Definitions starting with b

• BREEAM certification A consultant that helps to ensure that a building project will achieve BREEAM certification.
• baby blue A light shade of blue, lighter but not as bright as cyan.
• baby carriage storage area A designated parking area for baby carriages and strollers, shared by users of a structure.
• badminton One or more courts for badminton, bisected by a standing net.
• bagel shop A shop specializing in fresh bagels and spreads or fillings that go on them.
• baggage inspection at entry Posts at the entrance for mandatory inspection of incoming baggage.
• baha'i temple A house of worship in the Baha'i faith.
• bait and tackle shop Retail space specializing in fishing equipment.
• bakery A store or eatery specializing in freshly baked breads and/or pastries.
• bakery cafe A dining establishment for light meals with a specialization in sandwiches or bakery products.
• balconies Cantilevered or recessed outdoor spaces which open onto tenant spaces above the ground floor.
• ball court A constructed surface or platform for ball games which are not played on a field.
• ball field A large field of grass or dirt configured for ball games or similar sports.
• ball on pipe water tower A high globular tank resting on a central shaft without side supports.
• balustrade A building summit formed by a decorative carved or molded fence.
• bamboo Flooring made from strips of bamboo joined like wood planks.
• bamboo A load-bearing frame composed of bamboo.
• bamboo A roof-supporting framework made of bamboo.
• bandy An rectangular ice field used for bandy, with goals at both ends.
• bank branch A retail banking site where customers can access their accounts and receive basic financial services.
• bank branch A bank which operates any customer service branch with tellers and service personnel.
• baptist church A house of worship in the Baptist faith.
• bar A place where customers gather to drink from a wide selection of beverages.
• barbecue restaurant A restaurant specializing in American barbeque.
• barber shop A place where customers can get haircuts and shaves.
• bark Facades made from the soft outer tissue of woody trunks or branches.
• barn Storage space, vehicle sheds, or animal housing for agricultural purposes.
• baroque Post-Renaissance architecture with a strong emphasis on the plasticity of classical forms.
• barrage A dam consisting of a series of movable gates used to regulate water flow in a channel.
• barrier Objects whose purpose is to form a screen or shield between one area and another.
• basalt A black or gray rock formed from hardened lava.
• bascule bridge A movable bridge which opens by rising on a hinge.
• base elevation The altitude of a structure's base point above sea level.
• base of a structure The lower reference point when measuring a structure's height.
• baseball A field for baseball with 4 bases arranged in a diamond plus an outfield.
• basement An underground floor level of regular height, suitable for human movement or occupancy.
• basic design completed The basic form of the final design is completed.
• basilica designation An honorary title given to a Roman Catholic church by papal brief, conferring distinction and ceremonial privileges.
• basketball Space for basketball courts with an elevated hoop at at least one end.
• bathroom furnishings manufacturer A company which sells bathroom installations to be used throughout a building.
• batt insulation Mats, sheets, pads, or bags of soft or flexible thermal insulation materials.
• bauxite mine A site where naturally occurring bauxite is extracted from the earth, mainly for aluminum production.
• bay windows A shaft-like section of a facade which bulges out for additional floor space and window exposure.
• beach An area of sand next to a body of water which is designated as an amenity for users of a particular property.
• beach volleyball A place with a soft sandy surface for playing beach volleyball.
• beachwear store A shop specializing in swimwear and related beach or swimming accessories.
• beam bridge A simple bridge formed by a rigid deck spanning a gap.
• bear exhibit A zoo habitat for housing and displaying bears.
• beauty salon Places where customers go for beauty treatments or simple personal upkeep.
• beaux-arts Baroque revival architecture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries with elaborate ornamentation and an emphasis on hierarchies of space.
• bed store A shop specializing in beds, mattresses, or other bedding materials.
• beer garden A mainly outdoor establishment specializing in beer, with open seating.
• beige A very light shade of brown, about halfway between tan and white.
• bell foundry A manufacturer of metal bells installed in a structure for musical purposes or to mark times and events.
• berm An artificial ridge built of piled earth or rock.
• betting parlor A site designated for placing bets on events which occur elsewhere.
• beverage store A shop specializing in a general selection of packaged drinks.
• bicycle parking A place designated for temporary storage of bicycles when not in use.
• bicycle rental A place where bicycles can be rented.
• bicycle storage A designated room or shelter for parking bicycles.
• bicycle store A store specializing in the sale of bicycles.
• bicycle traffic A site or structure used as a route for persons riding bicycles.
• billiard room A room with a billiards table which is available to tenants.
• billiards A space dedicated to games of pool or billiards, with special tables and game equipment.
• bingo A location designated for American-style bingo games, where players match called numbers to a card.
• biomedical research A facility devoted to experiments and studies in medicine, life sciences, and/or biology.
• bioreactor Panels or containers holding a biologically active environment for energy production or carbon dioxide reduction.
• bird control Any system or device installed to prevent birds from roosting or entering a structure or area.
• bird exhibit A zoo habitat for housing and displaying birds.
• bird shelter A structure built to shelter birds, not for display or agriculture.
• black The color of coal or the night sky.
• black-gray-white Colors with minimum chromaticity, ranging from black to white and including shades of gray.
• blast furnace A freestanding industrial furnace constructed for smelting of metals.
• block A unit of urban land bounded by streets and not divided by any streets.
• block stacking A simple storage area where objects are placed on a surface and stacked on top of each other.
• block-focused numbering House numbering which is tied to blocks rather than streets.
• blood center A place where donated blood is collected for use in transfusions.
• blue Medium blue; one of the primary additive colors.
• blue Colors with a bluish hue, ranging from light blue to very dark navy or midnight blue.
• blues club A lounge or bar specializing in live performances of blues music.
• boat dock A place in a body of water where boats can be moored alongside a pier or wharf.
• boat fueling A site where motor fuel is supplied to water vehicles.
• boat ramp An area on a shoreline where boats can be transferred between land and water.
• boat slips Docking facilities for boats within the building property.
• boat storage Places for the storage of boats, either on land or in sheltered spaces at a shoreline.
• bobsled chute A sloping trough for sledding without snow or ice.
• bobsledding A place devoted to gravity-powered sledding on a snow or ice surface.
• body care salon Retail services which tend to bodily care and personal appearance.
• book A text which is bound and published with a presumption of passing a quality review.
• bookstore A shop which primarily sells printed books.
• border control An artificial barrier which seals or secures a boundary by preventing unwanted crossings.
• botanic garden A garden designed to feature various plant species, usually with labels and educational exhibits.
• botanical research A facility devoted to studies and experiments in botany and plant science.
• bottling plant A facility for mass production and bottling of beverages.
• boule A game in which heavy balls are rolled at a target ball.
• bowed roof A roof formed by one or more curved planes.
• bowling One or more alleys for bowling, with places for 10 pins at the end of each lane.
• boxing One or more rings or other space for competitive boxing, usually bounded by ropes.
• branch A local office or franchise of a company.
• brand A registered trademark of a company.
• brazilian restaurant A restaurant specializing in Brazilian cuisine.
• breakfast restaurant A restaurant specializing in an assortment of typical breakfast foods.
• breakwater A retaining wall or embankment in a body of water which blocks waves from a sheltered area behind it.
• brewery A facility for the mass production and bottling of beer.
• brewpub A tavern or pub specializing in beer and featuring a brewery on the premises.
• brick Roofing made of small masonry blocks of baked minerals joined by mortar.
• brick A load-bearing frame composed of small, mostly-solid blocks of baked minerals joined by mortar.
• brick Flooring constructed of paving bricks or masonry bricks.
• brick Small blocks of baked minerals which are usually joined by mortar on building facades.
• brickworks A facility for the manufacture of masonry units, where sand and binding agents are molded and baked.
• bridalwear store Retail space specializing in wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, and other clothing for weddings.
• bridge A conduit for transportation which spans lower land or a body of water.
• bridge main span The greatest horizontal distance in a straight line between consecutive piers of a bridge.
• bridge module manufacturer A company that prefabricates whole bridges or units of bridges.
• bridge total span The entire length along which a bridge deck is separated from the ground, following any bends.
• bridgehouse A place housing a control center for the operation of a movable bridge.
• brochure A specially printed informational booklet about a particular topic.
• brokerage A place where professional brokers execute trades in stocks and other securities for customers.
• brokerage commission A service fee paid to an agent for the successful completion of a transaction.
• bronze An expensive copper alloy used in sculptures and in high-end building facades.
• brothel A site for prostitution and the sale of sexual services.
• brown Colors with a brownish hue, ranging from light beige to very dark taupe or chocolate shades.
• brown A neutral medium shade of brown; an even mixture of all subtractive primary colors.
• brutalist Modern architecture using heavy and massive forms, preferring an appearance of strength to elegance.
• buddhist affiliation Directly connected with the Buddhist faith or operated by an organization belonging to it.
• buddhist temple A place of worship and meditation in the Buddhist faith.
• building An enclosed structure designed for habitation or shelter.
• building automation A company which provides automation technology for a building's mechanical systems.
• building drying Companies contracted to repair water damage in buildings.
• building maintenance unit A mechanism which crawls over a building carrying humans or machines to clean or maintain the surface.
• building mass height The height of a building defined by its enclosed volume plus any designed elements which the roof tapers into.
• building physics A company which maintains the structural and mechanical systems of a building.
• building population The rough capacity of regular users of a building under normal conditions of full occupancy.
• building sway (max) The maximum total length across which a structure is expected to sway in high winds at its extreme point.
• building with towers A building with fewer than 12 floors which has one or more tall towers appended to it.
• built object A distinct physical structure or landform constructed through deliberate processes.
• built-in slide A chute built into a building or structure, which people can slide down for fun or for quick descent.
• bulk storage structure An enclosure constructed to house commodities or equipment, and generally not accessible to persons.
• bullfight Arenas for bloodsport or other contests involving bulls.
• bumper cars Room or space allocated to small cars that bump each other for amusement.
• bundled tube A system in which multiple tube structures are clustered together for greater strength.
• bungee jumping A place designated for thrill jumps using a bungee cord.
• burger fast food A fast food restaurant specializing in burgers, where food is ordered and picked up at a counter.
• bus depot A base for parking or storing multi-passenger buses when not in use.
• bus parking A parking site reserved or designed for buses.
• bus station A site where passengers regularly board and alight from buses.
• bus stop A designated stop along a bus route, which is not a multi-route terminal.
• business aircraft hangar Enclosed space for storage and/or maintenance of aircraft owned or leased by any organization for its own use.
• business attire store Retail space specializing in clothing suitable for a business or white-collar workplace.
• business center A designated place for performing business tasks and communications away from the office.
• business center operator The company which runs a business center, where customers can use office facilities and receive business services.
• business development An organization devoted to the assistance of businesses.
• business incubator Office space designated for start-up companies.
• business school Classroom space for higher education in the field of business.
• butcher shop A store specializing in the sale of meats.
• butter A light shade of yellow, about halfway between yellow and white.
• buttressed core A system in which a rigid core is further supported by attached walls which flare out toward the lower levels.
• buyer or renter broker commission The service fee paid by a buyer or renter to an agent for finding a desired property.
• byzantine Architecture derived from the Byzantine Empire, featuring domes flanked by lower semidomes, with floorplans based on a central square.

← Back to all definitions