Construction Terminology, Part II

A few more acronyms to whet your appetite.  At the recent NextGen meeting, these came up in conversation and discussion:

• ADA.  American's with Disabilities Act.  This is the legislation that defines how we design and construct to allow equal access to all.  Sets things such as, for example, ramp slope and surface type, counter heights, door widths.
• TDLR. Texas Department of Licensing.  This is the agency that sets our regulatory guidelines for construction and permitting.
• RAS.  A Registered Accessibility Specialist; usually connected to a design firm or architect.
• CD. Construction Document.
• PSF. Price per square foot.
• FDC. Fire Department connection.
• CMU. Concrete masonry unit.
• M-E-P. Short for mechanical-electrical-plumbing.
• CDS.  Cold dark shell. As defined in a earlier post, the very basic shell in a retail setting, waiting for finish out.

More later.

Dave

Defining Retail Spaces: The Boxes

Retail lease spaces come in several "flavors".  In this and subsequent posts we will define the two major types of space as defined by our industry and known as:

• Vanilla boxes
• Cold dark shells

There are other names.  For example, the vanilla box is also known as:

• Vanilla shell
• White box
• Warm shell
• Landlord work

These names describe the condition of the floors, walls and plumbing and other details that have been included or not in a space.

Cold dark shells are also known as:

• Dark box
• Grey shell
• Base shell 
• Cold shell

These spaces are first-generation space and are more basic than the vanilla box.

More details on each in subsequent posts.

Dave

Construction Terminology, Part I

There are so many terms and jargon surrounding retail design and construction; we thought it a good idea to prepare a primer or list for reference. Here are a few terms defined in a simple list:

• Cold dark shell. The raw space ready for interior wall panels and other details. Precedes vanilla shell.
• Anchor. The largest store in a retail development. Examples: Macy’s, Bloomingdales.
• Big Box. A standalone retail store. Examples: Home Depot, Walmart.
• Strip center. An unenclosed retail space with drive-up parking.
• Tilt-up panels. Concrete wall panels, cast on the ground and lifted into place when cured and dry.
• HVAC. Heating, ventilation, air conditioning.
• QSR. Quick-service restaurant.
• Vanilla Shell. The basic walls of a commercial space, ready for HVAC, electrical and fixturing.

More definitions in future entries.

Dave