Section 1 Flashcards
Programming • Site and Environmental Analysis • Cost Management • Coordinating Engineering Systems • Schematic Design • Design Development
What is a Functional Program?
A written statement which describes various criteria and data for a building project, including design objectives, site requirements/constraints, spatial requirements/relationships, building systems/equipment, and future expandability
Identify the components of an architectural program.
How much and what type of space is needed:
- Future needs: high, medium, and low-growth projections;
- Information to compare options - architectural and financial implications;
A final report may include:
- The client’s philosophy, values, goals, and desired “image”;
- Site requirements (i.e. parking, circulation, orientation)
- Space requirements (i.e. net and gross floor areas)
- Description of types of activities in various spaces
- Functional relationships of spaces (i.e. bubble diagrams)
- Space Data Sheets
- Special technical requirements
- Financial requirements; preliminary budget
- Anticipated time frame
- Building code requirements
- Other requirements per AHJ
- Ecological and environmental concerns
- Community goals and concerns
- Recommended construction project delivery method
What is net floor area?
Net floor area is defined as the space measured within the inside face of walls or enclosure of the space. In determining net floor area requirements, spaces such as corridors, stairs, partitions, exterior walls, mechanical rooms, electrical and telecommunications rooms are not typically included within the tabulation of net areas.
What is gross floor area?
Gross area is defined as the total area of the building or of components of a building (e.g. divided by departments or tenant spaces.) For a new building, in which design has not been undertaken, gross floor area is typically estimated as a multiplier applied to the net floor area (grossing factor).
Describe the principles of sustainable development within a Functional Program.
Sustainable development should be a goal throughout all phases of a project. The functional
programming stage provides opportunities to identify sustainable development principles. These principles may be initiatives of the owner, or they may be developed through the development of the functional program. Not all sustainable development principles will affect the architectural program.
Sustainable development principles that affect the architectural program may be as follows:
Siting, building form and/or orientation of the building: Prescribed siting, building form, and/or orientation can potentially influence footprint and floor plate sizes, building grossing factors, volumetric characterizations, cost estimate and building services. In addition, site servicing and building impacts such as storm water management can also influence overall functional program development.
Energy Performance: Prescribed energy performance targets can influence mechanical, electrical and building envelope systems. As a result, gross floor area may be altered by mechanical space requirements and adjusted cost estimates.
Operational Systems: Operational systems in a functional program describe how program services will be provided. For example, decisions to pursue alternative forms of transportation, may have an impact on parking requirements, building storage or building occupant amenities (e.g. provision of shower and change facilities), and will affect an architectural program.
Space and Use Parameters: Assumptions such as flexible or adaptable interior environments, increasing utilization of space to accommodate more occupants, throughput and or activities may result in overall reductions in space requirements, or the ability to provide more services within a projected amount of space
Describe the physical factors related to site planning.
Microclimate, topography, and natural habitat of a site all influence design decisions at a very early stage in the design process. To enhance human comfort as well as conserve energy and material resources, responsive and sustainable design respects the indigenous qualities of place, adapts the form and layout of a building to the landscape, and takes into account the path of the sun, the rush of the wind, and the flow of water on the site.
Describe the regulatory factors related to site planning and list a few examples.
Regulatory forces, such as zoning ordinances are regulations take into account existing land-use patterns and prescribe acceptable uses and activities for site as well as limit the size and shape of the building mass and where it may be located on the site
Examples:
- Permitted uses
- Minimum area
- Height restrictions
- Setbacks
- Lot coverage (floor area ratio, % of coverage)
- Open space requirements
- Parking requirements
According to CHOP, what is site evaluation?
Site evaluation is a pre-design service that looks at one or more sites and evaluates them in relation to the building program, budget, and construction schedule (should be billed as a separate service, whether done in pre-design OR schematic design)
List examples of environmental regulations in relation to site planning.
- Water, sewer, recycling, solid waste disposal
- Clean air requirements
- Soil conservation
- Protected areas, wetland, floodplains, coastal zones, wild and scenic areas
- Fish and wildlife protection
- Protection of archaeological resources
List examples of cultural regulations in relation to site planning.
- Site history
- Former site uses
- Hazardous dumping
- Landfill
- Old foundations
- Archaeological grounds
- History of existing structures
- Historic worth
- Affiliations
- Outline
- Location
- Floor elevations
- Type
- Condition
- Use
List some exceptions or allowances made to the general requirements of a zoning ordinance.
- Projections of architectural features such as roof overhangs, cornices, bay windows, and balconies
accessory structures such as low-level decks, fences, and detached carports/garages - Precedents set by existing, neighbouring structures
sloping roofs, chimneys, and other roof projections may be allowed to extend beyond the normal height limitation - Height limit may be directly related to the slope of the site
- A reduction in the setback may be made for sloping sites
What are the primary objectives of sustainable site design (per RAIC)?
Sustainable site design involves two primary issues:
site location & site impacts.
Site location: to reduce and minimize negative impacts
Site impacts: reduce and minimize negative site impacts as a result of the site development and its buildings
What are the four main factors to consider in site location? (RAIC)
- The process for site selection
- Opportunities for urban development
- Opportunities for brownfield redevelopment
- Transportation
List some examples of negative environmental impacts on a site (RAIC)
- Site disturbance
- Erosion and sediment deposits
- Water pollution
- Loss of landscape
- Creation of heat islands
- Light pollution
What are the fundamentals principles of sustainable design? (RAIC)
- Include all stakeholders in the site selection process
- Sustainable site selection considers the impact of development on the local environment as well as the surroundings (high traffic area or polluted site) impact on the end users of the building
- Sustainable land use aims for developing a ‘complete community,’ range of lifestyles, incomes, and ages
- Land use considerations: planning for community energy, transportation, and ecological factors
List examples of site water systems management.
- Use green roofs as an initial filter in the collection of rainwater and to minimize run-offs
- Use soft or permeable surfaces instead of impervious ones
- Use swales and retention ponds to facilitate natural infiltration
- Redirect building stormwater and graywater to irrigate landscapes areas; do not use potable water for this use
- Control and reduce offsite discharge of stormwater
collect and store rainwater for use in toilets and urinals, irrigation, or for washing vehicles
In relation to site analysis, what do geotechnical engineering reports provide information on?
- Existing subgrade conditions including soil quality, water table, and presence of buried materials which may inform:
- Building location
- Foundation design (size/ depth)
- Foundation waterproofing measures
What are the two broad classes of soils, and which one is more stable?
- Coarse-grained (gravel, sand)
- Fine-grained (silt, clay)
- Coarse grained soils are more stable as a foundation material than silt or clay
- Clay soils tend to be unstable as the shrink and swell with the variation in moisture content
What is a geotechnical engineer’s soil profile?
- A soil profile is a diagram of a vertical section that shows the soil layers/strata; info is gathered from a test pit or borehole
- The stability and strength of the soil under loading (shear resistance and compressive strength) and presence of groundwater are detailed the report
- For shearing strength on sloped sites, compact clay retains its strength when unconfined, whereas granular soils would require a confining force (retaining wall)
Sustainable design planning encourages “infill” development. What are the advantages of this?
- Possible lower first cost (reusing existing infrastructure rather than creating new systems)
- Less environmental impact (not disturbing an existing, undisturbed, natural open space)
- Creating higher density development, which more efficiently uses the infrastructure
What is a Consultant? (CHOP)
Consultant: One from whom advice is sought. The requirements for licensing vary depending on the
professional field of activity.
What is an Engineer? (CHOP)
Engineer: A professional skilled in the design, development, and construction of physical works. To
practise or hold oneself out to the public as an engineer, the individual must be licensed under
provincial or territorial legislation
What is a Prime Consultant? (CHOP)
Prime Consultant: The consultant that is retained directly by the client for the provision of the main
part of professional services; these services usually include management and coordination of sub-consultants and other consultants engaged directly by the client or others.
What is a Sub-Consultant? (CHOP)
Sub-consultant: The consultant that is retained by (or under contract to) the prime consultant.
Who would be considered basic consultants that are most often engaged by the architect?
Structural, mechanical, and electrical engineer
Other than the basic consultants, name examples of other engineering consultants.
Acoustical engineer Civil engineer Environmental engineer Geotechnical engineer Hydrological engineer Process engineer Seismic engineer Traffic engineer
Who are specialist consultants and provide some examples.
Building projects often require specialist
consultants. Many specialist consultants are members of an association or may be certified to perform their services.
Examples: Acoustical consultant Building code consultant Building envelope consultant Conservation or Heritage architect Cost consultant Elevator consultant Environmental consultant or ecologist Interior designer Land surveyor Landscape architect Lighting consultant Quantity Surveyor Specifications writer Sustainability or LEED® Consultant Transportation planner Urban and regional planner Value engineering consultant
Which RAIC documents would you use between architect and consultant?
RAIC Document Nine is recommended for an agreement with engineering consultants and other design professionals such as other architects, landscape architects, interior designers, and food service consultants.
Document Nine is not a “stand-alone” agreement and it is expected that the “prime agreement” (RAIC
Document Six or Seven), or alternatively the relevant portions of the prime agreement, be appended to it. This ensures that the consultants have a full understanding of the expected and required services.
