CEA Exam Review
Aesthetics The quality of an object that deals with art, beauty, and taste.
Arch A curved structure for spanning an opening, designed to support a vertical load
primarily by axial compression.
Architect An individual trained in the art and science of designing and constructing buildings.
Balance The pleasing or harmonious arrangement or proportion of parts or elements in a
design or composition.
Bearing Walls Solid walls that provide support for each other and for the roof of a structure.
Civil Engineer An engineer trained in the design and construction of public works, such as bridges
or dams, and other large facilities.
Color The aspect of the appearance of objects and light sources that may be described in
terms of hue, lightness, and saturation for objects and hue, brightness, and
saturation for light sources.
Contrast A visual principle associated with change made in size, shape, color, or tone of
graphic elements.
Design Principles The rules that describe how designers might put together various design elements
to create an aesthetic finished product.
Dome An arrangement of several arches whose bases form a circle and whose tops meet
in the center.
Element of Design A basic visual component or building block of designed objects.
Emphasis Stress or prominence given to an element of a composition by means of contrast,
anomaly, or counterpoint.
Façade The exterior face of a building.
Form The shape and structure of something as distinguished from its substance or
material.
Keystone A wedge-shaped stone placed in the crown of an arch.
, CEA Exam Review
Line The edge or contour of a shape.
Lintel A beam supporting the weight above a door or window opening.
Movement The effect or illusion of motion conveyed by the relationship of structural elements in
a design or composition.
Pattern An artistic or decorative design, especially one having a characteristic arrangement
and considered as a unit.
Post-and-Lintel Construction Wall construction utilizing a framework of vertical posts and horizontal beams to
carry floor and roof loads.
Repetition A principle where some graphic elements are repeated throughout the entire
design.
Rhythm Movement characterized by a patterned repetition or alteration of formal elements
or motifs in the same or a modified form.
Shape The two-dimensional contour that characterizes an object or area.
Space The dimensions of height, depth, and width within which all things exist and move.
Texture The feel, appearance, or consistency of a surface, substance, or fabric.
Unity The state or quality of being combined into one, as the ordering of elements in an
artistic work that constitutes a harmonious whole or promotes a singleness of effect.
Value The relative lightness or darkness of a color.
Vernacular Architecture Culturally and climatically relevant architecture using locally available materials and
traditional building techniques.
Voussoir Any of the wedge-shaped units in a masonry arch or vault, having side cuts
converging at one of the arch centers.
ABET The recognized accreditor for college and university programs in applied science,
computing, engineering, and technology.
, CEA Exam Review
AIA The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is the professional society representing
the field of architecture and others working in the architecture field.
ASCE The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is the professional engineering
society representing the field of civil engineering and others working in the civil
engineering field.
Building Code Legal requirements designed to protect the public by providing guidelines for
structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical areas of a structure.
Charrette An intensive workshop in which various stakeholders and experts are brought
together to address a particular design issue.
Construction Documents Drawings, plans, specifications, etc. associated with a construction project.
Municipality A city, town, etc. having its own incorporated government for local affairs.
NAAB The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) is the sole agency authorized
to accredit professional degree programs in architecture in the United States.
NCARB The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards is made up of members
from the architectural registration boards of the 50 states. Its primary function is to
maintain records for state boards, architects, and interns.
Stakeholder One who is involved in or affected by a course of action.
Zoning Ordinance Law that specifies how and for what purpose each parcel of private real estate may
be used. Also called zoning code.
Felt A tar-impregnated paper used for water protection under roofing and siding
materials.
Floor Joists Horizontal structural members used to carry the floor and ceiling loads.
Header A horizontal structural member used to support other structural members over
openings such as doors and windows.
House Wrap Engineered materials designed to keep out liquid water and prevent air infiltration
while allowing water vapor to escape from inside the home.
Insulation Material used to restrict the flow of heat, cold, or sound from one surface to another.
Aesthetics The quality of an object that deals with art, beauty, and taste.
Arch A curved structure for spanning an opening, designed to support a vertical load
primarily by axial compression.
Architect An individual trained in the art and science of designing and constructing buildings.
Balance The pleasing or harmonious arrangement or proportion of parts or elements in a
design or composition.
Bearing Walls Solid walls that provide support for each other and for the roof of a structure.
Civil Engineer An engineer trained in the design and construction of public works, such as bridges
or dams, and other large facilities.
Color The aspect of the appearance of objects and light sources that may be described in
terms of hue, lightness, and saturation for objects and hue, brightness, and
saturation for light sources.
Contrast A visual principle associated with change made in size, shape, color, or tone of
graphic elements.
Design Principles The rules that describe how designers might put together various design elements
to create an aesthetic finished product.
Dome An arrangement of several arches whose bases form a circle and whose tops meet
in the center.
Element of Design A basic visual component or building block of designed objects.
Emphasis Stress or prominence given to an element of a composition by means of contrast,
anomaly, or counterpoint.
Façade The exterior face of a building.
Form The shape and structure of something as distinguished from its substance or
material.
Keystone A wedge-shaped stone placed in the crown of an arch.
, CEA Exam Review
Line The edge or contour of a shape.
Lintel A beam supporting the weight above a door or window opening.
Movement The effect or illusion of motion conveyed by the relationship of structural elements in
a design or composition.
Pattern An artistic or decorative design, especially one having a characteristic arrangement
and considered as a unit.
Post-and-Lintel Construction Wall construction utilizing a framework of vertical posts and horizontal beams to
carry floor and roof loads.
Repetition A principle where some graphic elements are repeated throughout the entire
design.
Rhythm Movement characterized by a patterned repetition or alteration of formal elements
or motifs in the same or a modified form.
Shape The two-dimensional contour that characterizes an object or area.
Space The dimensions of height, depth, and width within which all things exist and move.
Texture The feel, appearance, or consistency of a surface, substance, or fabric.
Unity The state or quality of being combined into one, as the ordering of elements in an
artistic work that constitutes a harmonious whole or promotes a singleness of effect.
Value The relative lightness or darkness of a color.
Vernacular Architecture Culturally and climatically relevant architecture using locally available materials and
traditional building techniques.
Voussoir Any of the wedge-shaped units in a masonry arch or vault, having side cuts
converging at one of the arch centers.
ABET The recognized accreditor for college and university programs in applied science,
computing, engineering, and technology.
, CEA Exam Review
AIA The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is the professional society representing
the field of architecture and others working in the architecture field.
ASCE The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is the professional engineering
society representing the field of civil engineering and others working in the civil
engineering field.
Building Code Legal requirements designed to protect the public by providing guidelines for
structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical areas of a structure.
Charrette An intensive workshop in which various stakeholders and experts are brought
together to address a particular design issue.
Construction Documents Drawings, plans, specifications, etc. associated with a construction project.
Municipality A city, town, etc. having its own incorporated government for local affairs.
NAAB The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) is the sole agency authorized
to accredit professional degree programs in architecture in the United States.
NCARB The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards is made up of members
from the architectural registration boards of the 50 states. Its primary function is to
maintain records for state boards, architects, and interns.
Stakeholder One who is involved in or affected by a course of action.
Zoning Ordinance Law that specifies how and for what purpose each parcel of private real estate may
be used. Also called zoning code.
Felt A tar-impregnated paper used for water protection under roofing and siding
materials.
Floor Joists Horizontal structural members used to carry the floor and ceiling loads.
Header A horizontal structural member used to support other structural members over
openings such as doors and windows.
House Wrap Engineered materials designed to keep out liquid water and prevent air infiltration
while allowing water vapor to escape from inside the home.
Insulation Material used to restrict the flow of heat, cold, or sound from one surface to another.
