ABSTRACT
One of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s most quoted aphorisms is “God is in the detail,” although the actual author of the phrase has never been convincingly identified. In the longer run, it is the performance and durability of the cladding, the smooth functioning of the services and elevators, and the building’s safety and resilience should a fire break out that determines whether a particular project can be deemed a success. Similarly, a building whose construction is marred by cost and time overruns, and subsequent expensive and time-consuming lawsuits, is unlikely to win many plaudits. In Part Five, eminent contributors consider the final phases in the genesis of a tall building and the detailed decisions that have to be taken by designers and construction managers alike.
