In a competitive bid situation, the general contractor's first priority is controlling construction costs. The actions the general contractor take focus on adequate control, effective communication, efficient use of resources, and prevention of delays. (MLF)

Successful completion of a construction project requires the efforts of a team composed of the owner, architect, and contractor. A preconstruction conference can clarify the roles of the team as specified in the design contract. (MLF)

A roof management program protects the capital investment of a new roof. Steps to create a program are (1) assemble roof information files, (2) implement a roof inspection program with periodic inspection, and (3) establish maintenance scheduling and implementation. (MLF)

This author recommends a comprehensive evalution of education construction projects 11 months following their substantial completion, when users have had sufficient time to identify true weaknesses, original intentions have not been forgotten, shortcomings in materials or the construction process will have appeared, and one year warranties have…

In an attempt to correct for limitations in the Program Evaluation and Review Technique-Critical Path Method (PERT-CPM), the Graphical Evaluation and Review Technique (GERT) has been developed. This management tool allows for evaluation during the facilities' development process. Two figures and two references are provided. (DCS)

Describes a comprehensive high school that is a total educational community and recreational center designed and built around the planners' belief that the educational facilities of today and tomorrow must be flexible enough to meet the requirements of a variety of uses. (Author)

An Ontario school board found the factors necessary for the establishment of an effective decentralized energy management program to be training, a program of reinforcement, and the development of an overall attitude that encourages involvement. (MLF)

A number of school systems are saving money with computerized energy management systems. Administrators of Elizabethton Public Schools, Tennessee, also changed the school calendar with an extended winter break that substantially reduced electrical peaks. (MLF)

A public utility company uses laser wands to read bar-coded labels on furniture and equipment. The system allows an 80 percent savings of the time required to create reports for inventory control. (MLF)

A computer program utilized to generate detailed reports of labor requirements saved almost $700,000 in custodial labor costs for the Facilities Maintenance and Operations Division of Oakland County, Michigan. The program also is used for a quality-control audit system during inspections to evaluate cleaned rooms. (MLF)

A construction management firm and the architects working with the firm provided San Diego with ten elementary schools that were delivered on schedule, within cost, and met or exceeded the basic design criteria. (Author/MLF)

As the cost of computing decreases, computer aids are becoming readily available for facility planning, construction, and operation; three important technologies are decision support systems, computer-aided design, and management information systems. This article discusses the applications and availability of these systems, hardware and software…

Explains how school planners can use microcomputers to create electronic spreadsheets that reduce the time required to calculate educational specifications. (MLF)

By applying a computer-aided drafting system to a range of facilities layouts and plans, a division of Tektronix, Inc., Oregon, is maintaining staffing levels with an added workload. The tool is also being used in other areas of the company for illustration, design, and administration. (MLF)

Planners of a new Arizona school used the district's existing computerized master scheduling program to identify instructional spaces needed. Total classroom needs by subject were translated into total square footage requirements. (MLF)