Beam A horizontal part of a building’s structure, made of steel, wood or reinforced concrete.

Brick A block of hardened clay used to construct some buildings.

Bulldozer A vehicle used to demolish old buildings and clear areas for new ones. At a bulldozer's front is a metal shovel, used to scoop up rubble or earth and push it aside.

Caisson A steel or concrete-walled hollow tube, which is driven deep into the ground. When in place, it is filled with concrete to create strong foundations. Caissons are used to support skyscrapers and other structures.

Caterpillar tracks Metal belts used instead of wheels on heavy vehicles such as diggers or bulldozers. Their large surface area spreads the weight of the machines, enabling them to move over soft or uneven ground without getting stuck.

Cement A powder that goes hard when mixed with water. Cement is mixed with sand to make mortar for bricklaying, or with sand and aggregate to make concrete.

Cladding The non-load-bearing exterior surface of a building.

Column A vertical structure in a building’s frame.

Concrete A building material made by mixing aggregate (sand or crushed rock), cement and water. Concrete sets to form a strong, stone-like material.

Concrete mixer A vehicle with a revolving drum on its back, used to mix concrete and keep it moving so it does not set.

Crane A tall machine used to lift building materials, such as steel beams. Some cranes are fixed to the ground, some are fixed to lorries and some can “creep” up the side of buildings as they are built.

Cross-bracing A diagonal section of a building’s frame which stops the structure from tilting sideways, as it might do in a strong side wind.

Curtain wall The outside of a large building, usually made of glass or metal panels. The curtain wall is fixed to the structural frame but does not support any weight.

Digger A construction vehicle used to scoop holes in the ground using a toothed metal shovel at its front.

Duct A vertical space running through the core of a building. Electricity, water and other services may run through ducts.

Foundations The lowest part of a building, which ensures its weight is supported on firm ground so the building cannot sink or fall. Foundations can be footings (underground walls), piles or caissons.

Frame The structure of wood, steel or concrete that bears the weight of a building. A skeleton frame uses a lattice of vertical columns and horizontal beams to spread the weight of a building.

Girder A large horizontal structure. It may support smaller beams, form the roof of a building or form the road deck of a bridge.

Load-bearing wall A solid wall that supports the floors and roof of a building.

Pile A pillar that provides the foundation for a building. It may be made of wood or metal driven into the ground by a machine called a pile driver, or from concrete poured into a deep hole.

Reinforced concrete Concrete with steel bars or wires embedded in it to make it much stronger.

Skyscraper A very tall building, usually more than 20 storeys high. Skyscrapers are a feature of many large cities.

Steel A type of iron that is mixed with carbon to make it stronger. Steel is used to make beams, building frames and the reinforcement in concrete.

Storey One level or floor of a building.

Tipper truck A vehicle that carries heavy material in a container behind the cabin. To unload, its body tips up, the tailgate swings open and the load slides out.

Truss A framework made up of beams joined at their ends to form triangles. It is used to support a roof, bridge or other structure.

Tunnel An underground passageway which is dug, blasted or bored out of the ground. Tunnels are built to enable a road, railway or canal to pass under an obstacle, such as a river or mountain. In many cities, sewers and railway networks are built underground in a network of tunnels. Most tunnels are built using a boring machine: the back part grips the walls while the front part uses a rotating wheel covered in sharp picks to bore a hole as it pushes forwards.

Consultant: Chris Oxlade