Masterspec
01 Apr 2025
Document Referencing and Scheduling with eCert
Our editor team has updated all Masterspec work sections which have references to environmental documents. Where environmental document references...
27 Mar 2025
Update Manager New Features
The new Update Manager features are designed to boost productivity when applying changes to updated work sections. Simplify work section updates with...
03 Mar 2025
CIL is Now Accepting Product Carbon Data for the National Embodied Carbon Data Repository for Construction.
CIL Masterspec is now accepting carbon information in the form of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) or Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) from...
06 Jan 2025
Carbon 2025 and Beyond: Building a More Sustainable Future for NZ Construction
In July 2024, Construction Information Ltd (CIL) and the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ) announced a partnership to develop a...
01 Nov 2024
Introducing eCert: A Game-Changing Tool for Sustainable Construction
As the New Zealand construction industry increasingly focuses on sustainability and carbon reduction, there is a growing need for tools that can help...
26 Sep 2024
Masterspec Specified: Manawa House by Cube Architecture
"Masterspec has been an indispensable tool for our project Manawa House. During the specification, Masterspec streamlined our entire specification...
26 Sep 2024
Masterspec Specified: Award Winning Ligar Bay Bach by Young Architects
"Masterspec was used for providing a detailed, fully customised, specification as part of our comprehensive project documentation for the Ligar Bay...
25 Sep 2024
Masterspec Specified: Hilltop Home by Jon McAlpine Architecture
“Masterspec is a critical component in our studio. Its user-friendly platform and regular product specification updates, keep us constantly on the...
06 Aug 2024
NZ Building Code Changes: Type 1 Domestic Smoke Alarms
In Masterspec NOTES June 2024, we provided commentary around the changes to the NZ Building Code relating to domestic smoke alarms.
18 Jul 2024
New Industry Initiative to Reduce Carbon Emissions of New Zealand Buildings
A new industry-led initiative aims to reduce the environmental impact of Aotearoa New Zealand’s buildings, which contribute up to 20% of the national...
04 Jul 2024
Masterspec Announces New MasterKey4 for Revit 2025 Enhancements
Streamlined Workflows and Improved Collaboration with MasterKey4. We are excited to announce the latest update to MasterKey4 for Revit 2025, designed...
04 Jun 2024
Building Code Updates 2023-2024
This month we have published amendments in response to building code updates. The 2023-24 NZBC changes were published by MBIE on the 2 November 2023,...
04 Jun 2024
NZ Building Code Changes: Type 1 Domestic Smoke Alarms
From November 2023 the Building Code Acceptable Solutions for Protection from Fire (C/AS1 and C/AS2) have been amended to make Type 1 interconnected...
05 Apr 2024
Understanding Project Scope and How to Specify Window Systems
It is vital that Movement and Deflection criteria are correctly defined in the Specification. We cannot over emphasize the importance of correctly...
04 Apr 2024
MBIE Building Consent System Review - Overview and Update
In July 2022, MBIE commenced a review of the building consent system, as part of the Building System Reforms to improve the consenting process. The...
30 Nov 2023
NZCIC Guidelines Responsibility Schedule Goes Digital
The new online tool enables real-time collaboration among multiple stakeholders, fostering efficiency and innovation in construction processes.
10 Nov 2023
BCA Requests to Modify Manufacturers Technical Content
mDocs allows the specifier to quickly access the latest version of a document uploaded by the manufacturer or supplier. Importantly, these detailed...
27 Sep 2023
Masterspec Specified: Award Winning Taharoto Lane by X Studio Architects
The development will have 19 units, including studio, office, and retail space. The residential units will have balconies with views of the city...
27 Sep 2023
Masterspec Specified: Award Winning Soaring Box House by Turner Road Architecture
The house’s unique design fits into the rural landscape. The house has a cantilevered structure and a soaring angular volume. The interior design is...
13 Sep 2023
Hallmark Group Opens Up About BPIR
Recently, Hallmark Group turned to Masterspec, a trusted name in compliance solutions, for guidance on their BPIR for fire doors. In this article, we...

The Masterspec Team – Architects, Designers, Engineers and more.

30 Dec 2017

Recently Alex Hammond and Mike Tinney published ‘The Secret Life of the Pencil: Great Creatives and their Pencils’ that pays homage to the drawing tool, emphasising its importance in an increasingly tech-focused world. We thought we’d take this opportunity to show you the Masterspec Editorial Team’s pencils (still in almost daily use), and cover the enormous experience our specifications writers have.

According to Masterspec Managing Editor Alex Shaw “our main editorial team of 7 full time and 3 part time writers have a combined experience of over 320 years as practicing Architects and Designers”.

“The breadth of experience across the team is enormous, with team members expertise covering, residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and hospitality, etc. - many of these in New Zealand, but with quite a number in other parts of the world”.

Alex alone has been an architect for 42 years. "Most of my career was managing medium to large projects and quite often I ended up writing the specifications, which is where I learnt the craft of composing a specification. In fact in the late 1970's I did one or two projects using a new fangled system off a large format floppy disk that eventually evolved into Masterspec".

“I have always been interested in the role that specifications play in a project, and realised quite early on that the specification can save you if there is any conflict amongst the construction team, especially when it comes to product substitutions and performance standards”.

Shaw joined Masterspec in February 2008 as Managing Editor. Since then he has not only focused on the quality of the specifications, but on the quality of those writing those specs. “We usually take many weeks to find the right candidate with the combination of creativity, inquisitiveness, experience, technical know-how and dedication that the post requires” says Shaw. 

“Masterspec Specifications must be clear, correct, concise, consistent and once you have selected your options, complete.  They are written not only to achieve great construction outcomes, but to hold up under rigourous cross examination in the courts if there is a subsequent problem”.

“Many architects don’t realise that a quality specification holds for the life of the building, often through to demolition, and can protect the Architect and their practice”.

During Alex's tenure the scope and range of Masterspec has increased significantly, with now over 1,000 sections and new systems like, Structural & Civil, Services, Interiors and Landscapes. With some of these new systems, different disciplines and expertise were needed to provide technical guidance to the writers.  

“We have a number of Civil and Structural Engineers, Services Engineers, Landscape Architects and Interior Designers working as consultants on our specification sections” he says. “All of these people must have many years experience in their chosen profession before they are considered as a member of the wider Masterspec team”.

All the Masterspec writers are still extremely interested in Architecture and Design. “We encourage everyone to take a keen interest in ongoing design and construction projects, as it helps keep them up to date with the latest technologies and Standards” says Shaw.

So the next time you open a Masterspec specification, remember it’s been written by experienced Architects, Designers, Landscape Architects and Engineers for Architects, Designers, Landscape Architects and Engineers.

‘”We are an industry-owned body” says Shaw, “tasked with providing the best across the entire New Zealand construction landscape. To do that we have focussed on having some of the best, most experienced specification writers in New Zealand on our team”.

Masterspec are always interested in talking to anyone with extensive specifications and technical experience. If you think you might fit that bill please don't hesitate to contact Alex on alex@masterspec.co.nz for a chat 

 

 

Share this article with your friends 

share linkedin
    share twitter   share facebook

Follow us on Instagram