Context & Pre-design

Question 1

List 5 elements of a site and how each could affect the project

Answer 1

1. Soils Conditions: foundation systems
2. Slope: drainage
3. Orientation: heat gain/loss
4. Utility Location: utility connection points
5. Public Access: location of bdg entry
6. Adjacency to other Buildings: separation between buildings

Question 2

What are 3 environmental affects a project can have

Answer 2

Environmental affects would be noise, pollution, increase in traffic, increase in density, elimination of vegetation, and/or wildlife, access to beach, etc.

All of these would have an affect on the development of the site in relation to massing, height, location of building on the site, location of certain program elements, vehicular & pedestrian access, building entry points, etc.

Question 3

Your client is thinking of adding a mechanical equipment room in the basement of the project. What would be 3 important considerations before you begin the design work?

Answer 3

1. Ventilation
2. Access
3. Water proofing
4. Maintenance
5. Allowable per zoning & building code

Question 4

There is a neighboring creek supporting a riprarian habitat directly adjacent to your site. Identify 4 codes, or regulations, which you would need to consider

Answer 4

1. Local ordinances
2. CEQA
3. State/Federal Department of Fish & Wildlife Regulations
4. Local City’s specific plan
5. Local Water Resources Regulations

Question 5

What are 5 important elements in the project program to cross-reference in the design?

Answer 5

1. Required building area
2. All required program spaces incorporated into the design
3. building access/ entry point located properly,
4. Required amount of parking provided
5. Ensure the building is correct

Question 6

How does the General Plan, Master Plan & Specific Plan affect projects. Describe each.

Answer 6

General Plan: Agency’s policy guiding the physical development of a specific incorporated area (city or county). Will serve to provide decision makers a solid basis for making determinations related to land use development

Specific Plan: Establishes specified requirements for a particular zoned area within a city or county. (ie setbacks, height limits, FAR, density)

Master Plan: Will define a specific area’s infrastructure, building sites, & location of land uses.

Affect on a project: Projects design will have to meet these requirements/regulations to be physically realized ensuring that the project is properly guided to fit into the surrounding community.

Question 7

List 4 potential consultants you would need to consider for a project, beside SMEP

Answer 7

1. Acoustical
2. Lighting
3. Historical
4. Geotechnical
5. Environmental

Question 8

Since your project is publicly funded project, name two things that would be required in the bidding package

Answer 8

1. Bid Bond will be required
2. It will be an Open/Public Bid
3. Lowest Bid will be awarded the project
4. There will be a specific due date for the bid package

Question 9

Your client expresses concern about binding & land owners directly adjacent to the project. List 4 concerns they might have and describe what you would do about them.

Answer 9

Adjacent Building Owner Concerns: Noise, Density, Preserving Existing Views, Elimination of Vegetation & Wildlife

Noise: Provide Barriers, Buffering Methods, or timed exhibitions

Density: Get a traffic study

Preserving Existing Views: Consolidate building height & massing to minimize obstruction of neighbors views

Elimination of Vegetation/Wildlife: Minimize impact to these by appropriately locating building on the site.

Question 10

A tenant for the project would like you to include a kitchen in the program. How would you deal with the tenant and what does this mean?

Answer 10

1. Inform the tenant that the owner will be made aware of their concerns, but since the architect is contracted with the owner, not the tenant, the owner will have final say if the kitchen will be added into the program.
2. This means that someone outside of the contract for architectural services is requesting something of the architect even though they are not contracted with the architect. Thus, it is the architects responsibility to inform the owner of the tenants request and nothing more.

Question 11

During the predesign phase, your client requests that you give a presentation to his team at their office regarding the project. List 3 tools you would use when making this presentation.

Answer 11

Ensure that the client’s request for the presentation is within the scope of work for the pre-design phase. If not, provide the client a add service agreement

Three Tools:

1. Powerpoint
2. PDF
3. Slide show
4. Full size hardcopy boards
5. Reduced size hardcopy presentation booklets handed out to each attendee

Question 12

What site info would you need to start the project? Who would supply it?

Answer 12

Topography Base & Survey, Soils Report, Existing Zoning for the site, Existing Easements, etc.

The topography base & survey, soils report and existing easements, would be provided by the owner via their civil engineer.
The existing zoning would be provided either by the owner’s title, or by the local agency’s zoning ordinances

Question 13

What is the purpose of an environmental impact report? Name 3 items found in this report as well as offered mitigation

Answer 13

The purpose of an EIR is to assess, by detailed review of the project, the potential adverse impacts upon the environment.

Three items found in the report would be:

1. Description of adverse impacts to the surrounding site,
2. Measures to minimize, or avoid those impacts,
3. An explorative description of alternatives to the project

Question 14

The client informs you that he has 5 other similar building types, just like the scenario project, that he wants your firm to design. The drawings for all of them are needed soon, but are located out of state.

What would you tell the client?

Answer 14

The Architect would need to inform the client that they can assist him, but will need to perform due diligence by researching the requirements to obtain licesnure in the other state to ensure the appropriate standard of care is provided for the projects within this state.
It would also be possible to joint venture, or form an association with an architect licensed in that state to deliver the drawings. The architect could also contact NCARB, and the CAB if necssary, for assistance in obtaining licensure in the state.

It will be important to research the codes that will apply to the projects to understand if the building meets those req’s, or if they will need to be modified to meet the local/ state code.

Question 15

Your client has sent you the soils report for the project, and wants to know if it will be included in the contract documents for the project.
What would you tell the client?
What is the intent of the soils report?

Answer 15

The architect would inform the client that the soils report is not part of contract docs

The intent of the soils report is to determine existing soils conditions for the project site to aid in building’s design.

Question 16

Your project is located along the coast. What specific agency would be involved, and what regulates their decisions?
Give an example of a condition of approval that could be require.

Answer 16

1. The California Coastal Commission.
   Decisions are regulated by the California Coastal Act
2. Example: Easement on the site for public access to the beach

Question 17

What is the notice of non-responsibility and who prepares it?
What are 3 items it must contain?

Answer 17

A notice of non-responsibility is a written notice given by an owner of a property that the owner is not repsonsible for any construction work being performed at the property.

Three items that it must contain:

1. Description of the site sufficient for identification,
2. The name and nature of the title or interest of the person giving the notice,
3. The name of the purchase or person holding the lease

Question 18

What is the notice of non-responsibility and who prepares it?
What are 3 items it must contain?

Answer 18

A notice of non-responsibility is a written notice given by an owner of a property that the owner is not repsonsible for any construction work being performed at the property.

Three items that it must contain:

1. Description of the site sufficient for identification,
2. The name and nature of the title or interest of the person giving the notice,
3. The name of the purchase or person holding the lease

Question 19

Based on the standard contract between an owner and architect, who is responsible for providing the project program and what is it’s purpose.
What is typically the architect’s role regarding the program?

Answer 19

THe owner is responsible for providing the project program. The purpose of the program is to set forth the owner’s objectives, schedule, constraints and criteria, including space requirements and relationships, special equipment, systems, and site req’s

Typically, the architect’s role is to provide a preliminary evaluation of the information furnished by the owner under the standard owner/ architect agreement

Question 20

The owner asks you why you have added ‘supplementary conditions’ within your agreement, and what is their purpose.
Provide and example

Answer 20

The architect would explain that the supplementary conditions, or special conditions, have been added in addition to the general conditions (A201) to modify the general conditions for specific project parameters, or specific requests.

An example would be to note specific site conditions which may affect the contractor’s means, methods, or techniques during the construction process.

Question 21

You are the architect on a senior housing project and your client is concerned about the occupants health in relation to the new construction. List 3 potential health hazards and describe how you would minimize those hazards

Answer 21

1. Mold –> vapor barriers
2. Off-gassing –> specify low VOC paints & non-formaldehyde adhesives
3. Adequate Ventilation –> ensure the bdgs natural and mechanical ventilation system provide for the code required air changes per hour

Question 22

What are 3 methods to communicate with the community and special interest groups?

Answer 22

1. Charets
2. Public hearings and input
3. Public relations meetings (ie focus groups)

Question 23

During your project research, you discover that there is a conflict between the zoning ordinances and the building code.
Which one would govern and why?

Answer 23

Neither would govern. The architect would need to meet with the local agency and client to discuss the issue and come to a resolution that meets the intent of the zoning ordinance and the building code requirements

Question 24

Your client is considering a LEED silver certification on this project, but is not aware of what the benefits of sustainable / energy efficient building design are.
List 5 items that you would inform your client about.

Answer 24

1. Reduction in exposure to noxious chemicals
2. Greater occupant satisfaction and productivity
3. Minimize life-cycle ecological impact of energy and materials
4. Conserve non-renewable energy sources and scarce materials
5. Protect & restore local air, plant & animal life, water, and soils

Question 25

What are 2 methods of cost estimating you could use during the pre-design phase?

Answer 25

1. Cost per unit and

2. Cost per SF

Question 26

What are 5 cost factors that affect a project’s budget

Answer 26

1. Project Location
2. Plan Shape
3. Quality of Materials & Workmanship
4. Type of Project
5. Project Schedule

Question 27

During pre-design your client asks you to explain possible foundation systems that can be used for the project.
List 4 types of foundation systems to consider.

Answer 27

1. Mat Foundation
2. Slab on Grade
3. Spread Footing
4. Pier/Caisson & Grade beam system

Question 28

Your client is considering different types of mechanical systems to require for the project program.
What are 4 types of mechanical systems?
Provide and explanation for each.

Answer 28

1. Variable Air Volume: Circulates air at varying volumes throughout the building to heat or cool at various levels. Offers good control over the HVAC system
2. Fan Coil System: Chilled or heated water piped through to individual coil units where a fan blows air over it. No duct work, has some maintenance issues, and offers little humidity control.
3. Heat Pump System: Liquid is circulated in a closed loop to allow for more efficient dispersal of heated or chilled liquid. Bypass valves regulate the liquid’s temp, and bypass both boiler and cooling tower if the temp is sufficient.
4. Dual Duct System: Heated and chilled air circulate and are adjusted at the destination. System typically has a high up front cost due to a lot of duct work and is not very efficient.

Question 29

The owner asks you to create a list of items you would like to be included on the survey of the project.
List 5 items that could be included.

Answer 29

1. Grades and lines of streets
2. Pavements of adjoining property and structures
3. Rights of Way
4. Easements
5. Existing utility services & lines, both public and private (above & below grade)

Question 30

You have prepared a preliminary budget for the owner’s project and the owner is requesting that you revise it to include the costs for labor, materials and equipment.
Would you include these in your preliminary budget?
Why or why not?
What is the architect’s role in preparing this budget?

Answer 30

No, based on the standard owner/architect agreement it is not typically the architect’s responsibility to include these in a preliminary budget. This is bc the architect does not have control over market or economic conditions governing the pricing of labor, materials, or equipment. The architect’s role in preparing a preliminary budget is to provide an estimate of the project cost representing the architect’s judgement as a design professional familiar with the construction industry.