Building

A building is a permanent structure that is built in a city in the Civilization and Call to Power games or a colony in the Colonization games. Some buildings, such as Fortresses, may be built outside cities (and are called tile improvements in later games). Each building adds value in some respect, such as defensive strength or the rates of production of resources or knowledge.
Wonders of the World are counted as buildings. In Sid Meier's Civilization they are listed with other city improvements, but later games give them separate listings.
Most buildings (except wonders) in the Civilization games have an ongoing maintenance cost. The cost may be larger than the benefit at times. For example, a Bank typically costs 3 gold per turn, which is bad business if it gains fewer than 3 gold per turn and conveys no other benefit.