EXAC CERTIFICATION SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
● Components of an Architecture Program. Answer: The USERS of the proposed building
and their work activities, including: -Function by function, room by room, or department by
department activity plans; -Staffing plans; -Equipment and storage requirements; The
VOLUME of activity planned for specific facility components, such as: -flow patterns.
● Factors influencing cost. Answer: • Economical and Political • Functional Programming •
Economical and Political • Type of Construction Project Delivery • Building Type/Design •
Characteristics of Owner/Client • Owners Responsibilities and Timetable • Other factors:
-Planning regulations, Site development agreement conditions, Onerous bureaucratic
requirements, Hazardous demolition
● regulatory factors related to site planning. Answer: - buildings respond to socio-cultural,
economic and political needs - natural and built environment constraints/offer opportunities for
a development - responsive design respects the indigenous qualities of a place (form/layout of
a building adapts to landscape/sun path/climate)
● Main Properties of Structural System. Answer: -exterior envelope -substructure -interior
subdivisions
● Describe the Process in DEVELOPING an Architecture Program. Answer: • Describe
clients philosophy, vision and goals • Describe the services • Identify how the services will be
delivered and/or operational characteristics • Identify activities, workload • Identify the number
of people and/or staff required to provide the services and all other occupants • Identify major
equipment • Identify relationships between spaces or groups of spaces • Prepare detailed
space requirements - a grossing factor multiplier as per the type of user. Additionally a
functional program may include: • Overall project implementation schedule • Preliminary
financial information and budgets • Project delivery method • Site evaluation
● Strategies to review/evaluate/implement a client's budget. Answer: -prepare a
construction cost estimate (never guarantee or warranty or it will void liability insurance-)
-establish a cost limit (budget limit) -develop a cost plan first one during SD phase, and them
multiple checks throughout DD & CD phases until Bid/Contract is awarded
● Site Analysis Items to Consider. Answer: - GROUND SLOPES and subsoil conditions of
a site are required in order to locate areas suitable for construction/outdoor activities/drainage
, fields - Map out existing trees, native plants. Wetlands, streams, watersheds, floodplains etc.
to see which of these can be preserved - Possible CIRCULATION PATHS for pedestrians and
vehicles (and possible entrances) should be studied through site analysis of flows throughout
and around the site o IDENTIFY desirable VIEWS/objectionable views o IDENTIFY potential
sources of CONGESTION/NOISE o Consider existing SCALE/character of neighborhood in
relation to the proposed development o PROXIMITY to
public/commercial/medical/recreational facilities
● Substructure. Answer: foundation-provides support and anchor to the superstructure and
transmit the loads safely to the earth.
● Analyze the program regarding the site components.. Answer: Site dependent. The site
characteristics can affect the building type (topography, soil conditions, bylaw restraints etc.)
● 6 Methods of Cost Estimating. Answer: -forecasting based on historical data -classes of
Cost Estimates Class A,B,C,D -Elemental Cost -Area Method -Volume Method -Unit Method
● influence the design of a building on a specific site.. Answer: - Site analysis - zoning of
a site -Permitted uses (by variance, by special use permits, accessory instructions)
-minimum/maximum area -height restrictions -setbacks (yard and ROW requirements) - lot
coverage (percent/FAR) - open space requirements - parking requirements -sign
requirements, etc. - often the governing body will be curious about the impact of the new
development and its surroundings (ex. UDRP in Calgary)
● Superstructure. Answer: The vertical extension of the building above the foundation that
consists of a shell and interior structure that defines the form of the building.
● Analyze an architectural program regarding its feasibility (project constraints and
opportunities).. Answer: The program should clearly identify how the activities and/or
occupancy of the proposed facility is translated into the specific space requirements.
● Value Engineering/Value Analysis. Answer: • Value engineering attempts to modify
features which may not add cost to a building but do not contribute to its quality, appearance
and usefulness • Architects usually work with cost consultants/value engineers to compare
trade-offs between design concepts, arrangement of materials, finishes and systems,
construction techniques, capital and life cycle costs
● Strategies dealing with environmental issues and site evaluations.. Answer: -soil types
base on physical composition (fine grain, coarse grain) -soil layers -ground slopes -micro
climates (high elevations temp) -surface types (grass, asphalt, concrete, water) hard vs. soft
-climate buffers from wind and cold -noise buffers
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
● Components of an Architecture Program. Answer: The USERS of the proposed building
and their work activities, including: -Function by function, room by room, or department by
department activity plans; -Staffing plans; -Equipment and storage requirements; The
VOLUME of activity planned for specific facility components, such as: -flow patterns.
● Factors influencing cost. Answer: • Economical and Political • Functional Programming •
Economical and Political • Type of Construction Project Delivery • Building Type/Design •
Characteristics of Owner/Client • Owners Responsibilities and Timetable • Other factors:
-Planning regulations, Site development agreement conditions, Onerous bureaucratic
requirements, Hazardous demolition
● regulatory factors related to site planning. Answer: - buildings respond to socio-cultural,
economic and political needs - natural and built environment constraints/offer opportunities for
a development - responsive design respects the indigenous qualities of a place (form/layout of
a building adapts to landscape/sun path/climate)
● Main Properties of Structural System. Answer: -exterior envelope -substructure -interior
subdivisions
● Describe the Process in DEVELOPING an Architecture Program. Answer: • Describe
clients philosophy, vision and goals • Describe the services • Identify how the services will be
delivered and/or operational characteristics • Identify activities, workload • Identify the number
of people and/or staff required to provide the services and all other occupants • Identify major
equipment • Identify relationships between spaces or groups of spaces • Prepare detailed
space requirements - a grossing factor multiplier as per the type of user. Additionally a
functional program may include: • Overall project implementation schedule • Preliminary
financial information and budgets • Project delivery method • Site evaluation
● Strategies to review/evaluate/implement a client's budget. Answer: -prepare a
construction cost estimate (never guarantee or warranty or it will void liability insurance-)
-establish a cost limit (budget limit) -develop a cost plan first one during SD phase, and them
multiple checks throughout DD & CD phases until Bid/Contract is awarded
● Site Analysis Items to Consider. Answer: - GROUND SLOPES and subsoil conditions of
a site are required in order to locate areas suitable for construction/outdoor activities/drainage
, fields - Map out existing trees, native plants. Wetlands, streams, watersheds, floodplains etc.
to see which of these can be preserved - Possible CIRCULATION PATHS for pedestrians and
vehicles (and possible entrances) should be studied through site analysis of flows throughout
and around the site o IDENTIFY desirable VIEWS/objectionable views o IDENTIFY potential
sources of CONGESTION/NOISE o Consider existing SCALE/character of neighborhood in
relation to the proposed development o PROXIMITY to
public/commercial/medical/recreational facilities
● Substructure. Answer: foundation-provides support and anchor to the superstructure and
transmit the loads safely to the earth.
● Analyze the program regarding the site components.. Answer: Site dependent. The site
characteristics can affect the building type (topography, soil conditions, bylaw restraints etc.)
● 6 Methods of Cost Estimating. Answer: -forecasting based on historical data -classes of
Cost Estimates Class A,B,C,D -Elemental Cost -Area Method -Volume Method -Unit Method
● influence the design of a building on a specific site.. Answer: - Site analysis - zoning of
a site -Permitted uses (by variance, by special use permits, accessory instructions)
-minimum/maximum area -height restrictions -setbacks (yard and ROW requirements) - lot
coverage (percent/FAR) - open space requirements - parking requirements -sign
requirements, etc. - often the governing body will be curious about the impact of the new
development and its surroundings (ex. UDRP in Calgary)
● Superstructure. Answer: The vertical extension of the building above the foundation that
consists of a shell and interior structure that defines the form of the building.
● Analyze an architectural program regarding its feasibility (project constraints and
opportunities).. Answer: The program should clearly identify how the activities and/or
occupancy of the proposed facility is translated into the specific space requirements.
● Value Engineering/Value Analysis. Answer: • Value engineering attempts to modify
features which may not add cost to a building but do not contribute to its quality, appearance
and usefulness • Architects usually work with cost consultants/value engineers to compare
trade-offs between design concepts, arrangement of materials, finishes and systems,
construction techniques, capital and life cycle costs
● Strategies dealing with environmental issues and site evaluations.. Answer: -soil types
base on physical composition (fine grain, coarse grain) -soil layers -ground slopes -micro
climates (high elevations temp) -surface types (grass, asphalt, concrete, water) hard vs. soft
-climate buffers from wind and cold -noise buffers
