Category 3 - Development & Documentation Flashcards
What drawings and documents are produced during Schematic Design?
- Conceptual site plan.
- Preliminary building plans, sections & elevations.
- Outline specification (possibly).
- Estimate of the Cost of Work.
Name the four drawings or documents developed during DD and state how they differ from Schematic Design drawings.
- Plans, sections & elevations.
- Typical construction details.
- Outline specification (updated).
- Updated estimate of the Cost of the Work.
The main difference between SD and DD drawings is DD drawings focus on one design strategy and are more developed than SD.
The Architect is responsible for coordinating what four documents during the Construction Documents phase?
- Contract Drawings (project plan set)
- Project Manual (specs, general/supplementary conditions).
- Invitation to Bidders / Instruction to Bidders.
- Updated estimate of the Cost of Work.
What considerations for special structural loading need to be taken into account by a structural engineer?
- Increase in dead load calculations.
2. Special structural loading = increase in concentrated loads (i.e. snow, heavy equipment, library shelving, etc.)
Name a few ways a structural engineer could accommodate a project for special loading requirements.
- Deeper beams and floor joists
- Closer spaced beams and/or joists
- Closer column spacing
- Any combination of the above
What design options does an Architect have if an Owner wants to pursue LEED accreditation but is on a budget?
The Architect should maximize the use and specification of passive energy efficient design as these options are typically less expensive than active systems.
- Proper solar orientation for daylighting
- Overhangs to control amount of sun light
- Natural ventilation through operable windows
- Materials appropriate to climate, such as concrete in warm and hot climates or additional insulation in colder climates.
What are four characteristics that should be considered when specifying materials for a project?
- Are the properties of the material appropriate for the intended use?
- Suitable for interior use (no or limited off-gassing)?
- Suitable for exterior use (ability to withstand sun, wind and rain)?
- Maintenance - how often does it need to be maintained?
What are four performance criteria that should be maintained when specifying materials for a project?
- How well does it hold up to the elements (UV exposure, rain, snow, wind)?
- Does it perform as expected/designed?
- Durability - how well does it perform for its intended use?
- Life of material - how long is it projected to last?
Describe the steps necessary before a project team can obtain necessary agency approvals.
- Evaluate project for all applicable codes, laws, & regulations & meet with government officials.
- Prepare written documentation describing code compliance & agency approval; distribute to project team and Owner.
- Attend meetings as required by Design Review Board, Architectural Review Board, etc.
- Prepare drawings for approval by various agencies.
How does the Architect contribute to the project team during the agency approval process?
- Architect shall aid the Owner in filing drawings for approval by the various agencies.
- Architect shall receive plan check corrections, distribute to entire project team including consultants, make revisions to the drawings, and resubmit for final approval from the various agencies.
What is The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and what are they tasked with creating?
The Office of Planning and Research (OPR) is part of the Office of the Governor and serves to help create long-range planning and research for land use goals and policies and constitutes the comprehensive state planning agency.
What a General Plan and who is responsible for updating it?
A General Plan is a local government’s long-term blueprint for development.
The Office of Planning and Research (OPR) is responsible for the creation, adoption and updating of the General Plan Guidelines - “how to” resource for drafting a General Plan. OPR also monitors General Plan implementation with annual progress reports from cities and counties and grants general plan extensions for those who qualify.
Describe the seven Mandatory Elements of a General Plan.
- Land Use - designates location of allowable land uses.
- Circulation - infrastructure plan for people, goods, transportation, utilities, and communications.
- Housing - meet existing & future housing needs, updated every 5 years.
- Conservation - protection of natural resources.
- Open Space - preservation of recreation land.
- Noise - limit exposure and identify sources of noise pollution.
- Safety - protection from natural & manmade hazards.
In regards to the General Plan, who is required to produce annual reports and what information do they contain?
General law cities, applicable charter cities and counties are required to file annual progress reports on the implementation of their General Plan with their local legislative body, OPR and the Department of Housing and Community Development. These reports are due April 1st of each year.
Define a Master Plan.
A Master Plan implements the General Plan through the use of maps and designated zones for allowable land uses, identifies open space, and sets restrictions on building use.
What is the difference between a Specific Plan and a Master Plan?
A Master Plan implements the General Plan through the use of maps and designated zones for allowable land uses, identifies open space, and sets restrictions on building use.
A Specific Plan is a community plan or specific neighborhood plan. The Specific Plan will often take precedence over the local Master Plan by requiring more stringent design requirements. For example, if a Master Plan allows for a maximum building height of 30’ but the Specific Plan only allows a height of 25’, the Specific Plan would take precedence.
What are typical design concerns that a zoning ordinance would define?
- Permitted use of the land.
- Restrictions such as height limitations, lot size, setbacks and parking requirements.
- Procedures for handling non-conforming uses.
- Procedures for granting amendments, variances and hearing appeals.
Describe how a Conditional Use Permit may be beneficial to an Owner.
A Conditional Use Permit (CUP) allows a city of county to consdier special uses which may be essential or desirable to a particular community, but may not currently be zoned for that use. This allows flexibility within a zoning ordinance. For example, if an Owner wants to build a school on a site zoned for residential, he/she could obtain a CUP by appealing to the local authority that it would be a beneficial use to the neighborhood.
Name two boards concerned with design guidelines and what elements these guidelines typically affect.
A Design Review Board and Architectural Review Board include requirements in Design Guidelines that affects material and color selection, location of mechanical equipment, types of landscape permitted and signage requirements.
What kind of restrictions can Codes, Covenants and Restrictions (CC&Rs) place on a site?
CC&Rs are restrictions governing the use of real estate. They are normally enforced by homeowner’s associations, typically on condo buildings or single family developments.
- Material/color selection
- Location of mechanical equipment
- Landscape restrictions
- Limitations on use, types of vehicles (i.e. no RVs) and types of pets (i.e. no dogs over 75 pounds).
What three regulations of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) focus on air, water and chemicals?
- Clean Air Act - regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources to protect public health, establishes National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
- Clean Water Act - regulates discharge of pollutants and quality standards for surface waters.
- Toxic Substances Control Act - regulates new & existing commercial chemicals distributions & use.
What three regulations of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) focus on endangered species, environmental policies and responses?
- Endangered Species Act (ESA) - conservation of threatened or endangered plants & animals as well as their habitats.
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) - requires environmental assessments & impact statements prior to land development.
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act (SuperFund) - long term site cleanup and prioritization process.
What design issues are the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) concerned with?
The FAA is concerned with development on any site located near an airport for issues such as building heights and outdoor lighting.
The FAA also develops Airport Design and Engineering Standards that focus on Airport Design, Drainage, Layout Plans and Master Plans.
What services a provided by the US Army Corps of Engineers regarding coastal protection and disaster response?
Coastal Protection - protection from storm surge and wave generated erosion, construction of sea wall and breakwaters to protect against flooding and erosion, sediment management.
Disaster Preparedness and Response - planning and mitigation of natural disasters such as floods resulting in saving of hundreds of lives and millions of dollars annually.
What concerns regarding navigable waterways, environmental protection and regulatory enforcement does the US Army Corps of Engineers protect the water supply?
Navigable Waterways - planning and constructing new navigation channels as well as maintenance of existing in harbors and waterways.
Environmental Protection - includes rivers, lakes, wetlands and the coast.
Regulatory - protection of a wide variety of aquatic resources including wetlands, rivers, streams, tidal waters, coral reefs, shellfish beds & oceans.
How does the US Army Corps of Engineers protect the water supply?
As one of the nation’s largest water supply agencies, the US Army Corps of Engineers plays a major role in ensuring that Americans have enough water to meet their needs. The Corps has 136 multiple purpose projects that contain storage for water supply in 25 states. California is the South Pacific Division with districts in San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles.
Name two federal acts administered and enforced by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (Federal) - a Corps permit is required for work on structures in, over or under navigable waterways in the US.
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (Federal) - a Corps permit is required for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the US.
Which federal agency enforces the Endangered Species Act?
US Fish and Wildlife. Their mission is to work with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
What duties of the US Coast Guard are relevant to design and construction?
Living Marine Resources - ensuring the country’s marine protected species are provided the protection necessary to help their populations recover to healthy, sustainable levels.
Marine Environmental Protection Program - develops and enforces regulations to avert the introduction of invasive species into the maritime environment, stop unauthorized ocean dumping, and prevent oil and chemical spills.
Describe four different types of projects and the specific requirements of each.
- Public - include requirements of the Public Contract Code.
- Essential Services Building - include provisions of the Essential Services Buildings Seismic Safety Act.
- Public Schools - include requirements of the Field Act.
- Private - maintain CBC standards.
Name two types of specialized buildings other than Essential Services Buildings and give three examples of each.
- Assembly - Church, Movie Theatre, Arena
2. Public - Library, School, City Hall
What are the Architect’s responsibilities during Schematic Design?
- Prepare preliminary evaluation of Owner’s program.
- Exploration of different design alternatives.
- Meeting with local officials.
- Meeting and preliminary coordination consultants.
- Submit to the Owner an estimate of the Cost of Work.
Describe the Architect’s role during Design Development.
- Focus on a single design strategy.
- Consideration of materials and finishes.
- Selection of structural system.
- Meeting with local officials.
- Meeting and coordination with consultants.
- Update the estimate of the Cost of Work.
What basic responsibilities does the Architect have during the Construction Documents phase?
- Prepare construction documents.
- Prepare written specifications.
- Prepare the project manual.
- Prepare drawings for submittal to local agencies.
- Coordination of consultants’ drawings.
- Update the estimate of the Cost of Work.
Excluding the drawings, what two documents are part of the bid documents but not part of the project manual?
- Invitation to Bidders / Instructions to Bidders.
2. Form of Agreement between Owner and Contractor
What information is contained within the Project Manual?
- Specifications
- Conditions of the Contract for Construction:
- General Conditions
- Supplementary Conditions
- Other Conditions
Define the two different types of Proprietary Specifications that can be utilized on a project.
- Open (Equal) Specification - typically includes three or more trade names with provision “or approved equal”.
- Close Specification - single trade name, doesn’t allow substitution (generally, not allowed on Public projects)
What is a Performance Specification?
A Performance Specification describes the performance criteria required for a particular product or system. A Contractor can then specify any material/product assembly he/she would like so long as it meets the performance requirements.
Describe an Allowance and how it is beneficial to the bidding documents.
An Allowance is used in lieu of specifying a product or particular portion of the work when that product or scope of work is not specified, such as door hardware. This allows the Contractor to include the Allowance in his/her bid knowing that the item will be selected at a later date. Once the item(s) is selected, the contract price will be adjusted utilizing a change order.
What is the difference between an Alternate and a Substitution?
An Alternate is an amount added or deducted to the base bid for a specific product, i.e. hardwood floor is specified in the base bid, but Alternate #1 is carpet. Only used in the bidding phase.
A Substitution typically occurs during construction when a product is substituted for the one specified in the Construction Documents, i.e. no longer available, long lead time. Must be approved in writing by Architect & Owner.
What are the Architect’s responsibilities during Bidding and Negotiation?
- Send out Contractor’s Qualification Statements.
- Send out Invitation/Instructions to Bidders.
- Send out bid documents.
- Respond to RFIs.
- Issue addenda.
- Attend pre-bid conference.
- Assist Owner in reviewing bids.
- Documentation and distribution of bidding results.