What's the difference between soffit and spandrel?

Soffit


Definition:

  • (n.) The under side of the subordinate parts and members of buildings, such as staircases, entablatures, archways, cornices, or the like. See Illust. of Lintel.

Example Sentences:

Spandrel


Definition:

  • (n.) The irregular triangular space between the curve of an arch and the inclosing right angle; or the space between the outer moldings of two contiguous arches and a horizontal line above them, or another arch above and inclosing them.
  • (n.) A narrow mat or passe partout for a picture.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) The 57-story Vdara hotel in Las Vegas, a trio of curving glass towers, was the pride of its owners, a gleaming citadel of 1,500 rooms, clad in 3,000 "double-pane acid-etched spandrel glass panels for energy-efficient heating and cooling".
  • (2) The recent introduction of the Fisch II spandrel total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP), has provided impressive initial hearing benefits in patients.
  • (3) Furthermore, the diameter of the spandrel shaft is crucially important, with an increase in magnitude of the first natural frequency of 54% for a 25% increase in shaft diameter.