In my view nothing enhances the strength and beauty of architecture better than a crystal clear sky and the summer sun. With more and more glass structures being erected – possibly trying to emulate their great leader, The Shard – we are seeing a growing cluster of structural stars forming a glistening city skyline.

These beacons bring a great sense of pride to all those in favour, but even more so for the project members involved. Yet reaching this point is no mean feat. During construction, workers are subject to high risk on a daily basis therefore it is imperative that safety procedures are followed.

Since the introduction of Construction Design & Management Regulations in 1994 and its revision in 2007, teams have been able to implement management of risk in order to prevent accidents and fatalities. However, according to HSE, changes are afoot. In this month’s issue, FC&A hears from Edward Goddard, Executive Director of the Guild of Builders and Contractors, who believes that the proposed 2014 Regulations, if adopted, will set the building industry back over 30 years. To read more, turn to page 14.

Elsewhere in this issue, FC&A profiles a stunning purpose-built facility for the Specialist Crime Division of Police Scotland. The building has been designed to provide high quality office accommodation and support facilities for key agencies tackling serious organised crime. One of the key design elements is the concept of the building’s facade, which is based on technologies used in crime detection, DNA and chromosome biology. To see this exceptional interpretation, turn to page 28.

I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget you can also access all the latest features, product news and supplier information at your fingertips via FC&A’s state-of-the-art app. Available for smart phones and tablets, the app can be downloaded free of charge from Google play or the App Store – simply enter the search term ‘fc&a’.