Project Execution and QC

Question 1

What is a joint use easement?

Answer 1

This allows two or more property owners to share a common feature, such as a driveway.

Question 2

What is a variance?

Answer 2

This is a deviation from the zoning regulations.

Question 3

What are Restrictive Covenants?

Answer 3

These are provisions that restrict the use of the property by the buyer.

Question 4

What is a conditional use permit (CUP)?

Answer 4

This is issued by the zoning jurisdiction for a proposed use that is not otherwise allowed in a particular zoning district. If granted, this would allow for a commercial building to be built in a residential neighborhood.

Question 5

What is a planned unit development?

Answer 5

this is an area set aside for a specific use, such as a residential subdivision or a mix of commercial and residential uses.

Question 6

What is cluster development?

Answer 6

This type of project site zoning allows structures to be grouped on one part of a site to preserve open space on other parts.

Question 7

What is inclusionary zoning?

Answer 7

This type of zoning requires construction of low-income housing as a condition of approval.

Question 8

What is overlay zoning?

Answer 8

this is a secondary level of requirements above and beyond the primary designation of a site . all improvements of the property within this area are subject to the approval of a review board.

Question 9

What is contemporaneous documentation?

Answer 9

This form of documentation is a written record of verbal or informal communications which is kept in real time and is generally not issued to other project participants in a standard form. This type of documentation could include the project manager’s daily journal, notes from phone conversations or conversations on site, or email or text messages. These documents could be admissible in court in the case of a claim under the business-entry exception to the hearsay rule. To be eligible as evidence, the record must be prepared at the time of the event and it must be representative of a regular activity that is a part of the firm’s normal business.

Question 10

What is ISO 9000?

Answer 10

This International Standards Organization (ISO) quality assurance program can be applied to a variety of processes and industries, including service providers, manufacturing, management, and design.

This is an umbrella term that refers to a number of standards

Question 11

What are the seven quality management principles on which all ISO (International Standards Organization) 9000 standards are based?

Answer 11

What are the following:

1. Customer focus: meeting customer expectations and objectives.
2. Leadership: all employees are working toward a common purpose.
3. Engagement of people: the skills of all employees are being utilized and recognized appropriately.
4. Process Approach: the company has established clear guidelines for systems and processes.
5. Improvement: organization reacts to successes and failures in a proactive way.
6. Evidence-based decision making: choices are made after thorough investigation of objective data.
7. Relationship management: maintain open communication with all parties with whom the company interacts.

Question 12

According to the Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, what is Preservation?

Answer 12

The most historically accurate treatment of a historic property that requires keeping existing elements in situ is this.

Question 13

According to the Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, what is Restoration?

Answer 13

Returning a historic building to its appearance at a particular point in time is this type of treatment.

Question 14

According to the Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, what is Reconstruction?

Answer 14

This treatment of historic buildings is building based on documentation that recreates elements of the building that have been demolished or lost to time.

Question 15

According to the Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties, what is Rehabilitation?

Answer 15

This treatment of historic buildings emphasizes the retention and repair of historic materials but gives some latitude for replacement of damaged materials.

Question 16

According to the standards for Treatment of Historic Properties, what are the four basic types of treatments that can be applied to historic structures?

Answer 16

The four basic treatments that can be applied to historic treatments include:

1. Preservation
2. Restoration
3. Reconstruction
4. Restoration

Question 17

What is commissioning?

Answer 17

This quality assurance process is comprised of thorough testing of systems (MEP/FP) to confirm proper functionality and to see that they provide safe, reliable, and long-term operation.

The process of verifying that the building’s systems are installed and operate as intended and that the performance of the systems is in accordance with the design intent.

Question 18

What are the phases of the commissioning process?

Answer 18

The commissioning process is made up of four phases of work: design, construction, acceptance, and post-acceptance.

Question 19

What is a joint venture?

Answer 19

From a legal standpoint this is similar to a partnership except typically on a more limited scope or purpose. Professional liability claims on this entity can hold one or all members liable for any judgement held against it.

Question 20

Who can form a joint venture?

Answer 20

Joint ventures relationships are not limited to specific professions. a joint venture can be a relationship between an architect and another design professional or any other party who wish to combine forces to provide services to their client.

Question 21

What are key issues to be considered when engaging in a joint venture agreement?

Answer 21

Key issues to consider when engaging in this agreement include:

• Overall management - including a policy board that includes representatives from each participating firm.
• Financial Arrangements - including allocation of risks and rewards.
• Insurance - especially professional liability insurance.
• Digital Practice Protocols & BIM Management.

Question 22

What are the 2 possible approaches to dividing rewards in a Joint Venture?

Answer 22

Division of compensation method and division of profit /loss method are two approaches of what?

• Division of compensation assumes that the services provided and compensation received will be divided as agreed at the outset of the project. The division is a negotiated amount or percentage based on what each party brings and does. Profit and loss are dependent on efficiency with carrying out responsibilities.
• Division of profit/loss is based on each party performing work and billing at cost plus a stated amount for overhead. Ultimate profit or loss is divided among the parties at the completion of the project.

Question 23

What are the four different means and methods for generating specifications?

Answer 23

The four typical methods of generating technical specifications include Descriptive, Performance, Reference Standards, and Proprietary. Often it is Advisable to use a combination of each.

• Descriptive specifying requires use of technical descriptions of exact characteristics of materials and products.
• Performance specifying relies on describing performance qualities of a material or product.
• Reference specifying incorporates reference standards published by industry association and testing organizations and allows specifiers to use industry-accepted standards of practice and performance.
• Proprietary specifying uses proprietary products and materials and is often preferred because of the brevity and simplicity. These specifications are frequently supplemented with reference standards and performance standards.