Management & Design

Question 1

What does an Architect’s Stamp represent, and what is required to be on it.

Answer 1

An architects stamp represents responsible control concerning the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

Include:
The legend “State of California”
The term “Licensed Architect”
The architect’s name (as licensed with the Board)
The architect’s license number and
A means for noting the renewal date of the license*

Question 2

Your client asks you to guarantee that your drawings will be error free. How would you respond?

Answer 2

The architect needs to inform the owner that they cannot guarantee the drawings.
The architect should explain that the firm has a high standard of quality for their instruments of services, and if any errors do occur they will be dealt with immediately to minimize impact to the project and keep the project moving forward.

Question 3

You have just completed the schematic design phase, and the owner requests that you move straight into construction documents, skipping the DD phase to shorten the Design Phase of the project.
How would you advise?

Answer 3

The architect needs to inform the owner that the DD phase is a critical part of the project process as it will help focus their vision into more detail in order to move efficiently to the next phases. Skipping over this phase may save time in the short term, but could cause the construction documents phase to be longer than anticipated.

Question 4

The owner requests that you complete the construction documents two months prior to original deadline. List two options, or solutions, to accommodate this request

Answer 4

Options to accommodate this request would be to ring on more staff, or consultants, to increase the manpower/team size, or have the current team work overtime, or deny the owner’s request and advise them to keep the original schedule.

Question 5

What organizations, or associations, could an architect be involved with to satisfy continuing education requirements?

Answer 5

• AIA
• USGBC
• BIA
• ICC
• ICSC (International Conference of Shopping Ceners)
• ULI (Urban Land Institute)
• ICBO (International Conference of Building Officials)

Question 6

List 5 ways of illustrating accessibility on a site plan

Answer 6

1. Delineate disable parking spaces
2. Show / Call-out disabled ramps and curb cuts at changes in grade
3. Locate accessible path adjacent to disabled parking stalls
4. Delineate accessible path of travel from/to building from the public right of way
5. Show locations of accessible directional signage along the accessible path of travel

Question 7

What is the difference between Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the California Accessibility Code?

Answer 7

The ADA is a civil rights act & federal law stating that people with disabilities shall have equal access to buildings, wheras Chapter 11A and 11B are portions of the CBC. The CBC attempts to incorporate the ADA by ensuring public access for all people with disability

Question 8

You have a signed owner/architect agreement and during the first kick-off meeting to begin a project your client asks you who is responsible for preparing the project program.
How do you respond?

Answer 8

As per typical Owner/architect agreement, the architect would inform the owner that the owner is responsible for providing the program and the architect is responsible for reviewing it.

Question 9

During DD what are 3 program items you will need to check to ensure the project is in compliance?

Answer 9

1. Areas - are all required program areas incorporated into the design?
2. Schedule - does the project meet the scheduling req’s?
3. Budget - is the project within budget?

Question 10

Is the architect required to communicate and coordinate with the owner’s civil engineer? Why or why not?

Answer 10

No, the architect is not required to communicate and/or coordinate directly with the civil engineer bc the civil is contracted with the owner not the architect. However, in order to keep the project moving forward, it may be necessary to coordinate and/or communicate with the civil engineer.

Question 11

The owner hires a construction manager for the project. Describe 3 of you CA services that would be affected and how they would affect you .

Answer 11

1. Certification for payments
2. Construction Observation schedule
3. Reviewing of Shop Drawings

*this particular situation would effectively decrease CA responsibilities while increasing the architect’s liability on the project.

Question 12

During excavation at the job site, human remains are found, what procedures would you need to take to proceed with the project?

Answer 12

1. Make the owner, contractor aware of the situation
2. The owner will need to make the call to stop work entirely or just stop the work in that area
3. The lead agency would need to be contacted to get recommendation of how to resolve the situation.
4. The owner and the architect will need to fill out an add services agreement, and the architect will need to get authorization to proceed with the work

Question 13

During construction the owner comes to the job site and is unhappy with the workmanship of cabinetry work, what would you tell the owner?

Answer 13

The architect should inform the owner that it has been installed per the drawings, specs and design intent. If the owner insists on fixing it - a change order will need to be initiated, and the architect will have to prepare an add service for the owner to sign.

Question 14

You are 75% completed with the construction documents and the owner acquires the parcel directly adjacent to the project site, and wants to make it part of the project.
How would you handle this situation?

Answer 14

Inform the owner that this is outside the original scope of work and initiate an add service. Explain the impact to the project team, and what the architect needs to do to move forward. Get authorization to proceed with new scope from the owner and begin the work.

Question 15

What are 4 req’s of the Essential Services Building Act?

Answer 15

1. Essential Services Buildings must remain intact and in operation after a disaster.
2. Non-structural emergency systems must be properly braced to ensure the building can remain functional
3. There is continuous inspection approved by state inspector
4. The project documents must be reviewed and approved by state agencies before it is built.

Question 16

The owner hires a security consultant for the project. This consultant contacts you and asks you what you will need from her.
List 3 items to consider in order to coordinate the security consultant’s designs into your documents.

Answer 16

Since the architect is not directly contracted with the security consultant the architect will need to prepare an add service for the owner due to extra consultant coordination. Bc this consultant is contracted with the owner only, the architect would submit they copies of the appropriate documents to the owner so they can forward onto the security consultant. The security consultant would then need to create her own set of documents as it is not the architect’s responsibility to incorporate her designs into the architectural documents.

Question 17

A subcontractor during construction wants to use a specific materials supplier, list 4 items you will need to coordinate this.

Answer 17

It is not the architect’s responsibility to coordinate subs on a project. This would be the GC’s responsibility.

Question 18

An advisory party, which you are not directly contracted with, wants to add a particular spiace to the building, but your client is concerned it will take up too much of the required program area. How should you respond?

Answer 18

Advise the client that since you are contracted with them only and not with the advisor party, you can only take final direction from the person/company which has contracted with you. It will be up to the owner if they want to direct the architect to add in the advisory party’s request. If so, the architect would need to fill out an additional services agreement due to the additional services agreement due to the change in project program and scope.

Question 19

Your drawings come back from the local building department with required revisions because of a code issue. Describe the procedure you would use to deal with this information

Answer 19

1. Research applicable code and verify if the revisions are valid.
2. Either make the revs, or meet with the local building official to review basis for the particular area (i.e. code req’s, accessibility req’s, structural reasons, etc.

Question 20

According to the Architect’s practice Act, name two ways you could work without a contract.

Answer 20

Ways to perform architectural services without a contract based on the Architect’s Practice Act - Pro Bono work or performing work during a disaster.

Question 21

Your client wants to expand their office space into a mezzanine area during construction. What steps would you need to take?

Answer 21

1. Meet with client to get clear direction of change.
2. Do an additional services agreement for added architectural services.
3. Inform the General Contractor, if they are not already aware.
4. Coordinate consultants and drawings to incorporate client’s change into the project documents
5. Resubmit to the local agency for approval
6. Indicate a change order to get the new work implemented into the project.

Question 22

Your project is near a commercial airport, what three things may be affected because of this situation

Answer 22

• Building height
• Building location on the site,
• isolation of certain spaces from airplane noise,
• location of windows to minimize light trespass into spaces,
• incorporation of building isolators to mitigate vibrations.

Question 23

Describe the notice of completion and notice of substantial completion. Discuss the significance of each.

Answer 23

1. Substantial Completion: certifies that the project can be occupied for its intended use. (Significance: all warranties and insurance are transferred to the owner)

Question 24

A conditional use permit (CUP) is required for the project. List three steps you would take to address this requirement.

Answer 24

1. contact the planning dept. to verify the need for the CUP.
2. Research the required documents and coordinate with appropriate consultants.
3. Prepare the required docs and coordinate with appropriate consultants.
4. Submit documents to local agency for review and approval.

Question 25

Describe a Mechanics Lien and a Stop Notice, and give an example of when they would be used.

Answer 25

1. Mechanics Lien - a claim against real property. Can only be filed on private projects. (example: could be filed for unpaid constriction docs prepared by an architect on a private hotel project)
2. Stop Notice - a claim against funds. Can be filed on either public or private projects (examples: could be filed for the value of materials supplied on a public library project by the general contractor)

Question 26

The owner is aware that he should require a specific bond for the general contractor, is not sure which ones to list. Name two potential bonds you could inform your client about, and describe their prupose

Answer 26

1. Bid Bond - Guarantees to the owner that the project will be completed for the bid cost offered.
2. Labor and materials Bond - Insures that subs/material suppliers will be paid for their work or materials in the event they are not paid by the general contractor. Essentially assures that the owner does not have to pay twice for labor or materials.
3. Performance Bond - Insures that the project will be completed.

Question 27

What site features, or surrounding context, will have an affect on the project? List four and give a reason for each.

Answer 27

1. Neighbor Building, Owners or Residents - the height of the building may have to be reduced to minimize impact to the neighbors views.
2. Wildlife or Plant Habitat - The location of the building on the site may have placed in a certain location, or a particular distance from the features, to minimize the buildings impact/ disturbance to vegetation or wildlife.
3. Existing Roads & Traffic - vehicular access to the site/ building may have to be positioned such that it doesn’t impede/ existing traffic conditions.
4. Existing Historical District or Buildings - The project may have particular aesthetic conditions it must abide by fit into the existing historical context.

Question 28

When the owner speaks with the architect’s structural engineer to give direction on the project what would be two items of concern?

Answer 28

Since the architect, not the owner is contracted directly with the structural engineer, the architect would need to politely inform the client the proper procedure. The architect would relay to the owner that it is the architect’s responsibility to coordinate with the structural engineer, and if there is a particular item the client wants to discuss then a meeting with the owner, architect, and structural engineer would need to take place to discuss the items.

Question 29

One of your employees is interested in sustainable and energy efficient design. How would you go about encouraging and supporting this individual?

Answer 29

Get the firm involved with the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and become a member,
become a Build It Green member,
support employees in taking and passing current LEEP-AP/ Certified Green Building Professional exam,
invite industry staff,
bring in clients interested in doing sustainable/ energy efficient projects,
send interested staff to outside training sessions/ learning seminars, etc.

Question 30

The owner is receiving a lot of ‘preliminary notices’, and asks you, the architect, what they are and what he should do with them

Answer 30

20 Day Preliminary Notice - submitted by anyone supplying labor or materials to the job within 20 days of actually supplying those for the project in effort to maintain their lien rights in the event they are not paid for those labor or materials

The owner should be advised to retain the notices, and file them into the job file in case they need to be referred to in the futures.

Question 31

You have been selected to work on a renovation of a historical building. Your client finds copies of the original scaled construction docs from the late 19th century and passes them to you for reference. Will it be necessary to include any as built investigation time in your contract? Why, or why not?

Answer 31

Yes, in this case it would still be appropriate to include scope within the contract for as built time even though the client has old scaled construction documents. This is because it will be necessary to perform professional due diligence as there may have been changes to the building over the years that are not included in the original documents, which must be verified through an as built process

Question 32

Your scenario project is completed, and is very successful. Because of this success, the city has selected you to be on their design review committee. List two ways this would benefit your firm, and describe one way it would benefit the profession.

Answer 32

Firm Benefit: (1) Build relationships with the community and (2) gain an understanding of the local process

Profession Benefit: Give a voice to the profession by sharing experience as a learning tool for other architects

Question 33

Construction docs have been completed and building permits have been pulled to begin construction on the project. Your scope of work and contract include schematic design through CA, but your client calls you and tells you that you no longer need to be involved in this project since it is just a small addition. Your client goes on to inform you that they will contact you if they run into any problems. As the project architect, what should you do?

Answer 33

The architect would need to inform the client that part of the signed contractual agreement for architectural services includes construction admin, and even though the project is a small addition the architect will still need to be involved as planned. If the client still insists on the architect not being involved then the both parties would need to find a way to mutually terminate the contract.

Question 34

Your client wants to add a full service cafe to the project, besides the building code, which codes will need to be considered for this project?

Answer 34

1. Electrical Code
2. Mechancial Code
3. Fire Code
4. Health Code
5. Zoning and Ordinance/Code
6. Energy Code
7. California Accessibility Portion of the Code

Question 35

The architect is required to have knowledge regarding project start-up and close-out procedures. Describe how each applies to a project

Answer 35

Start up: Begins at the date of commencement and involves the following:

(1) proposals and contracts,
(2) evaluation and planning services,
(3) design services,
(4) construction procurement services, and
(5) CA

Close out: Involves

(1) evaluation of the work at substantial completion and final completion,
(2) issuing final certificate of the requirements of the contract documents,
(3) architect forwards all warranties from the general contractor to the owner,
(4) architect meets with the owner after substantial completion to review the need for facility operation services.

Question 36

What is the purpose of the California Coastal Act? What is the purpose of the California Environmental Quality Act?

Answer 36

Per the CA Coastal Act:

(a) ‘protect, maintain, and where feasible, enhance and restore the overall quality of the coastal zone environment and its natural an artificial resources.’
(b) assure orderly, balanced utilization and conservation of coastal zone resources taking into account the social and economic needs of the people of the state.
(c) Maximize public accesses to and along the coast and maximize public recreational opportunities in the coastal zone consistent with sound resources conservation principles and constitutionally protected rights of private property owners.
(d) Assure priority for coastal-dependent and coastal-related development over other development on the coast.
(e) Encourage state and local initiatives and cooperation in preparing procedures to implement coordinated planning and development for mutually beneficial uses, including educational uses, in the coastal zone.’

Per the California Environmental Quality Act:
‘…means to require public agencies to consider and disclose to the public the environmental implications of their actions. CEQA imposes and obligation to implement mitigation measures or project alternatives to mitigate significant adverse environmental effects, if these measures or alternatives are feasible. Thus, CEQA establishes both a procedural obligation to analyze and make public adverse physical enviro effects, and substantive obligation to mitigate significant impacts. Example: the EIR is used whenever a proposed project may cause significant effects on the enviro. EIR’s identify the significant effects on the enviro of a project, to identify alternatives to the project, and to indicate the manner in which those significant effects can be mitigated or avoided.

Question 37

Describe how non-structural elements of a building are addressed structurally.

Also, what non-structural elements of an essential services building must be addressed structurally?

Answer 37

Non-structural Building Components must be adequately braced so as to minimize injury to building occupants. Items such as mechanic duct work, non-structural wall partitions, lights, large computer equipment, high pile storage, bookshelves, kitchen appliances, casework, windows, electrical equipment, communication equipment, etc. should all be properly braced and secured to the building’s structure

ESB: these buildings must have all non-structural elements vital to the facilities operation adequately braced so as to ensure the facility can remain in operation after a natural disaster or emergency. For instance, these items could be main switching equipment, transformers, emergency communication equipment, and emergency backup generation.

Question 38

What is the affect on a project if a mitigated negative declaration is given.
Describe why this would be given on a project.

Answer 38

Mitigated Negative Declaration: Establishes mitigated measures the project will have to meet to be deemed to have no negative impacts on the environment immediate to the project. Thus, if this is given, it has been found that the project will have an affect on the environment, however, certain items can be revised to ensure that there isn’t an affect to the immediate environment.

Affect on the Project: This would require the project to incorporate these mitigated measures to move the project forward and therefore be granted a negative declaration.

Question 39

Your client wants to add skylights to the building even though the original design did not have any planned. Which building systems will be affected by this, except the structural system?

Answer 39

1. Mechanical System: will have take into account the extra heat gain and loss
2. Electrical System: the extra natural light coming into the building may reduce the need for artificial lighting, and therefore decreasing the electrical demand
3. Plumbing / Sprinkler System: May need to be modified to accommodate new sky light locations

Question 40

When would special inspections be required on a project?

Answer 40

Special Inspections could be required for, but is not limited to, any of the following:
Shotcrete work
piling
drilling piers and caissons
structural field welding/ high strength field bolting
special grading
excavation and filling
spray applied fire resistive materials
reinforced gypsum
concrete when cast in place
structural masonry
special moment resisting frames
bolts installed in concrete
insulation concrete fill
welding of reinforcing steel 
smoke control systems

Question 41

The owner wants to comfortable indoor environment , and asks you for advice. List 5 areas you could discuss with the client to improve human comfort.

Answer 41

1. HVAC
2. Lighting
3. Way-finding Signage
4. Acoustical Comfort
5. Easy Building Access
6. Indoor Air Quality

Question 42

You are working on a large hotel addition, and need to directly connect the new portion to the old building. What would be your concerns, structurally, in regard to the connection of the old building to new building addition?

Answer 42

1. Proper seismic joint conditions for seismic isolation
2. Separated footings
3. Openings between the new and old portions
4. Proper back-filling
5. Shoring conditions