Building elements for making retaining walls, and systems and methods of using same

A system comprising:

• a plurality of building elements, the building elements comprising:
• a face panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, and a rear surface positioned on an opposing side of the face panel from the front surface, wherein the face panel having a length dimension oriented along a respective first axis, a width dimension oriented along a respective second axis that is perpendicular to the respective first axis, and a height dimension oriented along a respective third axis that is perpendicular to the respective first and second axes;
• and
• a beam member coupled to the rear surface of the face panel, wherein the beam member comprises:
• a main body having a front end portion and a rear end portion, the main body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and first and second side surfaces that are substantially parallel to the respective second axis;
• and
• first and second fork legs that extend between and couple to the face panel and the front end portion of the main body, wherein the fork legs define an acute angle with a first plane that extends parallel to the second and third axes and bisects the beam member,
• wherein the face panel and the first and second fork legs cooperate to surround an interior space.

A building element for forming a portion of a retaining wall, the building element comprising:

• a first face panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, and a rear surface positioned on an opposing side of the face panel from the front surface, wherein the first face panel has a length dimension oriented along a first axis, a width dimension oriented along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, and a height dimension oriented along a third axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes;
• and
• a beam member coupled to the rear surface of the first face panel, wherein the beam member comprises:
• a main body having a front end portion and a rear end portion, the main body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and first and second side surfaces that are substantially parallel to the second axis;
• and
• first and second fork legs that extend between and couple to the first face panel and the front end portion of the main body, wherein the first and second fork legs each define a respective acute angle with a plane that extends parallel to the second and third axes and bisects the beam member,
• third and fourth fork legs that extend between and couple to the second face panel and the rear end portion of the main body, wherein the third and fourth fork legs each define a respective acute angle with the plane.
• wherein the first face panel and the first and second fork legs cooperate to surround a first interior space, and
• wherein the second face panel and the third and fourth fork legs cooperate to surround a second interior space.

A building element for forming a portion of a retaining wall, the building element comprising:

• at least one shelf comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the at least one shelf has a length dimension oriented along a first axis, a width dimension oriented along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, and a height dimension oriented along a third axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes;
• and
• a beam member coupled to the at least one shelf, wherein the beam member comprises:
• a main body having a front end portion and a rear end portion, the main body having first and second side surfaces that are substantially parallel to the second axis;
• and
• first and second fork legs that extend between and couple to the at least one shelf and the front end portion of the main body, wherein the first and second fork legs each define a respective acute angle with a plane that extends parallel to the second and third axes and bisects the beam member,
• wherein the at least one shelf and the first and second fork legs cooperate to surround an interior space.