A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

scale - (a). the size of the plan or map compared to the actual building or object (b). the tool used to measure a drawing

secondary source - memories of the past created by people recalling the events sometime after they have actually happened

section - a drawing of a building as if a big saw cut through the building from top to bottom, removing the outside walls; it allows us to see the inside relationship between the walls and the floors

side wing of a building - next to the main hall and under the roof

skeleton frame of construction - building a structure by creating a steel frame and hanging glass, steel or stone panels on the outside

skyscraper - a very tall building

solar chimney - a tall, narrow space with a window and a fan at the top that allows hot air inside the house to escape

sphinx - a statue of an imaginary creature with the body of a lion and the head of a man

sprawl - haphazard growth or extension outward, especially that resulting from real estate development on the outskirts of a city (American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 2000)

square mile - an area one mile long by one mile wide
stained glass window - glass of different colors in a window

stone carver - person who carves blocks of stone into unique ornamental shapes and designs

stone mason - person who lays the bricks and stone for a building

suburban - a smaller community outside the city

sustainable design/green architecture - in comparison with most buildings, a building designed and constructed to have less negative impact on natural resources and a greater positive impact on the people who use it

symptoms - a change in a building (or a person) showing signs that it has problems