category I

Question 0

Your site is located between the Pacific Coast Highway and the ocean. Which two agency approvals will you need that are specific to this site?

Answer 0

// the county planning department/planning commission (coastal act)

Question 1

You are asked to design a project in a flood plain next to a navigable river. From which agencies will you need approval to build due to these factors?

Answer 1

// u.s. army corps of engineers (navigable waterways)

// state water resources control board (if more than one acre will be disturbed during construction)

// the county flood control district (floor plain)

// department of fish and game (if the project will alter the river bed)

Question 2

You are asked to design a boathouse on a lake. Endanged plant species grow on the site; there is no water and sewage service available. The site is located in a fire hazard severity zone. Which agency approvals will be required due to these specific factors?

Answer 2

// the county department of environmental health (wells and septic system)

// the county fire marshall (additional review required due to fire hazard severity zone)

// the department of fish and game (endangered plant species)

// the department of fish and game (lake bed affected by dock)

Question 3

Your client wants to build a large three story hotel on a wetlands area. Which agency approvals are required due to these factors?

Answer 3

// the regional water quality board (wetlands)

// u.s. army corps of engineers (wetlands)

// state water resources control board (more than one acre will be disturbed during construction)

Question 4

A client comes to you wanting to design and construct an office building. The site is adjacent to an airport. What agency approvals/regulations must be satisfied due to the site location?

Answer 4

// federal aviation adminsitration regulations (height and outdoor lighting)

// airport authority land use plan (height, programming, construction standards)

Question 5

How can the hazards associated with flooding be mitigated?

Answer 5

flood waters from accumulating

// the second step is to raise the elevation of the structure above anticipated floor levels

// in order to qualify for the national floor insurance program, the building must be elevated above the 100 year floor level

Question 6

What are the basic fire engineering principles that can be applied to reduce the risk of wildfires?

Answer 6

// removing or reducing the heat source

// modifying or reducing fuels

// preventing the heat source from coming into contact with ignitable fuels

Question 7

How can the risk of damage from seismic activity be reduced?

Answer 7

// earthquakes cause damage by two basic means: seismic shaking and ground failure

// seismic shaking causes the vast majority of damage, but ground failure (e.g. fault rupture, liquefaction, landslides), although less common, is catastrophic to the immediate area affected

// seismic shaking: brace and tie down heavy building elements and equipment, brace or stiffen structural systems, provide extra structural support for emergency systems such as fire sprinklers

// ground failure: modify unstable ground to increase stability through grading, compacting, or reinforcing soils

Question 8

How can an architect minimize the risk of hazardous materials affecting building occupants?

Answer 8

// do not specify materials that contains hazardous materials (e.g. high VOCs)

// if the site has a history of industrial activity of hazardous materials handling (e.g. gas stations), recommend the owner perform a hazardous materials survey and proceed with abatement procedures prior to construction

// if the site is in a suspected methane zone, recommend that the owner conduct a methane survey. if methane is present then include a methane barrier in the foundation and floor design

Question 9

How can wind hazards be reduced?

Answer 9

// damage from winds fall into two basic categories:

// damage from the wind itself: the risk of wind damage can be mitigated to orient the building to expose less surface area to prevailing winds and reducing building height. also, wind damage can be minimized by reducing building overhangs such as eaves or open roofs and using ties to strengthen roof connections

// damage from wind borne debris: vulnerable portions of the building, such as windows, skylights, and curtain walls, should be design to resist missile impact forces

Question 10

What are three structural systems that can be used to resist lateral loading?

Answer 10

// shear walls

// steel moment frames

// braced steel frames

Question 11

What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?

Answer 11

// volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are carbon based chmicals emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids at room temperature

// in sufficient quantities, VOCs can cause eye, nose, and throat irritations, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, memory impairment; some are known to cause cancer in animals; some are suspected of causing, or are known to cause, cancer in humans

Question 12

Name four common sources for VOC off-gassing in finished construction.

Answer 12

// carpets

// adhesives

// paints and coatings

// composite wood products (hardwood plywood, particle board, and MDF)

// resilient flooring systems

// thermal insulation

// acoustic ceilings and wall panels

Question 13

What are the two methods of controlling indoor pollutants such as VOCs and carbon dioxide?

Answer 13

// control of pollutants at the sources is the most effective strategy for maintaining quality indoor air. specifying materials with low VOC emissions is one method of control

// ventilation, either natural or mechanical, is the second most effective approach to providing clean indoor air

Question 14

What are the possible health effects of mold on building occupants?

Answer 14

// exposure to molds can cause symptions such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation

// some people, such as those with serious allergies to molds, may have more severe reactions

// severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath

// some people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs

Question 15

What are ways to control mold in buildings?

Answer 15

// mold is caused by excessive indoor moisture or water accumulation, particulary if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or unaddressed

// the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture with proper water and damp-proofing during design and construction as well as by minimizing water absorbent materials through natural or mechanical ventilation

Question 16

Name four user characteristics that might affect programming and design decisions.

Answer 16

// culture

// age

// activity requirements

// gender

// education

// disability

Question 17

You have been selected to design a new center for new immigrants from country X. How would you account for cultural differences when communicating with clients and users?

Answer 17

// because there may be differences of language and of decision making processes between the client, users, and architect, the architect should:

// research and consult with experts on the relevant aspects of country X’s culture

// retain the services of a translator, if necessary, to translate presentations and other documents

// adapt presentations to the client’s or user’s cultural expectations to make communication more informative and productive

Question 18

What role do user characteristics play in architectural programming?

Answer 18

// the characteristics of anticipated users can affect a variety of decisions:

// favoring some adjacencies over others

// altering circulation patterns

// affecting the size of program spaces

// creating a need for additional program spaces based on needs of culture, age, disability, etc

Question 19

Name five site features that can affect the location and design of a project.

Answer 19

// soil conditions

// topography

// natural features such as rock outcroppings or streams

// sun orientation

// public access to the site

Question 20

Neighborhood leaders approach you to voice objections to the design of your project. How can you determine the actual level of support or opposition to the project?

Answer 20

// the architect can communicate with the neighborhood community directly. this can be done by:

// questionnaries and surveys

// community presentations

// meeting with community groups

Question 21

What role do community or special interest groups play in relation to a proposed project?

Answer 21

// often neighborhood or community groups have a particular interest in the project due to its location or a specific aspect of the program (e.g. the environment, historical preservation)

// these groups play important roles at public hearings and their opposition can often cause delays or cost increases to the project

// it is important to communicate early with these groups to determine and, to the extent possible, address their issues and concerns

Question 22

What are citizen’s advisory committees?

Answer 22

// citizen’s advisory committees are groups composed of community members usually appointed by a governement board or agency

// the citizen’s advisory committee typically reviews and makes recommendations on matters before that board or agency

// citizen’s advisory committee meetings are public and citizen’s advisory committee approval of the project can graetly help with obtaining approvals

Question 23

What is the role of a community board or council in the project approval/permitting process?

Answer 23

// community boards or councils are government created organizations that focus on a particular geographic area of a city or county

// they hold public meetings on matters of importance to that community and can make recommendations to city or county government

Question 24

What is a neighborhood association and what are the aspects of a project that it might find objectionable?

Answer 24

// a neighborhood association can either be a formal or informal group of neighborhood residents. often neighborhood associations object to projects that:

// increase density

// increase traffic

// have what the neighborhood association considers an inappropriate use for the neighborhood (e.g. liquor stores, adult entertainment venues, half-way house, etc)

// although neighborhood associations have no formal role in the project approval process, they can often bring pressure to bear by mass attendance at public meetings/hearings and through the instigation of lawsuits

Question 25

Name four standards for sustainable design.

Answer 25

// leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) by the u.s. green building council

// savings by design by california utility companies: focuses on reducing carbon footprints

// 2030 challenge by edward mazria, aia: focuses on reducing carbon footprints

// cradle to cradle (c2c): focuses on the use of sustainable materials

Question 26

What are the basic criteria for setting sustainability performance objectives?

Answer 26

// reducing energy use: through design of the building envelope, light and equipment, hvac systems and landscape

// improved indoor air quality: through ventilation system source control, materials selection, building commissioning and building maintenance

// resource conservation: through selection of builing materials, site and landscape maintenance efficiency, and water use

Question 27

What are two climate control methods that can be used to reduce energy consumption?

Answer 27

// local systems: each office or room is controlled by a local thermostat. this allows for occupants to cary the temperature (within preset limits) for personal comfort

// zoned systems: the building is separated into zones, each of which is independent of the others. this allows for centralized control and is useful for museums or other building types where maintenance temperature and humidity is critical

Question 28

As an architect, how will you evaluate the client’s safety and security needs for a particular project?

Answer 28

// the first step is to understand the threats and risks posed to the builing’s occupants, structure, and contents

// once these threats and ricks have been analyzed, then appropriate safety and security measures can be designed into the project

// the particular measures taken will depend on the client’s security requirements, acceptable levels of risk, cost-effectiveness, and their impact on the design, construction, and use of the building

// possible solutions may include security cameras, alarm systems, vehicle barriers, blast resistant construction, and careful consideration of programming adjacencies

Question 29

Name four methods of increasing occupant comfort in a workplace environment.

Answer 29

// provide a superior acoustic environment

// maintain optimal thermal comfort

// create a high quality visual environment

// humidity control

// provide individual user controls for lighting and temperature

// daylighting

Question 30

What is a programming flow diagram?

Answer 30

// it is a method of demonstrating needed adjacencies and traffic patterns based on the flow of client goods, services, or people through a finished facility

Question 31

Name four programming tools useful for determining spatial requirements and adjacency criteria for user activities.

Answer 31

// diagrams

// matrixes

// comparative analysis

// schedules

Question 32

What are effective methods of communicating with building users?

Answer 32

// interviews

// surveys/questionnaires

// group meetings or workshops

// presentations

Question 33

Why is it important to be able to communicate with a building’s anticipated users?

Answer 33

// to confirm program assumptions, including space planning, adjacency relationships, and functionality

Question 34

What is a functional relationship or bubble diagram?

Answer 34

// the functional relationship or bubble diagram indicates how the functions of a client organization to relate to one another

// the relationships shown can be visual, functional, or hierarchical

Question 35

In order to develop a program, what must be provided by the owner?

Answer 35

// project goals

// facility requirements

// schedule

// budget

Question 36

What are four codes or sets of regulations that affect programming decisions?

Answer 36

// zoning codes: permitted uses, minimum site area requirements, height limits, lot coverage (FAR), off-street parking requirements, setbacks

// CEQA

// california coastal act

// historic preservation codes

// fire, life safety, and site related items in the cbc (e.g. building type or occupancy separations)

// americans with disabilities act

Question 37

Describe methods of analyzing programming data.

Answer 37

// develop performance and design criteria

// identify major unresolved programming issues

// develop options and evaluate them based on performance and design criteria

Question 38

Name three methods for obtaining data for programming analysis.

Answer 38

// literature search/review

// individual interviews with users

// observation of similar facilities

// questionnaries and surveys

// group meetings with users

Question 39

What are the contents of a program report?

Answer 39

// a written architectural program: an executive summary, value and goal statements, documentation of the methodology used, the relevant facts, and data analysis conclusions

// the program requirements: space listing by size and function, relationship diagrams, space program sheets, stacking plans, precept drawings, and flow diagrams

// photos or videos

// a project cost estimate

// a proposed schedule