Practice Management Flashcards
abutment
A buttressing or supporting
structure.
acoustics
The branch of physics that deals
with sound. In architectural application, the
sound qualities of a room or space.
acropolis
In an ancient Greek city, a citadel,
usually on a high plateau.
addenda
Statements or drawings that modify
the basic contract documents after the latter
have been issued to the bidders, but prior to
taking of bids.
addition (to the contract sum)
An amount
added to the contract sum either by an accepted
additive alternate or by change order.
adobe
A sun-dried brick of earth, used in the
American Southwest.
advertisement for bids
Published public
notice soliciting proposals for a construction
project.
aesthetics
The branch of philosophy that
deals with the quality, aspects, and perception
of beauty.
agent
One who acts on behalf of another.
air rights
The rights to the use or control
of space above a property, such as highways,
railroad tracks, or buildings.
albedo
Reflectivity measured as the relative permeability of a surface to radiant energy
flowing in either direction.
alignment
Horizontal or vertical deviation
from the straight or level centerline of the road.
alternate bid
Proposal by a bidder for an
amount to be subtracted from, or added to, the
base bid if the corresponding change in the
work is accepted.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Federal civil rights legislation that establishes
the right of persons with disabilities to equal
access to sites and buildings and sets design
guidelines for its implementation.
amphitheater
An arena encircled by tiers of
seats.
annunciator
An electromagnetic device that
indicates the activation of certain circuits; a
device to signal the existence and location of a
fire in a building.
application for payment
A contractor’s
written request for payment of the amount due
on account of work completed and/or materials
suitably stored on the site. Also called payment
request.
approved equal
Material or method that is
approved by the architect as being equivalent to
what was originally specified.
apse
The eastern or altar end of a church,
usually semicircular in plan
arbitration
An alternative to litigating a dispute, in which one or more arbitrators hears the
evidence and renders a decision.
ashlar
Masonry having a face of square or
rectangular stones.
azulejo
A glazed decorative tile with the
color blue most prominent.
backfill
Earth or other fill material placed
between an outside foundation wall and the
excavation.
baffle
A partial obstruction against flow in a
duct or pipe.