The Pre Design Process

Question 1

Pre Design Goals and Activities

Answer 1

The pre-design phase is used to establish the primary requirements and influences on the project, including budget, schedule, program, consultant work scope, necessary approvals, and site conditions.

Question 2

During Pre Design the LA should:

Answer 2

Execute a contract for design services with a detailed scope of work
Conduct client and user interviews to identify key project objectives, opportunities and constraints
Prepare a detailed site base plan based upon an accurate site survey
Obtain and evaluate a soils and geotechnical report for the project site
Develop the initial project program
Complete a code review to identify relevant laws, rules, codes, and regulations governing the site and proposed uses
Determine the process for review and approval of the proposed project
Coordinate with the client to determine estimated construction budget
Establish a project work plan and distribute it to the project team

Question 3

Site Planning Basics

Answer 3

planning and design activities should ALWAYS find a way to balance social/cultural, environmental and economic considerations.

Question 4

Primary Components of Site Planning

Answer 4

Promoting public health, safety and welfare
Protecting the public from natural disasters/hazards
Reducing construction and maintenance costs
Improving site function (including greater convenience and access for users)
Increasing profit from development
Protecting valuable natural and cultural amenities
Supporting critical ecological processes

Question 5

Sustainable Site Plan

Answer 5

as “context-sensitive” and capable of “minimizing negative development impacts by respecting the landscape’s natural patterns and processes.” “sustainable site planning protects and restores degraded natural and cultural resources and minimizes detrimental impacts of development on the environment.

Question 6

5 Principles of Sustainable Site Plan

Answer 6

Protecting the natural environment from unnecessary impacts
Using design as an opportunity to restore environmental degradation
Discouraging development on undeveloped (“greenfield”) sites
Encouraging density, mixed-uses and walkable communities
Promoting efficient resource use and resource conservation

Question 7

The LA should preference sites for development should:

Answer 7

Reflective of input from stakeholders
Located in or adjacent to existing communities
Previously developed (including greyfield and brownfield sites)
Adjacent to public transportation

Question 8

Development should generally be avoided on sites that

Answer 8

Contain prime farmland or are undeveloped (“greenfield)
Provide habitat for threatened or endangered species or contain sensitive ecosystems (e.g., wetlands)
Are located within the 100-year floodplain
Require extensive excavation and grading

Question 9

The Sustainable Site Handbook describes the seven steps necessary to guide the site selection process

Answer 9

Clarify the project’s purpose, goals, and requirements
Determine the site selection criteria, including factors such as access, utilities, and size
Identify potential sites
Evaluate the suitability of each site, weighing the environmental, economic, and social opportunities and constraints
Rank and prioritize the selected sites
Select the most suitable site and develop a site selection report to document the results of the evaluation
Conduct feasibility studies to determine items such as market analysis, design concepts, and project costs

Question 10

Program Development

Answer 10

Programming determines the specific uses for a site, as well as the associated functional and space requirements that are necessary to meet a project’s objectives.

Question 11

A program document will include:

Answer 11

A list of goals and objectives
Elements to be included in the design
Special requirements for the design to fulfill

Question 12

A program document has 2 purposes

Answer 12

Acts as a summary and a synthesis of the site inventory/analysis and client interview
Functions as a checklist to compare the design proposal against

Question 13

Program Development is guided by

Answer 13

Market analyses
Literature reviews
User demand studies
Stakeholder interviews/surveys
Analysis of relevant precedents
Client objectives (desired uses, special features, design styles)
Project budget

Question 14

A basis of design document

Answer 14

the basis of design document can include relevant regulatory requirements, a geotechnical report, budget and schedule information and other various data.

Question 15

Site Inventory

Answer 15

is a process of documenting various site data.