100 Terms Every Architect Should Know

No.	Term	Definition
1.	ADA compliance	Accessibility requirements under U.S. ADA law.
2.	Adaptive reuse	Repurposing existing buildings for new uses.
3.	Aggregate	Sand, gravel, or crushed stone in concrete.
4.	Air barrier	Layer preventing uncontrolled air leakage.
5.	Air changes per hour (ACH)	Hourly rate of indoor air replacement.
6.	Albedo	Surface reflectivity; higher reduces heat gain.
7.	Anchor bolt	Bolt securing structure to concrete.
8.	Apron	Paved area at building entrance or drive.
9.	Architect of record	Licensed architect responsible for documents.
10.	As-built drawings	Drawings reflecting actual constructed conditions.
11.	Atrium	Large interior open space, often skylit.
12.	Axonometric	3D drawing with parallel projection.
13.	Back-of-house (BOH)	Nonpublic service and support areas.
14.	Ballast	Weight holding roofing or fixtures in place.
15.	Baluster	Vertical rail support in a balustrade.
16.	Balustrade	Guardrail system with balusters and handrail.
17.	Batten	Strip covering joints or securing panels.
18.	Beam	Horizontal structural member resisting bending.
19.	Bearing wall	Wall supporting structural loads above.
20.	BIM (Building Info Modeling)	Digital model integrating building data.
21.	Bollard	Short post protecting or guiding vehicles.
22.	Bond beam	Reinforced masonry course tying walls.
23.	Breezeway	Roofed open passage between structures.
24.	Brise-soleil	Sun-shading architectural screen or fins.
25.	Building envelope	Exterior assembly separating inside and outside.
26.	Building section	Cut-through drawing showing vertical relationships.
27.	Bulkhead	Boxed-out soffit concealing services.
28.	Cantilever	Projection supported at one end only.
29.	Capillary break	Layer stopping moisture wicking by capillarity.
30.	Casework	Built-in cabinets and millwork.
31.	Cavity wall	Two wythes separated by air space.
32.	Change order	Contract modification to scope, cost, time.
33.	Charrette	Intensive collaborative design workshop.
34.	Cladding	Exterior protective and aesthetic skin.
35.	Clearance	Required free space around an element.
36.	Clerestory	High windows admitting light above eye level.
37.	Cold-formed steel (CFS)	Light-gauge steel framing members.
38.	Column	Vertical load-bearing structural member.
39.	Composite deck	Metal deck with concrete slab acting together.
40.	Concrete slump	Measure of fresh concrete workability.
41.	Construction documents (CDs)	Drawings/specs used for permitting and building.
42.	Contractor submittal	Shop drawings and product data for approval.
43.	Coping	Protective cap on top of a wall.
44.	Cornice	Projecting decorative molding at roofline.
45.	Coursing	Pattern of masonry unit placement.
46.	Curtain wall	Nonload-bearing exterior wall system.
47.	Datum	Reference level or line for dimensions.
48.	Daylighting	Using natural light to illuminate interiors.
49.	Dead load	Permanent weight of building components.
50.	Detail	Enlarged drawing showing specific construction.
51.	Dew point	Temperature where moisture condenses from air.
52.	Diaphragm	Floor/roof plane transferring lateral loads.
53.	Dimension string	Aligned dimensions indicating distances.
54.	Door schedule	List of doors, sizes, hardware, ratings.
55.	Drainage plane	Layer directing water out of assemblies.
56.	Drip edge	Profile directing water away from edges.
57.	Easement	Legal right to use another’s land.
58.	Egress	Safe path of exit from a building.
59.	Elevation	Orthographic view of a building face.
60.	Expansion joint	Gap allowing movement from temperature changes.
61.	Fascia	Vertical board at roof edge.
62.	Fenestration	Arrangement of windows and exterior openings.
63.	Fire rating	Time assembly resists fire exposure.
64.	Firestopping	Sealing penetrations to limit fire spread.
65.	Flashing	Material diverting water at joints.
66.	Floor area ratio (FAR)	Building floor area divided by site area.
67.	Footing	Foundation element spreading loads to soil.
68.	Furring	Strips creating space or leveling surfaces.
69.	Gantt chart	Timeline bar chart for project scheduling.
70.	Gasket	Sealing material preventing air or water leaks.
71.	Glazing	Glass and its installation in frames.
72.	Grade	Ground level around a building.
73.	Green roof	Vegetated roof system managing stormwater and heat.
74.	Gridline	Reference line for layout and coordination.
75.	Guardrail	Barrier preventing falls at edges.
76.	Gusset plate	Plate connecting structural members at joints.
77.	Handrail	Graspable rail along stairs or ramps.
78.	Hardscape	Nonliving landscape elements like paving and walls.
79.	Header	Structural member spanning over an opening.
80.	Heat island effect	Urban areas warmer than surrounding regions.
81.	Heel height	Truss depth at bearing point.
82.	HVAC	Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
83.	I-beam	Steel beam with I-shaped cross-section.
84.	Insulation R-value	Measure of thermal resistance.
85.	Interior elevation	Orthographic view of an interior wall.
86.	Jamb	Vertical side of a door or window.
87.	Joist	Repeated horizontal framing supporting floors or roofs.
88.	Kerf	Width of cut made by a saw.
89.	Kick plate	Protective plate at bottom of a door.
90.	Lateral load	Sideways force from wind or earthquakes.
91.	LEED	Green building rating certification system.
92.	Lintel	Support over masonry opening.
93.	Live load	Variable loads from occupants and furniture.
94.	Load path	Route loads travel to the foundation.
95.	Massing	Overall building form and volume composition.
96.	Mechanical chase	Concealed vertical space for services.
97.	MEP	Mechanical, electrical, plumbing building systems.
98.	Mullion	Vertical/horizontal member dividing window units.
99.	Net-to-gross ratio	Usable area divided by total area.
100.	Noncombustible	Material that does not ignite or burn.