This construction glossary will help you with the basics, but is not all encompassing

• Architect: A person or organizaton who designs buildings and interior spaces.
• Authority Having Jurisdiction: City or government offices responsible for code and fe safety enforcement. Sometimes referred to as “AHJ”. Usually this is a collection of departments or individuals.
• Development/Developer: People or companies who convert land to real property or who modify existing real estate in order to increase it’s utility.
• Drywall: Wall board commonly made of gypsum to form interior wall surfaces.
• Framing: Commonly called studs. These are the interior pieces that comprise a wall assembly and are used as base to form walls and ceilings.
• General Contractor: The person or company in charge of constructing a project, usually with the help of sub-contractors.
• HVAC: Heating, Ventiliation and Air Conditioning.
• Landlord: A person or company who rents space in a building to a Tenant. Also known as a lessor.
• Latent: Reference to hidden defects or issues in construction that are not obvious.
• Lease: A contract between a landlord and tenant to rent space in a building.
• Leasehold Improvement: See Tenant Improvements
• MEP: Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing
• NFPA: National Fire Protection Association
• Patent: Reference to obvious defects or issues in construction.
• Permit: Just like it sounds, this gives permission by an AHJ to construct a project. Often there are multiple permits required for single project
• Property Manager: The person or company that manages the day-to-day operations of a buiding, like collecting rents and coordinating repair work.
• Punch List: A list of tasks at the end of construction project to be completed by the General Contractor. Generally these tasks are minor in nature.
• Real Estate: This is simply land and all the buildings on it.
• REIT: Real Estate investment Trust
• Schedule of Values: A detailed listing of the project costs. This list also places costs in categories.
• Sub-contractor: A contractor to a contractor.
• Tenant: A person or compan hat rents space from a Landlord. Also known as a lessee.
• Tenant Improvements: The custom finish out of a commericial rental space. Sometime referred to as Leasehold Improvements
• Warranty: An agreement stating given by the General Contrator stating the work is free from defects, usually for a period of one year.