive location. For all of the events put on by Gateshead there are always tickets for £7.50 available. 

The main music hall from the drinks reception area on level 1

Peter Udall shows 16 architects around the venue - a tough audience

The magnificent coloured glass balustrade that was fitted recently to line the concourse

Impressive reinforced concrete rolling base

The main concert hall - a world class venue

Free web seminar on NBS and CAD

Our training team are running a web seminar on NBS and CAD on Friday 18 February 1pm.

Visit our website below to sign up for it:
http://www.thenbs.com/training/onlinetraining/

The Rapid Acceleration of BIM

This week I wrote another short article on Building Information Modelling for theNBS.com - The Rapid Acceleration of BIM.

It looks back at what appeared to be a big year for BIM in the UK. It also gives a little insight into some of the developments we are working on at NBS.

The article will also appear as a comment piece in the upcoming NBS BIM Survey 2010 alongside pieces by Professor Steve Lockley from Northumbria University, Dick Barker from Privica/Laing O'Rourke, Robert Klaschka from Studio Klaschka and Richard Waterhouse CEO of RIBA Enterprises.

NBS Domestic Specification perfect for Real Homes

Nice little article promoting NBS Domestic Specification in Real Homes magazine.

realhomesmagazine.co.uk/expert-advice/expert-advice/new-online-building-specification-tool

If you are in the planning stage of a major overhaul of your home or a complete renovation project, then it is essential to fully understand the building constraints and regulations before you start. NBS have launched a new useful online Domestic Specification service, which guides you through writing and completing a successful building specification.

Designed exclusively for small domestic building works, such as housing renovations and moderations, the website offers a quick and easy way to complete the specification process.

The digital service can be used as ‘pay-per-use’, to be purchased as and when require with no subscription. Each specification cost £40, plus VAT.

With guidance and editing features on hand during the process, you can be sure to get it right first time round.

For more information visit www.thenbs.com/domestic

Launched in November, NBS Domestic Specification has been a real success so far and we hope it'll get more and more use on domestic jobs throughout the UK.

Update 2nd Feb
Also quite a nice review of the product in the February edition of Building Engineer magazine:

Click image for full size

ecobuild Design Technology Programme

The ecobuild Design Technology Programme is now finalised:
- http://www.unlimited.com/ecobuild/

Construction Industry Attitude to New Technology

At NBS we have recently carried out a survey on the construction industry's attitude to new technology.

90% of 500 respondents said they had a positive attitude towards new technology with those over 55 proving the most willing to embrace new technology. Over half would increase their investment in new technology while over a third now use a Smartphone as part of their working lives.

To check out all of the findings go to theNBS.com...
- http://www.thenbs.com/topics/PracticeManagement/articles/theTechnologySurvey.asp

And featured at bdonline.co.uk...

- http://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/survey-says-construction-more-it-literate-than-thought/5011752.article

Beta Testers Wanted

At the CIBSE BIM Conference in December I mentioned that at NBS we are currently working very hard to develop our specification software and data. We are turning our specification content from what currently is simple clause paragraphs of text into "objects" that have relationships and meaning.

John Gelder from our Technical Team also wrote about this in his article Near Future Specification Systems.

This will have enormous benefits to those involved in writing specification. In particular, the specification will become a document that is worked on throughout the time line to firstly create an outline specification, then the same document can be expanded to either a performance specification or traditional full specification. At each stage in the time line no information will have to be re-keyed and no information will be lost.

As this document will consist of  "objects" that have relationships and meaning then the user will be able to report on this content as they wish to easily create  contractor action reports, manufacturer products reports, reference document reports etc...

In February the NBS Beta Testers will be getting their first look at our developments.

If you are an existing NBS customer and would be interested in being one of the first to see and then feedback on these developments then please contact the Beta Test Coordinator Seth Okai seth.okai@thenbs.com.

Ref: http://www.thenbs.com/support/betatesting/

NBS Plus on manufacturer websites

I wrote a short article for the RIBA Insight January monthly briefing on how manufacturers can display their NBS product specification on their websites:
- RIBA-Insight.com

The screen-shot below show how Knauf AMF display their NBS Plus data on their website...

"One of the most popular recent additions to NBS Plus is its built-in facility to allow manufacturers and suppliers to display NBS product specifications on their website. The advantages of this include: 

1. That smaller practices that specify low-budget projects by writing notes on drawings can now easily also add a robust, concise NBS product specification from a supplier's own website
2. When a supplier's NBS Plus content is updated (by a qualified member of our in-house NBS technical team), it's also automatically updated on the supplier's website
3. Clear visibility of NBS Plus branding, making it easy for visitors to quickly identify 'NBS Plus suppliers' (companies that are clients of NBS Plus) and to feel confident that they are dealing with a trustworthy name."