Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Design Industry Terminology

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)

A U.S. civil rights law that sets minimum accessibility standards for buildings, interiors, and sites to accommodate people with disabilities. It governs elements like clear floor areas, slopes, door hardware, signage, and restroom layouts.

- Ensure the corridor width meets ADA clearances. - Add tactile warnings at stair landings per ADA. - Verify ADA sink knee and toe clearances in restrooms.

Adaptive Reuse

The process of repurposing an existing building for a new use while retaining as much of the structure and character as feasible. Often pursued for sustainability, heritage, and cost benefits.

- Converting a warehouse into creative offices through adaptive reuse. - Adaptive reuse strategy retained the historic facade. - The pro forma accounts for adaptive reuse code upgrades.

BIM (Building Information Modeling)

A collaborative, data-rich 3D modeling process that represents a building’s physical and functional characteristics across design, construction, and operations.

- Run a clash detection between the MEP and structural BIM models. - Extract the door schedule directly from the BIM. - Export the BIM to IFC for the contractor.

Biophilic Design

An approach that connects occupants with nature through light, air, plants, water, natural materials, and patterns, enhancing well-being and performance.

- Integrate daylight, views to nature, and natural materials to meet biophilic design goals. - Biophilic elements improved staff well-being metrics. - Plant walls support LEED and biophilic strategies.

Building Envelope

The physical separator between the interior and exterior (walls, windows, roofs, foundations) that controls heat, air, moisture, and sound transfer.

- Improve the envelope’s air barrier to reduce infiltration. - The wall assembly needs a thermal break at the balcony slab. - Commission the envelope for water intrusion testing.

CAD (Computer-Aided Design)

Software used to draft and document design drawings, details, and plans with precision and standardized layers, symbols, and annotations.

- Issue the reflected ceiling plan in CAD and PDF. - Convert legacy CAD details into the BIM library. - Update layers and lineweights per CAD standards.

Change Order

A formal modification to the construction contract that adjusts scope, cost, and or schedule, typically initiated by the owner, designer, or contractor.

- A change order is required for the client’s finish upgrade. - Issue Change Order 07 for the added fire sprinklers. - The CO extends the schedule by two weeks.

Charrette

An intensive, collaborative design workshop involving stakeholders to generate ideas, build consensus, and accelerate decision-making early in a project.

- Host a community charrette for the streetscape plan. - The team charrette produced three massing options. - Use a charrette to align stakeholders on priorities.

Design-Bid-Build (DBB)

A traditional delivery method where the design is completed first, then competitively bid, then constructed by the lowest responsible bidder.

- The city requires DBB for public projects. - The architect completes CDs before bidding in DBB. - DBB separates design and construction contracts.

Design-Build (DB)

A delivery method where one entity holds the contract for both design and construction, fostering collaboration, speed, and single-point responsibility.

- We will propose a design-build approach to compress the schedule. - The contractor and architect are on one DB team. - DB can reduce change orders via earlier constructability input.

Egress

The path of exit travel from any point in a building to the public way, including exit access, exits, and exit discharge, governed by life safety codes.

- Increase stair width to meet egress capacity. - Confirm travel distance to exit is under code limits. - Doors must swing in the direction of egress for high occupant loads.

Entitlements

Government approvals that allow a project to proceed under zoning and land-use regulations, often including variances, use permits, and site plan approvals.

- Secure entitlements before detailed design. - The project needs a variance as part of entitlements. - Entitlements include site plan approval and use permits.

FAR (Floor Area Ratio)

A zoning metric expressing the ratio of a building’s total floor area to the size of its lot, controlling density and bulk.

- The zoning allows an FAR of 3.0 on this parcel. - The proposed massing exceeds the allowable FAR. - Transfer of development rights can increase FAR.

FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment)

Movable items that outfit interiors but are not typically permanently affixed to the building, procured and installed near project completion.

- The FF&E budget covers seating, casegoods, and lighting. - Create an FF&E schedule with specifications and finishes. - Lead times for FF&E may drive the critical path.

Geotechnical Report

A study of subsurface conditions and soil properties informing foundations, earthwork, drainage, and pavement design.

- The geotech report shows high groundwater at 8 feet. - Footing sizes reflect soil bearing from the geotech. - LID features must respect infiltration rates in the report.

Green Roof

A vegetated roof system that retains stormwater, reduces heat gain, enhances biodiversity, and can extend roof membrane life.

- Specify an extensive green roof to manage stormwater. - The green roof reduces heat island and improves insulation. - Coordinate structural loading for the green roof system.

Hardscape

The non-plant elements of landscape design such as paving, walls, decks, steps, and site furnishings.

- Use permeable pavers for the plaza hardscape. - Coordinate hardscape joints with building control joints. - The hardscape plan includes walls, steps, and benches.

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)

Mechanical systems that provide thermal comfort and indoor air quality through heating, cooling, ventilation, and controls.

- Right-size HVAC systems to meet energy targets. - Provide MERV 13 filters for better IAQ. - Coordinate diffuser layout with lighting and sprinklers.

IBC (International Building Code)

A widely adopted model code covering building safety, structural, fire protection, accessibility references, and egress requirements.

- The IBC dictates stair geometry and guard heights. - Determine occupancy type per IBC chapter definitions. - Follow IBC for fire separations between uses.

IFC (Industry Foundation Classes)

An open, standardized data schema for interoperable exchange of BIM information across different software and stakeholders.

- Export the architectural model as IFC 4 for coordination. - The fabricator imports IFC for shop drawings. - IFC exchange allows open BIM workflows across platforms.

IPD (Integrated Project Delivery)

A collaborative delivery approach aligning owner, designer, and builder under a multiparty agreement with shared risk and reward to improve outcomes.

- The team used IPD with a shared savings agreement. - Early trades input in IPD improved constructability. - IPD co-locates the team in a big room environment.

Joinery

The methods by which wood components are connected, critical to cabinetry, millwork, and furniture craftsmanship and performance.

- The cabinet shop will use dovetail joinery for drawers. - Specify concealed joinery at the reception desk. - Mortise and tenon joinery enhances durability.

KPI (Key Performance Indicator)

Quantifiable metrics used to evaluate project or firm performance against goals such as schedule adherence, quality, safety, and profitability.

- Track RFI turnaround time as a KPI. - Utilization rate is a key studio KPI. - Safety incidents per 1000 hours is a site KPI.

LCC (Life-Cycle Costing)

An economic analysis method that evaluates total cost of ownership over time, including capital, operations, maintenance, and replacement costs.

- LCC shows the high-efficiency chiller pays back in 6 years. - Include maintenance and replacement in the LCC model. - Compare roof assemblies via LCC and NPV.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

A widely used green building certification system assessing sustainability across categories like energy, water, materials, and indoor environmental quality.

- Target LEED Gold with points in water and energy. - The LEED scorecard shows we need two more credits. - Hire a LEED AP to manage documentation.

LID (Low Impact Development)

A planning and design approach to manage stormwater near its source with natural systems that promote infiltration and evapotranspiration.

- Add bioswales and rain gardens per LID guidelines. - Use permeable pavement to meet LID stormwater targets. - LID strategies reduce runoff to the municipal system.

Master Plan

A long-range framework for land use, circulation, infrastructure, open space, and phasing at site, campus, or district scales.

- The campus master plan phases new housing and utilities. - Align the parcel master plan with transit-oriented development. - The master plan guides future capital projects.

Massing

The overall three-dimensional form and volume composition of a building or ensemble, often explored early to balance program, context, and performance.

- Test massing options for daylight and views. - The massing steps back above the podium. - CFD and solar studies inform the tower massing.

MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing)

Core building systems that provide environmental control, power, lighting, water, and waste services, coordinated with structure and architecture.

- Resolve MEP coordination in the ceiling plenum. - The MEP engineer will size the main feeders. - Update the MEP riser diagrams for the permit set.

Net Present Value (NPV)

A financial metric that discounts future cash flows to present value to assess the profitability of investments or design options.

- The NPV of the energy retrofit is positive at a 7 percent discount rate. - Compare alternatives using NPV to inform selection. - LCC and NPV justify higher performance glazing.

Net Zero Energy

A building that produces as much energy annually from on-site or nearby renewables as it consumes, typically paired with deep efficiency measures.

- Aim for net zero energy with PV and a high-performance envelope. - Reduce EUI to meet net zero targets. - Commission systems to validate net zero performance.

Occupancy Load

The number of people permitted in a space based on function and area, driving egress capacity, exit widths, and fixture counts per code.

- Calculate occupancy load to size stairs and exits. - Post occupant load signs in assembly spaces. - Occupancy load affects plumbing fixture counts.

OPR (Owner’s Project Requirements)

A written document articulating the owner’s functional, performance, and quality objectives that guide design and commissioning.

- The OPR defines acoustic and wellness goals. - The basis of design responds directly to the OPR. - Commissioning verifies systems meet the OPR.

Parametric Design

A process where geometry and performance are driven by adjustable parameters and relationships, enabling rapid iteration and optimization.

- Use parametric design to optimize facade shading. - A Grasshopper script controls stair geometry. - Parametric rules drive adaptive seating layouts.

Pro Forma

A financial model projecting development costs, revenues, and returns used to assess feasibility, financing, and go or no-go decisions.

- The developer’s pro forma sets the target construction budget. - Update the pro forma with revised FF&E costs. - Sensitivity analysis in the pro forma tests rent scenarios.

Programming

The pre-design phase that defines goals, users, space requirements, adjacencies, and performance criteria to inform design.

- Conduct interviews and adjacency mapping during programming. - The program calls for 12 exam rooms and a shared lab. - Programming validated departmental space standards.

QA/QC (Quality Assurance/Quality Control)

Processes and reviews that ensure deliverables meet standards and reduce errors, covering both prevention and detection of issues.

- Run a QC check before issuing the 100 percent CDs. - Use a QA checklist to standardize reviews. - Peer reviews reduced RFIs through stronger QA/QC.

RFI (Request for Information)

A formal question from contractor to design team seeking clarification of documents, materials, or conditions during construction.

- Log the RFI and assign it to the architect for response. - Provide a sketch to clarify the RFI on slab recesses. - Track average RFI response time as a KPI.

Right-of-Way (ROW)

Land reserved for public use such as streets and utilities that influences setbacks, access, and infrastructure coordination.

- The city’s ROW width affects streetscape design. - Utilities must stay within the ROW. - Encroachments into the ROW require permits.

ROI (Return on Investment)

A profitability ratio comparing net gains to investment cost, used to evaluate design or scope decisions with financial impact.

- The ROI for LED retrofits exceeds the hurdle rate. - Compare finish options based on ROI and durability. - Branding improvements improved ROI via higher rents.

Schematic Design (SD)

An early design phase that defines the concept, layouts, massing, and key systems sufficiently for owner review and cost estimating.

- Deliver SD plans, sections, and exterior massing. - SD alternatives test different structural grids. - Client sign-off at SD unlocks DD funding.

Site Analysis

A systematic study of physical, environmental, regulatory, and cultural site factors that shape design opportunities and constraints.

- Map solar access, winds, and views in the site analysis. - The site analysis identified a floodplain constraint. - Utilities and topo surveys inform the site analysis.

Submittal

Contractor-provided product data, shop drawings, samples, and mockups submitted for design team review to verify conformance with the contract documents.

- Review submittals for doors, hardware, and finishes. - Maintain the submittal log and action codes. - Mockups are required as part of the submittals.

TCO (Temporary Certificate of Occupancy)

A short-term authorization from the authority having jurisdiction allowing limited occupancy before final certificate of occupancy is issued.

- Obtain a TCO to allow partial move-in. - The TCO expires in 60 days pending life safety fixes. - Coordinate inspections required for the TCO.

Universal Design

Designing environments to be accessible, usable, and equitable for the widest range of people without the need for adaptation.

- Apply universal design with zero-step entries. - Use lever handles and contrasting stair nosings. - Universal design benefits users across ages and abilities.

Value Engineering (VE)

A structured process to improve value by balancing function, performance, and cost, seeking cost-effective alternatives without degrading quality.

- VE the facade by using unitized panels. - Propose VE alternates that maintain performance. - Track VE savings against the budget gap.

Wayfinding

The information systems and spatial cues that help people navigate environments, combining architecture, graphics, and environmental design.

- Add landmarks and clear sightlines to improve wayfinding. - Coordinate signage typography and pictograms. - Color-coded floors support hospital wayfinding.

Xeriscaping

A landscape approach that minimizes irrigation needs through drought-tolerant plants, soil improvements, and efficient watering.

- Specify drought-tolerant species for xeriscaping. - Drip irrigation supports xeriscape establishment. - Xeriscaping reduces potable water demand.

Yield on Cost

A development metric calculated as stabilized net operating income divided by total project cost, used to assess feasibility.

- Projected yield on cost is 6 percent at stabilization. - VE measures improved yield on cost by 40 basis points. - Compare yield on cost to market cap rates.

Zoning

Local land-use regulations governing what can be built and how, including use, density, height, setbacks, parking, and overlays.

- Check zoning for height, FAR, and setbacks. - Seek a zoning variance for reduced parking. - The zoning code defines permitted uses and overlays.