PA Programming and Analysis

Question 1

What kind of road is used to connect local streets with arterial streets?

Answer 1

A collector street

Question 2

If peat or another organic soil is found on a building site, what is the likely course of action?

Answer 2

Removal as the soil can not be used for support.

Question 3

The contractor learns about contaminated soil on site. What should the Architect do?

Answer 3

Notify the owner and suggest that work stop until the nature and extent of the contamination is determined by a qualified professional.

Question 4

4 Common strategies for maintaining good air quality.

Answer 4

• Eliminate or reduce pollution
• Ventilation control
• Proper maintenance
• Controlling the activities of occupants

Question 5

What aspect of human behavior is demonstrated through the protection of one’s personal space?

Answer 5

Territoriality.

Question 6

What is proxemics?

Answer 6

This is the study of how humans perceive, organize, and use space, especially as it pertains to behavior and culture.

Question 7

What two angles are used in surveying to determine the angle of the sun?

Answer 7

Altitude and Azimuth.

Question 8

Name 4 design strategies used in a cool climate.

Answer 8

• Compact forms
• Large south facing windows
• High thermal mass
• Dark colors for exterior surfaces

Question 9

Is the albedo for natural minerals generally high or low?

Answer 9

Low. Natural materials reflect little energy.

Question 10

What is albedo?

Answer 10

The proportion of the incident light or radiation that is reflected by a surface.

Question 11

What issues should an architect be sensitive to in the environmental analysis for a new building?

Answer 11

Context of the surrounding area:

• Views
• Existing buildings
• Noise

Question 12

Name 4 federal regulations or laws that directly impact building design and construction.

Answer 12

• Americans with Disabilities Act
• Wetlands Protection
• Historic Preservation
• Consumer Product Safety Commission (safety-glazing requirement)

Question 13

What type of work is Underwriters Laboratories (UL) responsible for?

Answer 13

This organization is responsible for developing standards and testing product for safety and fire.

Question 14

Who is responsible for the enforcement of zoning districts?

Answer 14

City or county planning commission

Question 15

What are restrictions to a deed called?

Answer 15

Covenants. And can be placed on a property by land developers.

Question 16

How and by whom is a fire rated door regulated?

Answer 16

Fire testing and receives an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label.

Question 17

How is an easement documented?

Answer 17

The land restriction must be recorded with the municipal government office.

Question 18

What is the purpose of a public right-of-way?

Answer 18

This regulation creates a public access easement for sidewalks and utilities.

Question 19

What is the purpose of a model code?

Answer 19

Allows a city or county to have a working building code without the expense of writing its own.

Question 20

What is the relationship of ICC/ANSI Standard A117.1 to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?

Answer 20

This document is used to outline the technical requirements to comply with the ADA.

Question 21

A grocery store has what Occupancy Group Classification?

Answer 21

Mercantile

Question 22

What type of code would limit the amount of glazing in an exterior wall based on the wall’s distance to an adjacent building?

Answer 22

Prescriptive Code

Question 23

Describe how to determine the grade or slope of the site.

Answer 23

Dive the height of change by the run.

Question 24

What is the typical bearing capacity of sand?

Answer 24

2,000 - 3,000 psf

Question 25

What is the most critical consideration that should be given for exterior building materials?

Answer 25

Durability and longevity.

Question 26

Which soil type tends to swell when frozen?

Answer 26

Silt

Question 27

What are the four main categories of zoning used in the United States?

Answer 27

The four main zoning used in the United States are:

Euclidean Zoning, also known as single use zoning.

Performance Zoning which utilizes performance based criteria for proposed projects.

Incentive Zoning encourages new development by implementing a reward-based system for urban development.

Form-Based Zoning which regulates the form that the land use may shape, such as setbacks, building heights, type of density, and pedestrian access rather than the type of land use.

See Section 2.2

Question 28

You just discovered a deed restriction on your client’s property, what could this mean?

Answer 28

Deed Restrictions: limitations on the use of the property, typically by the original developers, that sets what the land may be used for (housing, commercial, etc.) and cannot be changed by future Owners.

Question 29

What is the recommended order for use of these massing diagram types during programming

Answer 29

Space Matrix Chart, Bubble Diagram, Blocking and Stacking

Question 30

A client is pressuring you to provide an accurate estimate of the final cost of their project. What are three conditions you can point to, explaining that they are out of the Architect’s control?

Answer 30

Goods and Services cost fluctuations, Construction Means and Methods, Unknown Site Conditions

Since the Architect doesn’t build the building (the contractor does that), the Architect’s estimates are just budgetary projections because we do not control: Market Conditions, Inflation and the Cost of Goods & Services, Contractor Means & Methods of Construction, or Unknown Site Conditions. Architects can work with and advise clients in regards to project schedules, and can also specify an exact material if they so desire. Since the Architect doesn’t build the building (the contractor does that), the Architect’s estimates are just budgetary projections because we do not control: Market Conditions, Inflation and the Cost of Goods & Services, Contractor Means & Methods of Construction, or Unknown Site Conditions. Architects can work with and advise clients in regards to project schedules, and can also specify an exact material if they so desire.