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SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT FOR ASBESTOS INFORMATION

Sun, Nov 27 2011 03:39 | Asbestos Awareness Week, asbestos | Permalink
SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT FOR ASBESTOS INFORMATION
A single point of phone contact and a dedicated website for government information on asbestos will be available from 1 January 2012, Minister for Government Services Simon Finn and Minister for Industrial Relations Cameron Dick announced today.
Mr Finn said from the beginning of next year, the one-stop-shop phone contact would be provided through 13 QGOV (13 7468) and Queenslanders would be able to access the dedicated asbestos-related website at www.qld.gov.au/asbestos.
“This announcement is particularly significant as Asbestos Awareness Week comes to a close,” Mr Finn said.
“Asbestos Awareness Week is a time to commemorate those lives that have been affected by asbestos-related conditions.
“It’s also an opportunity to highlight the dangers of asbestos, and that’s what this new one-stop-shop approach will do.
“But more importantly, it will ensure the public can readily and easily access information and advice from a coordinated source.
“The website and the 13 QGOV number will mean asbestos-related information from all Queensland Government departments, and from local governments with regulatory responsibility for asbestos-related matters, will be available in the one place.”
Mr Dick said the single point of contact was developed by the Interagency Asbestos Group, which coordinates the Bligh Government’s response to asbestos-related matters.
It adds to the Australian Government’s review into asbestos management, which will make recommendations for the development of a national strategic plan to improve asbestos awareness and management by 30 June 2012.
“The Bligh Government takes the handling and management of asbestos very seriously and leads by example,” Mr Dick said.
“We have introduced some of the most stringent asbestos regulations in Australia, and we have made the safe removal of asbestos from government buildings a priority.
“In fact, since 1999, we’ve spent more than $180 million removing asbestos from Queensland Government buildings, including $142 million removing asbestos from schools.
“This commitment has been reinforced by a further $25 million allocated in 2011-12 for asbestos removal works in Department of Education facilities.
“All government buildings must also maintain an asbestos register detailing the presence of any asbestos.
“In addition, we have the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) asbestos unit which is working effectively.
“This unit provides advice to government, employers and workers regarding asbestos safety, and its work has included the development of the Asbestos Work Health and Safety Action Plan 2011-16.
“In 2010-11, WHSQ issued 188 improvement notices, 106 prohibition notices and 62 infringement notices for asbestos-related matters.”
Mr Finn said the Bligh Government’s compulsory asbestos training for all contractors entering into arrangements for building trade services with QBuild was a benchmark for the rest of Australia.
“QBuild’s Practical Asbestos Training (PAT) Program was nationally accredited in October 2010 and has been recognised as an industry leader,” he said.
“More than 1,150 QBuild staff now hold a ‘B Class’ certificate.”
Asbestos containing material was commonly used in Australian residential, commercial and industrial buildings between the 1940s and late 1980s until dangers of the substance became apparent.
It can take as long as 40 years from the time of exposure to the development of an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma.
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World Green Building Week

Thu, Sep 15 2011 07:10 | Permalink



89 countries, one cause: Industry unites for World Green Building Week



The property and construction industries from 89 nations representing more than 30,000 organisations will unite this week for World Green Building Week.
World Green Building Week aims to highlight the important role that buildings play in decreasing the global carbon footprint and saving money, while also creating jobs, reducing poverty and improving lives.
According to the Chairman of the GBCA and World Green Building Council(WorldGBC), Tony Arnel, the case for green building has never been stronger.
"As the world's nations transition from 'business as usual' to new 'green' economies, low carbon, sustainable buildings and communities can save money, support job growth and improve the health, wellbeing and general living conditions of millions of people," Mr Arnel says.
The GBCA will be hosting a number of events, including a 'green leaders' reception at the 6 Star Green Star-rated Darling Quarter in Sydney. GBCA members will be hosting site tours of their Green Star-rated buildings, running workshops and launching sustainability reports.
Chief Executive of the GBCA, Romilly Madew, says: "Australia can be very proud of its achievements in sustainable building. We have more than 4.2 million square metres of Green Star-certified space around Australia, our GBC is the second largest out of 89 around the world and we've trained 21,000 people in the industry on sustainable building practices. The Dow Jones Sustainability Index is overrun with Australian companies, with 7 out of 21 being Australian.
"As Australia moves towards a price on pollution, we can expect green buildings to assume a central role in our new green economy, and in doing so deliver on the triple bottom line of people, profit, planet," Ms Madew adds.
Buildings consume a third of the world's resources during the construction process, generate around 40 per cent of global energy use and up to 30 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Buildings also represent the single largest opportunity to mitigate climate change. The United Nations Development Program has stated that "no other sector has such a high potential for drastic emission reductions", and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has said that buildings offer some of the most cost-effective and expedient ways to reduce greenhouse emissions.
"Until now we have failed to unlock this potential of our sector - the low hanging fruit is just out of reach," says Chief Executive of the WorldGBC, Jane Henley.
"Governments are beginning to see that their national energy security, urban development and job creation priorities can all be achieved through green building. As governments face economic challenges and shrinking budgets, green building offers a way both to save money through efficiencies and to create jobs," Ms Henley concludes.
Events and activities being held around Australia include:
  • Australand: 'Turn waste into art' competition
  • Australian Sychroton: Green building forum
  • BlueScope Steel: Presentations and panel discussion
  • City of Gosnells: Tours of Civic Centre Redevelopment Project, Perth
  • City of Vincent: Green roofs workshop and public lecture
  • Colliers International: Site tours, workshops and an online quiz
  • Good Environment Choice Australia: Open day at Sydney offices to showcase green fitout equipment
  • GPT Group: Site tour of MLC Centre, 19 Martin Place, Sydney
  • Green Building Council of Australia: Green Leaders in the New Green Economy cocktail party, Sydney
  • Green Building Council of Australia: Site tour and member evening at 100 Hutt St, Adelaide
  • Green Building Council of Australia: Site tour of Holmesglen TAFE Building 12, Melbourne
  • Green Building Council of Australia: Site tour of the Energex Building, Brisbane
  • Hansen Yuncken: Site tour of Metcash Industrial Distribution Centre, Sydney
  • NAWIC WA Branch: Presentation on 'green is the new black'
  • Stockland: Sustainability Report Launch
  • Yarra City and Moreland City Councils: Free green building advice to residents
Source : http://www.gbca.org.au
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GRAPHISOFT BIMx

Wed, Sep 7 2011 07:37 | Permalink

GRAPHISOFT BIMx turns the iPad/iPhone into an interactive building model explorer


BUDAPEST, September 7, 2011 – GRAPHISOFT announced today its latest innovation for the iPad/iPhone. GRAPHISOFT BIMx™, the ultimate communication and presentation tool for BIM projects, will soon be available for iOS devices as well. The integrated model sharing community on Facebook will help spread this innovative technology among architects and clients.
BIMx (Building Information Model Explorer) is an interactive environment with game-like navigation, whereby anyone can explore full BIM models without holding a license of the professional authoring software in which the building model was originally created. ArchiCAD users have been able to publish self-running BIMx models for their clients to run on desktop computers (Win/Mac) – now BIMx models are making their debut on the iPad/iPhone with a purpose-built app directly linked to the BIMx community for “social” model sharing on Facebook. With BIMx, GRAPHISOFT puts BIM into the hands of all stakeholders not actively involved in the actual creation of the BIM model such as contractors, builders, clients, owners, and principals of design practices.

BIMx for iPad/iPhone

“Demand for access to BIM projects off-site, or even off-line on mobile devices has been increasing in recent years. At the same time, BIM models are large, complex, and highly-integrated databases that have been difficult to port to handheld devices with satisfactory results,” says Miklos Szovenyi-Lux, Vice President of Product Management at GRAPHISOFT. “With the introduction of BIMx for the iPad/iPhone, we have significantly extended the reach of BIM’s benefits beyond building professionals to their clients -- the building owners.”
Features of BIMx for iPad/iPhone include:
  • real-time 3D navigation
  • stereo, shaded and hidden line views
  • enhanced with gravity
  • layer control
  • fly-mode
  • egress recognition
  • 'tap to go through the door'
  • 'tap to go there'

BIMx Community on Facebook

The integrated BIMx community on Facebook is the central hub for sharing interactive 3D building models. Architects holding a BIMx license – either commercial or educational license – can publish their models directly to this online community. Native Facebook functions such as comments, likes and share are extended with customized functions for filtering models by educational or professional types; searching models using key-words or finding uploaded models of specific users, architects or clients. BIMx models can be uploaded, browsed and downloaded by non-Facebook users as well; only “liking” and “commenting” requires Facebook registration.

Availability

The BIMx desktop application is part of the standard ArchiCAD 15 installation. BIMx for the iPad/iPhone will be available as a free app from Apple’s App Store and will be launched together with the Facebook integrated online BIMx community on September 20.
A special promotion from September 20 through October 31 allows ALL ArchiCAD 15 users to create full-fledged BIMx models and share them with their clients, either directly or through the Facebook BIMx community site for a six-week introductory period.
Following the promotion (from November 1 on), users holding a BIMx commercial license can continue using the full BIMx facilities. ArchiCAD 15 users without a commercial BIMx license may continue using the BIMx desktop application locally on their computers in TRIAL mode until the next release in 2012.
Academic users (students, teachers, schools) will have continuous access to the BIMx facilities as long as their ArchiCAD EDU license is valid.
Beginning September 20, the BIMx iPad/iPhone app will be available from the App Store free of charge. For more information about GRAPHISOFT BIMx, please visit www.gsBIMx.com.

About GRAPHISOFT

GRAPHISOFT® ignited the BIM revolution with ArchiCAD®, the industry first BIM software for architects. GRAPHISOFT continues to lead the industry with innovative solutions such as the revolutionary GRAPHISOFT BIM Server™, the world’s first real-time BIM collaboration environment, and the GRAPHISOFT EcoDesigner™, the world's first fully integrated building energy modeling application. GRAPHISOFT’s innovative solutions have fundamentally changed the way architects around the world design and collaborate. GRAPHISOFT® has been part of the Nemetschek Group, since its acquisition in 2007.
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How Do You Get Children To Eat Their Greens?

Mon, Aug 1 2011 05:13 | Permalink
How Do You Get Children To Eat Their Greens? Let Them Grow Their Own!
Cityfood Growers
city-food-growersThe home organic gardening boom is moving into the early education sector, with young children in hundreds of Goodstart Childare centres set to find out if they have green fingers.
The junior gardeners will learn about urban agriculture and even get to taste their own produce as part of their early educational experience, all thanks to a new project announced between the Australia-wide Goodstart Childcare group and Brisbane-based Cityfood Growers.
Founder of Cityfood Growers, Peter Kearney, described the project as being crucial for the development of children and important for the wider community too: 'We're hoping some mighty broccoli eaters will grow from tiny sprouts.'
The agreement between the GoodStart board and Mr Kearney will see food gardening integrated into the operation and curriculum of GoodStart's early education centres, using the organic gardening educational materials and strategies developed by Cityfood Growers.
Mr Kearney's organic gardening website, which provides locally-tailored guidance to clients around Australia, was a finalist in the recent Queensland Premiers' ClimateSmart Awards for services to sustainability. He said the project would act as a "catalyst for cultural change in the local communities of the GoodStart centres".
"One of the key aims of the project is to provide relevant information that creates a catalyst for food gardening to blossom within the GoodStart environments," he said.
He added that he believed food growing techniques needed to be taught to children at an early age, in order that they gain an important understanding of the origin of their food and how practical and enjoyable it can be to care for their environment via a food garden.
The sustainable and community development nature of the partnership was reinforced by Tara Harnett, Quality Manager at GoodStart. Ms Harnett said she believed there will be a number of ways in which the food gardening knowledge will be shared.
"We certainly see the learning from children being shared directly with families and the wider community. This will not only occur through conversations with families and forums, but also through sharing opportunities such as community gardens and networking with support agencies, allied health services and the formal school community."
She added that children will be taught to understand the environment through the food gardens.
"The gardens will be designed in a way that provides an opportunity for children to dig, plant, harvest and eat their own produce," she explained. "This will foster in children an understanding of the world around them and promote respect for the natural environment."
Ms Harnett said that "Educators will encourage children to taste the food and share what they have grown with others. An awareness of environmental sustainability will be encouraged through participation in recycling programs and experiences such as composting bins, worm farming and mulching."
The GoodStart contract strengthens the urban agriculture consulting services of Cityfood Growers' business and adds to the release of a food gardening knowledge platform in March 2011 to C&K Early Childhood in Queensland. These two contracts enable the company to support food gardening in over 1000 early childhood services across Australia with more than 60,000 families.

Source : http://ecovoice.com.au/eco-news/4951
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Start you design now to qualify for $10,000 Queensland Building Boost Grant

Mon, Jul 18 2011 04:53 | Owner builders, new home, Queensland Building Boost Grant | Permalink

$10,000 Queensland Building Boost Grant – frequently asked questions

What is the Queensland Building Boost Grant?

The Queensland Building Boost Grant is a grant of $10,000 for a person or corporation buying or building a new home in Queensland for a value less than $600,000. The grant is to assist recovery in the housing construction sector, Queensland's third-largest job generating industry.

When can I apply for the Queensland Building Boost Grant?

The Building Boost Grant runs from 1 August 2011 to 31 January 2012.

What is a new home?

A new home is a home that:
  1. has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence; or
  2. is a substantially renovated home (see below).
A home is a substantially renovated home if:
  1. the home is the subject of a contract for the purchase of the home; and
  2. the sale of the home under the contract is, under the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Cwlth), a taxable supply as a sale of new residential premises as defined under section 40-75(1)(b) of that Act; and
  3. the home, as renovated, has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence.

Are there value limits?

Yes, the total value of the home must be less than $600,000. The following apply for working this out.
Contract to purchase a new home (already built)
Both of the following must be less than $600,000-
  • the consideration for the purchase
  • the value of the home (including the land) when the contract is made
Contract to purchase a new home (to be built by the vendor)
Both of the following must be less than $600,000-
  • the consideration for the purchase
  • the value of the home (including the value of the land when the contract is made)
Contract to have a home built
The sum of the following must be less than $600,000–
  • the consideration for the building work
  • the value of the land when the contract is made.
Owner builders
The sum of the following must be less than $600,000–
  • the actual costs to the owner of carrying out the work, excluding any allowance for the owner’s own labour
  • the value of the land when the laying of the foundations starts.
For example, if land was purchased in 2008 for $150,000 and is worth $200,000 on 1 September 2011 when a building contract is made or when foundations are laid by an owner builder, the land is valued at $200,000 for determining eligibility for the grant.
How is land value determined?
These details are presently being worked through. However, in many cases, the site valuation issued for the land by the Valuer-General under the Valuation of Land Act 2010 may be all that is required.

Who can obtain the grant?

The grant is open to home buyers and investors (18+ years of age). Corporations and trustees may also apply. The applicant need not be a Queensland resident.
The grant is not payable for a building contract, or to an owner builder, if the applicant carries on the business of building homes and the home was constructed for sale in the course of that business.

Can an 'off the plan' purchase qualify?

Yes. A contract for the purchase of a new home on a proposed lot on an unregistered plan of subdivision of land may qualify for the grant if all other conditions are met.

When do I have to buy/build to get the grant?

Each of the following transactions may attract the grant.
  1. A contract (a legally binding contract) made between 1 August 2011 and 31 January 2012 (both inclusive) for the purchase of a new home in Queensland.
  2. A comprehensive home building contract made between 1 August 2011 and 31 January 2012 (both inclusive) by the owner of land in Queensland, or a person who will on completion of the contract, be the owner of land in Queensland, to have a new home built on the land.
  3. The building of a home in Queensland by an owner builder if the building work starts between 1 August 2011 and 31 January 2012 (both inclusive). For owner builders, the start of building work is usually the laying of foundations for the home.

If I'm building a new home, are there construction time limits?

Yes.
  1. For a comprehensive home building contract, building work must commence within 26 weeks of the date of the contract and be completed within 18 months of the work starting.
  2. For an owner builder, building work must be completed within 18 months of the work starting.
  3. For a contract to purchase a new home off the plan, the building work must be completed by 31 July 2013.

Do I have to live in the home?

No. However there are other occupancy conditions – see below.

Is there an occupancy requirement?

Yes. The home must be first occupied as a place of residence during the ownership of the home by the applicant. However, it does not matter who occupies the home. For example, the home may be occupied by a family member or rented to a tenant.
A person, such as a builder, who builds a home and sells it before it is occupied cannot claim the grant. The purchaser may be eligible however.

Where the occupancy requirement is not satisfied, the applicant must notify the Commissioner of State Revenue and repay the grant.

Can I obtain more than one grant?

Yes. The grant can be obtained for each new home purchased or built where the grant conditions are met.

Can the grant be obtained more than once for the same home?

No. The grant is only payable once for a particular new home.

Can I obtain the Building Boost Grant along with the First Home Owner Grant and the First Home concession?

Yes. If the new home being purchased is your first home and you meet all of the other eligibility criteria, you may be entitled to the $10,000 Queensland Building Boost Grant, the First Home Owner Grant of $7,000 and the first home buyer transfer duty concession.

Read more on the First Home Owner Grant and First Home Owner duty rate concessions.

Do replacement contracts and options qualify?

No. The grant applies to a legally binding contract to purchase or build a new home entered into on or after 1 August 2011. Contracts made before that date are ineligible. If a contract made before that date is cancelled and a replacement contract for the home is executed on or after 1 August 2011, the replacement contract will not be eligible for the grant.
Also, if an option to enter into a contract to purchase or build a new home is granted before 1 August 2011 and exercised on or after that date, the contract will not be eligible for the grant.
A preliminary agreement, such as that issued by the Master Builders’ Association (form PA-H 10/09) and the Housing Industry Association, authorises preparatory work to be carried out before a comprehensive home building contract is made by the parties. These agreements usually do not bind the parties to enter into a comprehensive home building contract or grant an option to require a comprehensive home building contract to be made. A preliminary agreement of this kind made before 1 August 2011 will not prevent a comprehensive home building contract made on or after that date from being eligible for the grant.

How do I apply for the grant?

The Queensland Building Boost Grant opens on 1 August 2011. The Office of State Revenue (OSR) is currently developing the application form. The application form will be published on the OSR website before 1 August 2011.

More information

OSR is presently developing the necessary systems and processes for the start of the grant on 1 August 2011. Consultation will occur with the Queensland Law Society and financial institutions (banks and lenders) about the application process and payment methods. More information will be published on the OSR website as soon as it is available.
The conditions of the grant will be contained in a new Act of Parliament. When enacted, the legislation will have retrospective effect to 1 August 2011. Until then, the grant will be administered under an administrative arrangement.

Source : http://www.budget.qld.gov.au/current-budget/tax-reform/faqs.shtml
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Cyclone effected North Queensland

Sun, Jul 17 2011 07:22 | Cyclone Yasi, North Queensland | Permalink
Some images from the Cyclone effected North Queensland.
Pre cyclone Yasi - Dunk Island 2008
Prost cyclone Yasi - Dunk Island 2011
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Queenslanders build back stronger

Sun, Jul 17 2011 07:10 | Queensland, Cyclone Larry, Cyclone Yasi, Queensland Reconstruction Authority | Permalink
TOWNSVILLE: Premier and Minister for Reconstruction, Anna Bligh, today released guidelines designed to rebuild a stronger North Queensland following Queensland’s summer disasters.
Rebuilding in Storm tide prone areas: Tully Heads and Hull Heads is designed to help those who choose to rebuild their homes following the effects of Cyclone Yasi.
The document is the first of a series of guidelines designed by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, James Cook University and experts on cyclones and architecture, to rebuild a stronger Queensland following the recent natural disasters.
“We have said we want to build it back better in Queensland and we mean it,” said the Premier at a demonstration of the effects of cyclonic winds on houses at James Cook University’s Cyclone Testing Station in Townsville with the Chair of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Major General Mick Slater today.
“These guidelines will give people rebuilding their homes or building new homes some directions on how to limit the damage should a storm surge hit their region again,” said the Premier.
“We know the best way to survive a storm tide is to raise your house above storm tide level, but if that is not possible these guidelines recommend you make sure that walls which are essential to the structure are built perpendicular to the shore line.
“That means they offer the least resistance to the storm tide and are less likely to collapse. Simple tips like this can save homes and maybe even lives in the future.”
The Premier also released the draft of the second in the series of guidelines for consultation - Wind Resistant Housing - whichcontains practical information and recommendations for protecting houses in Cyclone conditions.
“We saw in Innisfail after Cyclone Larry how effective rebuilding homes to category 5 standard can be and these guidelines will learn again from the experience of Cyclone Yasi,” said the Premier.
“Public feedback is welcome and we expect to finalise the guidelines within the next six weeks and those interested on commenting should visit the Authority website atqldreconstruction.org.au.
 “These guidelines are of particular relevance to residents of North Queensland but almost our entire coast can experience cyclones. These guidelines are relevant for communities from the tip of the Cape to the Sunshine Coast.”
Major General Mick Slater said the summer disasters also reminded us that cyclones do not only affect the Queensland coast.
“Cyclone Yasi crossed the Queensland coast causing millions in damage, but its sheer size meant its effects were felt 1500 kilometres west in Mount Isa,” General Slater said.
“Therefore, guidelines like these have benefits for communities not only around Australia, but anywhere in the world where serious storms like typhoons and hurricanes are prevalent.
“Queenslanders cannot afford to be complacent about the dangers natural disasters present. And as we approach the next cyclone season we need to make sure we’re prepared.”
The guidelines have been developed in partnership between the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and leading cyclone and architecture experts at James Cook University’s Cyclone Testing Station, CSIRO, Australian Institute of Architects, GHD and Cassowary Coast Regional Council. The Bureau of Meteorology also contributed to the second guideline.
Source : http://www.qldreconstruction.org.au/news-media/78
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WHAT'S GOING ON UP THERE? AN INVENTORY FOR AUSTRALIAN GREEN ROOFS

Tue, Jun 21 2011 04:27 | Permalink


As the number of Australian green roofs continue to grow, some very important questions remain unanswered. This is potentially hampering the success of both current and future projects. Just how many green roofs are there? Where are they located? What are some of the products they have used? To date, no comprehensive inventory of Australian Green roofs exists. However, steps are being made to address this.
The Australian Green Roof Inventory is project is being conducted as a University of Melbourne Masters research project in collaboration with Green Roofs Australia. The project aims to construct a detailed, meaningful and comprehensive inventory of green roof projects throughout Australia. Collected data will then be used to build a database and conduct an analysis of industry trends. This will be a publically available resource that could be continually updated and expanded; addressing a current knowledge gap for the horticultural industry green roof professionals and researchers.
Building such an inventory is no small task. As such the project team is requesting some help. It is seeking those who can identify locations and provide data about green roof projects they may have worked on or are familiar with.
To make gathering this information simple and time efficient the project team has compiled a web-based questionnaire. The questionnaire will gather the basic information about the green roof project, but also allows for more detailed responses.
The questionnaire can be taken by following the below link-
http://app.fluidsurveys.com/s/australian-green-roof-inventory/
The inventory will be compiled by Master’s student Lachlan Yourn, with supervision from leading green roof academics Nicholas Williams and John Rayner.
Source : www.sustainablebuildingproducts.com.au/news
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Graphisoft - New ArchiCAD 15 Release

Mon, Jun 20 2011 03:47 | Permalink


Graphisoft - New ArchiCAD 15 Release
The evolution of forms has always walked hand-in-hand with the evolution of structures. From the simplest barrel vaults to the most sophisticated rib vaults, the architect has always aspired to combine durability, utility and beauty (Vitruvius). These very principles can be seen in the finest examples of Modern architecture as well. ArchiCAD 15 expands the design capabilities of its BIM tools, including new Shell structures, to support the broadest spectrum of architectural shapes and forms found in both classical and modern architecture.


Source : http://www.graphisoft.com/products/archicad/
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2011 Building Australia's Future National Conference

Mon, Jun 20 2011 02:51 | Permalink



2011 Building Australia's Future National Conference

The Australian Building Codes Board is proud to announce the Building Australia's Future Conference to be held at the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort on the Gold Coast, Queensland 18 - 21 September 2011.
Source : Australian Building Codes Board
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