Signs of Blooming

Space, the final frontier… These, of course, are the renowned opening words to Star Trek, but actually the reverse applies to the challenge of producing the pages of this magazine right now. In other words, if only we had more editorial space, the things we could do!

At the same time, I’m actually very excited about the happenings here at Consulting-Specifying Engineer . What’s notably obvious is that we have a fresh look—something that will hopefully make for easier and more pleasurable reading. However, we’re also working out, so to speak, to build the muscle of the magazine. After much coordination and cajoling, I’m proud to announce that CSE recently conducted its first advisory board meeting—an assembly that provided very fruitful and frank feedback. Additionally, the staff and myself have been pounding the pavement, meeting with numerous engineers while on the road at various conferences and trade shows (a recap of which appears on p. 12-16), and asking what we can build upon or do differently. A few points have immediately surfaced: tell the integration story; call attention to new technology; and provide more information about the business of engineering. The message has been received.

Elsewhere, I’m pleased with feedback we’ve been getting from you the reader. Even if letters and e-mails are contrary to items or opinions we’ve published, I’m encouraged, because the open forum approach that I’ve been preaching seems to be working. But please be patient in waiting for your letters/answers to appear, as space is tight right now, and we’re literally trying to squeeze 10 lbs. of stuff into a 5-lb. bag.

Speaking of which, we are debuting a new department this issue, along with our new look: M/E Insider, an update on firms and transactions that we hope will help tell the human side of the business (p. 51). As I noted back in March, in my “Spring Planting” column, this is one of several new offerings we hope to feature in the coming months, albeit likely on a rotating basis.

I also hope to add some new faces to the advisory board. Last fall I solicited readers to throw their hats into the ring, and several of you responded. Please pardon my lack of action. But now that the board itself is up and functioning, I hope we can move into the next phase.

Finally, I’d like to briefly address some corrections and clarifications regarding snafus in the last couple of issues. First, we referred to ASCE in last month’s NFPA 5000 cover story as the American Society of Consulting Engineers, which obviously should have been “Civil.” In the March issue in “Power from Above” ( CSE 03/02, p. 32), we failed to credit Universal Electric, who provided the photos as well as some of the background for the story.

On the subject of NFPA 5000 itself, in fairness to the IBC, we do plan to publish a follow-up story this fall addressing that code’s coming revisions for 2003.

By the way, results of a recent csemag.com poll on NFPA 5000 found that 28 % (13 responses) said the new code will widely be accepted; 17% said it will not (8 responses) and 54% (25 responses) said it was too early to say.

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