Public in building design and construction

The term ‘public’ can be used in a number of different ways:

• It can be used as a noun to refer to the ‘body politic’ or the citizens of a nation, state, or other community-at-large. (Also 'general public'.)
• It can be used as an adjective to describe a space, place or building that is open to all for common use as opposed to be privately owned and off-limits to general access.
• It can refer to the public sector, that is, the part of the economy that consists of public services and public enterprises that are owned and operated by the government.

The term 'public project' is an ambiguous one, but in very broad terms, it refers to a project that is financed (or part financed) by a government and is typically owned, and may be operated by the government. This can include major infrastructure works such as roads, bridges, dams, railways, tunnels, and so on, or public facilities such as hospitals, schools, prisons, libraries, leisure centres, and so on. Designing Buildings Wiki has an outline work plan setting out the tasks necessary to complete a public project, which you can find here.

A public contracting authority is defined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as; ‘…the State, regional or local authorities, bodies governed by public law or associations formed by one or more such authorities or one or more such bodies governed by public law, and includes central government authorities, but does not include Her Majesty in her private capacity.’ For more information, see Public contracting authority.

A public space is an area that tends to be open and accessible to all people. This includes roads, pavements, town squares, parks, beaches, and to a more limited extent public buildings such as town halls and libraries. The term 'common land' is sometimes used to refer to land in public ownership or to which everyone has access. To have such status, land must be legally registered as a common.

In the UK, a public building is narrowly defined as a building that is ‘occupied by a public authority and frequently visited by the public’. For more information, see Public building definition.

Public rights of way are a general right to access across land. A public right of way can be established by:

• Express dedication, where a landowner has given the public the right.
• Presumed dedication, where a right of way has been in use for longer than can be remembered.
• Deemed dedication, where a right of way has been used for 20 years or more.

For more information, see Rights of way.

Personal injury or death, or loss or damage to property of third parties is covered by public liability insurance. Public liability insurance might cover against claims by:

• Members of the public visiting the business of the insured.
• Customers.
• Clients.

For more information, see Public liability insurance.

Designing Buildings Wiki has a range of articles relating to the public, including:

• An Architect's Guide to Public Procurement.
• BREEAM Public Transport Accessibility.
• Community.
• Complaining about construction sites.
• Improving Public Services through better construction.
• Public authority.
• Public body.
• Public building.
• Public contract.
• Public contracting authority.
• Public good.
• Public health consultant.
• Public procurement.
• Public project.
• Public private partnerships PPP.
• Public realm.
• Public sector.
• Public sector comparator.
• Public services.
• Public Services (Social Value) Act.
• Public space.
• Public space intervention.
• Public v private sector housing.
• Society.
• Terraced houses and the public realm