Architecture Acronyms

AIA: American Institute of Architects
ACI: American Concrete Institute
ADA: Americans with Disability Act
AEC: Architecture, Engineering and Construction
AGC: Associated General Contractors
ALA: Association of Licensed Architects
ANSI: American National Standards Institute
APA: American Plywood Association
ARE: Architect Registration Examination
ASHRAE: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers
ASID: American Society of Interior Designers
ASME: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASLA: American Society of Landscape Architects
ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials

BIM: Building Information Modeling
BOCA: Building Officials and Code Administrators International
BOMA: Building Owners and Managers Association International

CAD: Computer Aided Design
CAM: Computer Aided Manufacturing
CBO: Certified Building Official
CCA: Construction Contract Administration
CD: Construction Documents
CFL: Compact Fluorescent Lamp
CGI: Computer Generated Imagery
CM: Construction Management / Manager
CSBA: Certified Sustainable Building Advisor
CSA: Canadian Standards Association
CSI: Construction Specification Institute

DD: Design Development
DOE: Department Of Energy

EIR: Environmental Impact Report
EIT: Engineer in Training
EPA: Environmental Protective Agency

GMP: Guaranteed Maximum Price

FAIA: Fellow of the American Institute of Architects
FAR: Floor Area Ratio

HEPA: High-Efficiency Particulate Air
HERS: High Energy Rating Scheme
HUD: Housing and Urban Development
HVAC: Heating, ventilation, and cooling systems

IAQ: Indoor Air Quality
IBC: International Building Code
ICBO: International Conference of Building Officials
ICC: International Code Council
IDP: Intern Dvpmt. Program
IIDA: International Interior Design Association
IPD: Integrated Project Delivery

LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environment Design
LEED AP: LEED Accredited Professional
LID: Low Impact Development

MEP: Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing
MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheet

NAAB: The National Architectural Accrediting Board
NAHB: National Association of Home Builders
NAHBRC: NAHB Research Center
NCARB: National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
NFPA: National Fire Protection Association
NFRC: National Fenestration Rating Council

O&M: Operations & Maintenance
OSHA: Occupational Safety & Health Administration

PD: Pre Design
PE: Professional Engineer
PM: Project Manager

RA: Registered Architect
RFB: Request For Bid
RFI: Request For Information
RFP: Request For Proposal
RFQ: Request For Quote

SD: Schematic Design
SWPPP: Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans

TI: Tenant Improvement

UBC: Uniform Building Code
UFC: Uniform Fire Code
UL: Underwriters Laboratories
USGBC: United States Green Building Council