Definitions starting with a

• ATC number The American Tower Corporation's identification number for a transmission tower.
• aac masonry unit A load-bearing frame composed of small blocks of very lightweight porous concrete.
• abbreviated name Any shortened version of the standard name for an object.
• abrasive blasting begins Heavy duty facade cleaning using high-pressure flows of water, sand, or other materials.
• abrasive blasting ends Heavy duty facade cleaning using high-pressure flows of water, sand, or other materials.
• academic paper An unpublished research article written for a college or university.
• academic title A formal extension of a name earned with an educational degree.
• access control manufacturer A company that manufactures access control systems, especially barriers to ensure payment or belonging upon entry or exit.
• access control system Electronic systems which boost security by verifying the access rights of persons entering an area.
• access data Numerical data describing the limitations or parameters of access to any place.
• accountant A specialist in financial bookkeeping and projections.
• acoustics consultant A company which provides expertise on sound reflection and absorption in order to idealize the acoustical environment inside a building.
• active A presently existing and operating company.
• active heating Any heating system which uses specially generated or directed energy to warm the interior of a building.
• acupuncture clinic A center where patients are treated for pain or ailments by placing needles at specific points on the body.
• addition A section of a structure constructed later than the original structure.
• address The locally defined location of any structure with respect to the street network.
• address format The way an address is written, depending on the locality and its postal standards.
• address sequence The order in which house numbers are arranged along a street or block.
• address type An indicator of how official any applicable house number is with respect to a given property.
• address zone A section of a structure which has its own mailing address.
• adobe A load-bearing frame constructed of sunbaked earthen materials mixed with natural fibers.
• adult education Classroom space for non-degree programs taught to adults for the sake of learning.
• adventist church A house of worship in the Adventist denomination of Christianity.
• adventure experience A service which lets visitors experience a place in an adventurous way, such as base jumping or bungee jumping.
• advertisement Objects or places used to promote something apart from themselves.
• advisory committee A group of experts or concerned persons which enters relations between companies and governments.
• aerobics A place designated for rhythmic aerobic exercises performed in a group.
• aerogel Panels of lightweight material formed by drying out a mineral gel.
• aesthetic screen A barrier used to preserve or enhance the visual aesthetics of a place.
• aesthetics Objects or sites whose purpose is mainly to enhance the surrounding environment.
• african restaurant A restaurant specializing in sub-Saharan African cuisine.
• aggregate Manufactured sheets made by binding small rocks or pebbles together.
• agricultural commodity storage Bulk storage facilities for products of animal raising or plant cultivation.
• agriculture Spaces which service the harnessing of natural bounty, especially crops and livestock.
• air quality measurement A station for measuring or monitoring the quality of air in the local environment.
• air raid defense A facility used for counterattacking aircraft in an airborne attack.
• air raid shelter A space provided as an open refuge in the event of bombing raids.
• air traffic control Space for aviation controllers to monitor airport traffic and to direct take-offs and landings.
• air-supported structure A building or enclosure made of a membrane inflated with air.
• aircraft fueling A site where fuel is supplied to aircraft.
• aircraft hangar A shed for storing, maintaining, or fixing aircraft or spacecraft.
• aircraft maintenance Facilities for the repair and maintenance of airborne vehicles.
• aircraft parking A place for long or short term storage of flying vehicles, other than a hangar.
• aircraft traffic A site or structure used as a route for airplanes and other flying vehicles.
• aircraft traffic signal Lights or signs which direct aircraft, usually on taxiways.
• aircraft warning light A small light which alerts pilots to the presence of a structure.
• aircraft warning lights Small lights at the top or corners of a structure which increase its visibility to pilots.
• airport A site with runways for airplanes to take off and land.
• airport cargo terminal A facility for loading and unloading cargo carried by airplanes.
• airport passenger gate A point at which airplane passengers exit an airport terminal or concourse to board an aircraft.
• airport passenger terminal An airport building where passengers connect with airplanes.
• airport tower A high structure designed to give air traffic controllers a view of an airfield.
• alabaster A translucent rock composed of gypsum or calcite.
• alley An access route for road vehicles through a city block.
• allotment garden A private lot in a subdivided collection of small gardens.
• alternate name A recognized or accepted version of an object's name different from its standard name.
• alternate numbering House numbering in which odd numbers progress up one side of the street and even numbers on the other.
• alternating stairway Stairs which rise in a straight line and reverse direction at each floor.
• alternative medicine clinic A site for health care following any special philosophy of treatment not recognized by standard medicine.
• altitude The distance of any point above or below sea level.
• aluminum A roof-supporting framework made of aluminum.
• aluminum Window frames made from aluminum.
• aluminum A lightweight low-maintenance metal commonly used in panels and framing sticks in curtain wall facades.
• aluminum sheeting Roofing made from sheets or large slats of rolled aluminum.
• alumni club A meeting place for alumni of a particular educational institution.
• amber A light shade of orange, about halfway between orange and yellow.
• ambulance station A base for paramedical and/or ambulance services.
• amenity Practical objects whose function is to improve the livability or usability of an area, another object, or a public realm.
• american football A rectangular grass field for American football with 100 yards of playing field plus 2 end zones.
• american restaurant A restaurant specializing in a cuisine of the Western Hemisphere.
• amusement Places for designated for fun activities and experiences.
• amusement park A concentration of rides and entertainment attractions in one area.
• amusement ride A non-portable structure which moves riders along a determined course for amusement or thrills.
• amusement ride designer A firm which produces conceptual designs for amusement rides.
• amusement ride manufacturer A company which creates and produces structures for amusement rides.
• anchor date Any time value when a piece of data is perceived as valid.
• andrology Clinical or practice space devoted to male-specific health topics.
• angle Measurements expressed in degrees of arc.
• angle of inclination The angle at which a structure's mass is positioned relative to a straight vertical line.
• angled mansard A roof which folds down at two increasingly steep angles toward the edges.
• angled stairway Stairs which turn once between successive floors, generally at a right angle.
• anglican church A consecrated house of worship in the Church of England or the Episcopalian faith.
• angular helix stairway Stairs which turn at right angles around a central axis.
• animal crematorium A place for cremating dead animals.
• animal cultivation Areas for raising animals for meat, dairy, eggs, wool, or other products.
• animal shelter A place for protective housing and possible sale of animals.
• animal sports A venue for sports involving animals as participants or auxiliary participants.
• animation design A company which creates moving images that are drawn or computer generated.
• annual admissions revenue The total fees collected through sales of tickets or admission fees to a place within one year.
• annual electricity consumption The total number of kilowatt-hours consumed by a structure or other object within a year.
• annual electricity production The total number of kilowatt-hours produced within a structure or other object within a year.
• annual energy consumption rate The annual energy usage in kilowatt-hours per square unit of gross floor space.
• antenna A protruding structure used for the reception or transmission of electromagnetic waves.
• antenna site management A company which provides engineering, consulting, and management services for transmission antennas.
• antiques shop A store specializing in the sale of objects prized for their rarity or age.
• appearance altered for art project The external appearance is changed as part of a public art project.
• applied arts museum A museum specializing in the application of design to common and manufactured objects.
• approach path A defined route leading through the air towards a landing strip at an airport.
• approved Permission for construction has been granted by the government, and assembly of the structure is expected to begin in the future.
• apricot A light pinkish shade of orange.
• aquamarine A very light shade of bluish green.
• aquarium A place where aquatic animals are kept for display in water tanks.
• aquatic mammal exhibit A zoo habitat for housing and displaying seals, dolphins, or other aquatic mammals.
• aquatics consultant A firm providing expertise in the design and construction of swimming pools and other bathing facilities.
• arc A floor plan in the form of a crescent, C-shape, or a simple curve.
• arch A freestanding structure framing an opening.
• arch bridge A bridge whose span is supported by the material tension in an arch between both ends.
• arch dam A dam bowed towards the upstream side to resist water pressure.
• arch-gravity dam A composite dam with the bowed shape of an arch dam and the heavy infill of a gravity dam.
• archery A location designated for shooting projectiles at targets with bows.
• architect The primary designers of a structure, responsible for its original appearance.
• architectural association An organization to promote common causes among various enrolled architecture firms.
• architectural award A laudatory recognition given for architectural or design excellence.
• architectural division Modules which are determined by outward physical characteristics and changes across time.
• architectural features Defined elements of a structure's design which have to do with general layout or appearance.
• architectural framework A building summit formed by an open network of beams.
• architectural height The vertical distance from ground level to the highest part of a structure belonging to its architectural design.
• architectural height (CTBUH) The architectural height of a building measured from the floor level of the lower entrance.
• architectural length The distance from the front entrance of a structure through to the farthest opposite side at the base.
• architectural metalwork fabricator A manufacturer of non-structural metal elements in a structure which contribute to its design.
• architectural model making A company which constructs promotional three-dimensional models of a structure.
• architectural property A special physical element or characteristic which belongs to a structure.
• architectural signage A building summit formed by an advertising feature that belongs to the architectural design.
• architectural style A classification of a structure's appearance in terms of design vocabulary and historical period.
• architectural top element The element in a building which completes its architectural height.
• architectural volume The total three-dimensional area above ground within the perimeter of a building's enclosure.
• architectural width The distance from side to side of a structure at its base, as measured when facing the main entrance.
• architecture school Classroom space for higher education in the field of architecture.
• archive A place where documents and media are stored for the sake of their preservation.
• archive element A document stored as a reference in order to support data on a particular object.
• area Measurements of two-dimensional space expressed in squared units.
• area The amount of land and water occupied by any object or geographic entity.
• arsenal Space for the storage of weapons and/or ammunition.
• art consultant A company which provides expertise in selecting art for a building interior.
• art deco A style of the 1920s and 1930s featuring streamlined shapes and restricted ornamentation.
• art exhibition Public gallery space for temporary exhibits of paintings and other artworks.
• art moderne A streamlined evolution of art deco architecture, popular in the 1930s.
• art nouveau An ideosyncratic style of the early 20th century based on naturalistic and highly imaginative forms and decoration.
• art supply store Retail space specializing in products used in the creation of fine art.
• artificial pond A confined body of water formed by deliberate excavation.
• artificial turf Sheets of grass-like plastic fibers attached to a backing material.
• artist The primary designer of decorative artworks on a structure, or the designer of an artistic structure.
• arts and crafts Architecture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries which emphasizes the handmade or non-industrial features of its design.
• arts school Classroom space for higher education in fine and applied arts.
• artwork A sculpture or other physical object which adds artistic enhancement to its environment.
• artwork A free-standing outdoor permanent work of art.
• asbestos A fireproof material made of silicate mineral fibers, often applied as shingles or panels.
• asbestos sheeting Roofing made of large sheets of asbestos.
• asbestos shingles Roofing made from overlapping plates of asbestos, a flame-resistant natural silicate mineral.
• ash Light gray with a faintly greenish tint.
• asian restaurant A restaurant specializing in a cuisine of any central , southern, or eastern Asian country or region.
• asphalt A hardened mixture of crushed rock aggregate and viscous petroleum derivatives used in flooring or paving.
• asphalt A highly viscous material taken from petroleum deposits, often formed into colored or patterned shingles, tiles, or sheets.
• asphalt manufacturer A manufacturer of asphalt for use in outdoor paving.
• asphalt sheeting Roofing made of a continuous tar-coated membrane
• asphalt shingles Roofing made from overlapping plates of tarred paper or fiberglass.
• assessed value The government-assessed value of a property at a given time.
• asset manager A proxy manager of property owners's assets.
• assisted living Housing where the residents are collectively cared for by working supervisors.
• associate architect The architect of record, which completes the details and drawings needed to realize a design.
• athletic clothing store Retail space specializing in sportswear or team-branded clothing.
• athletics A venue for sports demonstrating individual speed, strength, or agility without games.
• atrium A wide, continuous open space at least 5 floor levels high inside a multi-story building.
• atrium height The total height of the highest enclosed atrium.
• atrium volume The total interior volume of the largest atrium within a structure or module.
• attached elevator core A small, distinct wing containing elevator shafts which projects from the side of a building.
• attic A floor level where regular human movement is impeded by the shape of the roof above it.
• attraction planning A company which plans or designs entertainment attractions in a structure.
• attributes Descriptions and qualifiers of objects such as technical data.
• auction house A site for competitive bidding on any merchandise.
• australian football An oval grass field for australian-rules football.
• auto racing A site for racing automobiles, usually around a large track.
• automated storage retrieval system Storage space where goods are shelved and retrieved by robots to enable high capacity.
• automated teller machine A machine where banking customers can withdraw money and perform other banking transactions.
• automatic de-icing Mechanical systems which melt or remove ice and snow from a structure's surface.
• automatic door manufacturer A manufacturer of doors which open or close at the command of a sensor.
• automatic fire doors Doors which automatically keep an area sealed in order to prevent the spread of smoke or fire.
• automatic window openers Installed mechanisms which ease control of windows by opening them automatically.
• autowalk angle The angle at which an autowalk deviates from a horizontal line.
• autowalk length (max) The continual travel length of the longest moving walkway in a structure.
• autowalk maintenance Companies contracted to maintain and repair the autowalks in a structure.
• autowalk manufacturer A manufacturer of moving belts, walkways, or ramps installed in a structure.
• autowalk speed (max) The maximum speed for any horizontal or inclined autowalk in a defined area.
• autowalk step width The lateral distance across the step or belt on an autowalk.
• availability date The precise date or time parameter when a listed property becomes available.
• average room depth The average distance across rooms in a building, measured from the perimeter inward.
• aviary A cage or open tent used for confining birds.
• award A recognition whose intent is primarily to confer honor or praise on its recipient.
• awning A window which is hinged at the top, and swings open vertically.
• awning A retractable shelter extending from the perimeter of a structure.
• azure A slightly light shade of blue, halfway between cyan and blue.

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