| A building is an assemblage that is firmly attached to | | | | within an acceptable time. |
| the ground and that provides total or nearly total | | | | 3. The building should be capable of withstanding the |
| shelter for machines, processing equipment, | | | | elements and normal usagefor a period of time |
| performance of human activities, storage of human | | | | specified by the client. |
| possessions, or any combination of these. | | | | 4. Both inside and outside, the building should be |
| Building design is the process of providing all | | | | visually pleasing. |
| information necessary for construction of a building | | | | 5. No part of the building should pose a hazard to the |
| that will meet its owner’s requirements and also | | | | safety or health of itsoccupants under normal usage, |
| satisfy public health, welfare, and safety | | | | and the building should provide for safe evacuationor |
| requirements. | | | | refuge in emergencies. |
| Architecture is the art and science of building design. | | | | 6. The building should provide the degree of shelter |
| Building construction is the process of assembling | | | | from the elements and ofcontrol of the interior |
| materials to form a building. Building design may be | | | | environment—air, temperature, humidity, light, and |
| legally executed only by persons deemed competent | | | | acoustics—specified by the client and not less than |
| to do so by the state in which the building is to be | | | | the minimums required for safetyand health of the |
| constructed. Competency is determined on the basis | | | | occupants. |
| of education, experience, and ability to pass a written | | | | 7. The building should be constructed to minimize |
| test of design skills. | | | | adverse impact on the environment. |
| Architects are persons legally permitted to practice | | | | 8. Operation of the building should consume a |
| architecture. Engineers are experts in specific | | | | minimum of energy while permittingthe structure to |
| scientific disciplines and are legally permitted to design | | | | serve its purposes. |
| parts of buildings; in some cases, complete buildings. | | | | 9. The sum of costs of construction, operation, |
| In some states, persons licensed as building designers | | | | maintenance, repair, and anticipatedfuture alterations |
| are permitted to design certain types of buildings. | | | | should be kept within the limit specified by the client. |
| Building construction is generally performed by | | | | The ultimate objective of design is to provide all the |
| laborers and craftspeople engaged for the purpose | | | | information necessary for the construction of a |
| by an individual or organization, called a contractor. | | | | building. This objective is achieved by the production |
| The contractor signs an agreement, or contract, with | | | | of drawings, or plans, showing what is to be |
| the building owner under which the contractor agrees | | | | constructed, specifications stating what materials and |
| to construct a specific building on a specified site and | | | | equipment are to be incorporated in the building, and |
| the owner agrees to pay for the materials and | | | | a construction contract between the client and a |
| services provided. | | | | contractor. Designers also should observe |
| In the design of a building, architects should be guided | | | | construction of the building while it is in process. This |
| by the following principles: | | | | should be done not only to assist the client in |
| 1. The building should be constructed to serve | | | | ensuring that the building is being constructed in |
| purposes specified by the client. | | | | accordance with plans and specifications but also to |
| 2. The design should be constructable by known | | | | obtain information that will be useful in design of |
| techniques and with availablelabor and equipment, | | | | future buildings. |