Core (architecture)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Building_core_arrangement.png/220px-Building_core_arrangement.png)
In architecture, a core is a vertical space used for circulation and services. It may also be referred to as a circulation core or service core. A core may include staircases, elevators, electrical cables, water pipes and risers.
A core allows people to move between the floors of a building, and distributes services efficiently to the floors. A core may also serve a key structural role in a building, helping support it.