Business features
World class performer
It is hard to get past the numbers. In the last calendar year fee income at programme manager Turner & Townsend soared 20% from £204M to £244M, and the number of civil and structural staff it employs has surged with it, from 1,996 to 2,303. Turnover for the financial year to 30 April 2012 was up 16% on the previous year to £275M and pretax profits were up from £18.7M to a healthy £23.6M.
Structures features
Serpentine Gallery Cracking a design maze
Challenge and compromise have characterised the design and construction of this year’s Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in London’s Hyde Park. Max Thompson reports.
Transport features
Bordeaux-Tours high speed rail line: Fast track delivery
Last month French dignitaries gathered to see work begin on one of the biggest structures for the 302km Bordeaux-Tours South Europe Atlantic high speed rail line. Mark Hansford was there to meet the project team making it happen.
Geotechnical features
World Tunnelling Congress: The Swiss Role
Switzerland’s landscape has necessitated extensive use of tunnels and as a result has much expertise to offer countries looking to expand their infrastructure and urban facilities under ground. Diarmaid Fleming reports.
Energy & Waste features
Cleaning up on energy
A landmark regeneration project in Sydney demonstrates that economic performance can drive sustainable development
Plant features
UK construction showcase takes shape
The UK’s first major construction equipment show is just a few weeks away. Margo Cole previews the highlights.
Big Interviews
Carl Bass: Why BIM's future is written in the cloud
Software company Autodesk has a grand vision for Building Information Modelling. Its chief executive officer Carl Bass tells Mark Hansford how cloud computing and a different approach to marketing its products will change the way contractors do business.
Richard Bowker: Strategic Thinking
Once Strategic Rail Authority boss, more recently Etihad Rail boss, and now EC Harris senior advisor, Richard Bowker has heard all the arguments for and against spending on infrastructure. Two weeks ahead of the next spending review, Mark Hansford finds out where he sees the state of play.
Bucking the trend
Few companies can report continued growth during the recent years of recession, but Bam Ritchies has managed to maintain and build on its position in the last five years. Claire Symes talks to Ian Dalgleish about how the company has bucked the trend.
Hyder fuels its ambitions
Consultant Hyder started the year with an acquisirion to grow its capability in energy - just one sector for which chief executive Ivor Catto has high hopes for growth in 2013. Antony Oliver reports.
The bigger picture: Peter Dawson interview
Peter Dawson is Bechtel’s new civil business unit president based in London. He’s the most senior Bechtel man in the UK and he’s British. Antony Oliver reports
Prize performer
After 18 months heading up GE Award-winning Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering, managing director Tony Dixon talks about the changes to the business and looks ahead to the coming year.
NCE Special Supplements library
Structural Steelwork in action
This supplement showcases the best uses of structural steel in building bridges and energy projects across the UK
Major Project reports
Delivering Thameslink: Major Project Report
By the summer of 2012, before the Olympic Games, London will have a new landmark. Stretching across the Thames will be the glass canopy of the new Blackfriars station, providing for the first time a national rail station that links the river’s north and south banks. NCE presents its comprehensive guide to the project.
Delivering Crossrail: Major project report
NCE presents its major project report on Crossrail - a comprehensive guide to the project featuring interviews with Crossrail chief executive Rob Holden and Crossrail chairman Terry Morgan.
