The following are a listing of terms frequently used in architecture:

Abatement of asbestos-containing materials: During the 70’s many construction materials contained asbestos, later found to be very dangerous for lungs and declared illegal to include in new construction materials. When the asbestos-containing materials are removed, tiny asbestos particles can be inhaled and cause asbestosis in lungs. Environmental companies specialize in testing and removal of asbestos or other hazardous material.

Architectural Review Board: Board who administers changes in the look of the built environment that affects the community.

Bidding: Making a proposal to carry out the described project for an agreed price.

Building Code: State or Local Code that regulates building and demolition. There are Codes on Building, Residential, Energy Conservation, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Fire, Property Maintenance Codes, etc.

Building Department: Local Authority that controls demolition and building in an area. Inside the Building Department there can be a few Commissions that administer different aspects of construction and demolition.

Certificate of Completion or C. of O.: Certificate released by the Building Department that states that the building can lawfully be occupied.

Change Orders: Forms that administer the changes in the cost of construction, as suggested by the G.C.’s or the Owner.

Consultant: Specialist in a specific area of construction: lighting, structural, interior finishes, etc.

Construction Documents: The package of drawings, specifications, material lists, legal agreements and any other description of construction and/or demolition work that is the base for the contract between Owner and Contractor.

Existing Conditions: The building’s conditions before the construction starts.

Façade layout: Drawing of the front, side or back of a building.

Filing a project with a regulatory agency: Filling out the required forms and provide the requested documents to obtain the permits for construction.

General Contractor or G.C.: Who hires, and manages the different trades, e.g.: electrician, framer, mason, etc.

Job site: Site where the construction is or is going to take place.

Local Codes: Local construction codes that add specific restrictions to State Building Codes.

Materials list: List of the materials and finishes to be incorporated in the construction.

Plan Layout: Horizontal floor plan drawing.

Product Data Literature: Description of the characteristics of materials and assemblies to be incorporated into the construction.

Requests for payment: forms where the Contractor documents the progression of the job in percentage of the total scope of work and requests payment in proportion.

Regulatory Agencies: Several Agencies, mostly local, regulate construction in an area.

Renderings: Representation in colors or black and white of what the building is going to look like once finished from a certain point of view.

Scope of work: Extent of the work

Shop Drawings: Drawings that the Contractor submits to explain how s/he plans to incorporate part of his work to complement or to substitute the architect’s drawings.

Soil Boring: Soil sample obtained by excavating the soil with a boring machine to test the soil ability to support the weight of a building.

Specifications: Notes that specify certain, materials, methods, and results in construction. They are divided in 16 Divisions, such as Site work, Concrete, Masonry, Metals, Wood and Plastic, Thermal and Moisture Protection, etc.

Subcontractor: One of the different trades hired and managed by the General Contractor.

Survey: Dimensioning and reporting on drawings and notes the existing conditions of a building.

To scale: System of drawing a building so that each inch of drawing corresponds to a certain dimension in reality. Such as the scale 1/4” means that a wall ¼ of an inch long in a drawing represents a wall 1 foot long in reality.