Building

In architecture, construction, engineering and real estate development the word building may refer to one of the following:

Any man-made structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or continuous occupancy, or
An act of construction.

To differentiate buildings and other structures that are not intended for continuous human occupancy, the latter are called non-building structures. Structural height in technical usage is the height to the highest architectural detail on building from street-level. Depending on how they are classified, spires and masts may or may not be included in this height. Spires and masts used as antennas are not generally included.

Concept

Buildings serve several needs of society. Along with access to food and drinking water, the need for places that are protected from the outdoors and where one can comfortably live, work, eat, sleep, procreate or engage in leisurely activities has always been a top priority for humans. A building as a shelter represents a physical division of the human habitat into the inside (a place of comfort and safety) and the outside (a place that at times may be harsh and harmful). Humans have a remarkable drive to reflect on their lives and express themselves through art. Ever since the first cave paintings, buildings have become objects of artistic expression. In recent years, interest in sustainable planning and building practices has increased in the U.S.

History

File:Savassibuilding.jpg

Building in Belo Horizonte - Brazil.

The first shelter on Earth constructed by a relatively close ancestor to humans is believed to be built 500,000 years ago by an ancient ancestor of humans, Homo erectus.^[1]

Over centuries, homes were technologically advancing. Some were simply inhabited caves, while others were made of dried mud or stone. In these times, there were little furnishings in these homes, besides perhaps a family altar or a table for eating.^{[citation needed]}

Before the invention of the lift, few buildings were higher than five stories. In the New World, the Anasazi built three- and four-story towers in the 12th and 13th centuries AD^{[citation needed]}.

When Elisha Otis invented the passenger elevator, buildings could be built much higher. Today, the Sears Tower has 108 stories.^{[citation needed]}

Types

Residential

Residential buildings are called houses/homes. Single family and multi-family dwellings are typically built as shelter and living space. These building types may range from one-room wood-framed, masonry, or adobe dwellings to multi-million dollar high-rise buildings able to house thousands of people. The definition of a low-rise vs. a high-rise residential building is being debated, but generally three stories or less is considered low-rise.

Multi-story

A multi-story building (American English, Multi-storey Building British English) is a building that has multiple floors (stories (storeys in British)) above ground in the building.

Multi-story buildings aim to increase the area of the building without increasing the area of the land the building is built on, hence saving land and, in most cases, money (depending on material used and land prices in the area, of course).

Creation

The practice of designing, constructing, and operating buildings is normally a collective effort of different groups of professionals and trades. Depending on the size, complexity, and purpose of a particular building project, the project team may include:

A real estate developer who secures funding for the project;
One or more financial institutions or other investors that provide the funding
Local planning and code authorities
A Surveyor who performs an ALTA/ACSM and construction surveys throughout the project;
Construction managers who coordinate the effort of different groups of project participants;
Licensed architects and engineers who provide building design and prepare construction documents;
Landscape architects;
Interior designers;
Other consultants;
Contractors who provide construction services and install building systems such as climate control, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, security and telecommunications;
Marketing or leasing agents;
Facility managers who are responsible for operating the building.

Regardless of their size or intended use, all buildings in the US must comply with zoning ordinances, building codes and other regulations such as fire codes, life safety codes and related standards.

Vehicles—such as trailers, caravans, ships and passenger aircraft—are treated as "buildings" for life safety purposes.

Building ownership and funding

Planning and design

Construction management

Building services

Conveying systems

Systems for transport of people within buildings:

Elevator
Escalator
Moving sidewalk (horizontal and inclined)

Systems for transport of people between interconnected buildings:

Substandard or Dangerous Properties

Buildings or houses having unfit, unsuitable or dangerous conditions or unsafe status often have a condemned sign tagged on stating the property is unsuitable, unsafe, unfit or very dangerous. Run down buildings have elevated probability of being demolished due to their dangerous conditions. Dangerous buildings are when buildings are extremely bad they can become deathtraps. Most cities-from big to small-have run down or unsafe property in certain divisions.

Dilapidated or run down properties are considered dangerous because of their shoddy state, derelict conditions and weakened foundations. Many abandoned buildings happen having that criteria for being unsafe, unsuitable or substandard property.

Condemned signs are tagged onto buildings and houses having such condition for warning the public residents about the unsuitable, unfit or dangerous conditions or state involved.

Dilapidated or run down properties are extremely numerous with cities like St. Louis, Missouri, Baltimore, Maryland, Chicago, Illinois, New York City, Los Angeles and many others in the United States. Abandoned buildings are under important concern in many cities, towns and even villages nationwide across the United States. Dilapidated or run down industrial buildings are extremely prevalent in cities like Newark, New Jersey, Jackson, Mississippi, New Haven, Connecticut, Peoria, Illinois and almost any similar regional places over the United States.

Making matters worse, many residents are living inside of unsuitable, unsafe or substandard homes and/or properties in certain cities across the United States. This requires special attention, because these buildings or houses have no proper air conditioning for the summer, heating system for the winter, are infested with rodents and troublesome insects, may not have running water and many other urgent building problems.

Condemned signs would be also tagged on properties which have abandoned vehicles, junk vehicles, are fire burned, damaged by the weather, in violation of rules of fire safety, etcetera.

Run down buildings without condemned signs have been known for drug activity, street gangs and being considered eyesores to the people who see them everyday and week.

If such buildings continue festering in certain cities it's detrimental to the city, neighborhoods and city residents.

Buildings or houses having unsafe, unfit or unsuitable conditions are usually renovated unless costs are higher than can be afforded for renovation. Dilapidated or run down properties are quite often demolished due to their dangerous conditions.

Substandard housing and building violations are so far prevalent inside the inner city but also medium size and smaller locations inside the US. Unfit conditions are whenever buildings have no running water, air condition systems, heating, etc. Unsafe include when buildings have rodent problem or rodent infestation or severe conditions. Dangerous means when property is severely run down, safety hazards or dilapidated.

References

^ "World's oldest building discovered". BBC News. Retrieved 2000-03-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

[1] "World's oldest building discovered". BBC News. Retrieved 2000-03-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

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