Speaking Architecture

A Non-Architect’s Journey Through the Many, Many Acronyms of Architecture

This is a real email that I received recently:

Could you please confirm whether submittals for Delta 12 and Delta 17 have already occurred, or are planned to occur, separately from the Revisions?

FYI:

– Delta 12 was used for MFT – Bulletin #3 re : Bldgs 16 & 17 Elec closet swap (RFI #40)

– Delta 17 was used for all CA related changes after Delta 15 (Bulletins/RFI’s)

If they have not been submitted they probably should be included in the revision sets to be issued, and if they did get submitted they can be shown but not clouded.

Thanks !

…Say what?!

My background is not architecture, so when I joined WHA as a Project Administrator, I was stepping into a brand new world and an expected learning curve. I had no idea, however, that I would be learning to speak a brand new language. The first month or so of my time at WHA, I had to continually ask my coworkers to translate what they were saying, it was as if they were speaking in code. (Speaking of code, code books have their own specific jargon, too…). There were so many acronyms thrown around, that I often joked that even they couldn’t be completely sure of what they were saying. This language, I learned, is what they refer to as “ArchiSpeak”. Now that I have learned the ropes, here’s a crash course on how you too, can speak Architect fluently.

Bldg: Building

BMR: Below Market Rate

Bulletin: Announcement of a change order occurring to a plan, typically in response to an RFI

CA: Construction Administration

CAD: Refers to AutoCAD, an architectural drawing software

CD: Construction Documents

DD: Design Development

DET/DTL: Architectural details

Delta: The Greek letter used to symbolize a change; here, a change occurring in drawings, numbered for reference, like this:

DG: Design Guidelines (planning) OR Decomposed Granite (landscaping)

DRB: Design Review Board

DRC: Design Review Committee

DU/AC or DUA: Dwelling Units to the Acre

DWG: Drawing

EW: Elevation Wrap

FE: Front Elevation

FP: Floor Plan

FS: Field Shots

For Sale vs. For Rent: End goal of project is either for individual sale or leasing to general public

GN: General Notes

Gyp: Gypcrete OR Gypsum Board

HOA: Home Owner’s Association

LE: Left Elevation

LP: Landscape Plan

LUP: Land Use Plan

MEP: Mechanical – Electrical – Plumbing

MF: Multi-Family

MFC: Multi-Family Condominiums

MFT: Multi-Family Townhomes

MR: Market Rate

MU: Mixed-Use

PA: Planning Area

PC Letter: Plan Check Letter

PL: Property Line

PT: Pressure Treated OR Post Tension Slab

PTDF: Pressure Treated Douglas Fir

PTS: Post tension slab

RE: Rear Elevation

RFI: Request for Information

RFP: Request for Proposals

RFQ: Request for Qualifications

RP: Roof Plan

SD: Schematic Design

SF: Square Feet

SFD: Single-Family Detached

SOG: Sales Office Graphics

SP: Site Plan or Specific Plan

SPB: Specific Plan Book

SS: Street Scene

SSD: See Structural Drawings

SUB: Submittal

TOSF: Top of Sub Floor

T24: Title-24, energy consultants

YS: Yield Study

1BD: 1st Building Department Submittal

1-Coat: 1-coat stucco

1-Hr: 1-hour fire rating

Agencies & Events:

AIA: American Institute of Architects

ADA: American Disability Act

BIA: Building Industry Association

CBC: California Building Code

CRC: California Residential Code

EOC: Educational Outreach Committee

LEED: Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design

PCBC: Pacific Coast Builder Conference

PWB: Professional Women in Building

ULI: Urban Land Institute

GN: Gold Nugget Awards

Good luck in the architectural acronym jungle!