VE and Nude ceiling

<Value Engineering >

I learned about Value engineering (VE). The definition of Wikipedia is "a systematic method to improve the value of goods or products and services by using an examination of function." In the US, law regulates value engineering. Public Law 104-106 states, "Each executive agency shall establish and maintain cost-effective value engineering procedures and processes."

GE made vale engineering during World War II because there are shortage of skilled labor and raw material. In value engineering, function is the most important part because function should be satisfied with low price. Now a day, value engineering is essential consideration for construction management and project management.

<Construction Site>

Texas Orthopedic

In the last class, we visited the construction site of Ridgemont. Ridgemont is building the hospital, Texas Orthopedic. That was quite big. This was the first time visiting to hospital construction site. Actually, when I see around the hospital, I was so interested in ceiling. This is very popular interior method of construction.

All of the functional structural elements of the building are showed up. I was able to see pipes and plumbing devices, ducts in the ceiling. I don't know the name of this construction method. Thus, I want to call it nude ceiling. The most famous nude ceiling I know is Pompidou Centre in Paris. This building is the first one that adopted a nude ceiling. This is the largest museum for modern art in Europe. And, It was opened in 1977. The Italian architect, Renzo Piano, designed this center. The New York Times explained this design as "turned the architecture world upside down". Visitors can see all of the functional structural elements of the building like the hospital of Texas Orthopedic.

Pompidou Centre in Paris