EXAC - EXAM 1 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
What does a functional program respond to - client - Answer -Needs and objectives,
facility availability requirements, space needs
What does a functional program respond to - design - Answer -scope, site
requirements/availabilities, spatial relationalities
Who is involved in functional programming - Answer -Client and Architect, jointly
Site requirements to consider during programming - Answer -parking, circulation,
orientation, accessibility, services
Financial requirements to consider during programming - Answer -Projected cash flow,
life cycle costs, preliminary budget, procurement
True or False: Programming is a basic architectural service - Answer -False - it is
typically an additional service
Information to gather during programming: - Answer --Users and their activities,
occupant loads, organization, hours of use, storage and support spaces
-Gross-up factor applied to functional areas: mech/elec, circulation, structure, cores etc.
-volumes of activity planned
-precedents and similar buildings
Considerations to document during programming: - Answer -Critical dims of
furniture/equipment
-Durability and maintenance of finishes, furnishings, etc.
-environmental needs
-hardware requirements for IT/AV
Strategies to aggregate info for programming: - Answer --Research and observe
-interviews and consultations
-focus groups
-questionnaires/surveys
Ratio of net vs. gross programmable space efficiency for a condo? - Answer -ideally
85%+
Ratio of net vs. gross programmable space efficiency for a typical building? - Answer -
70%-85%
Where would the net vs. gross programmable space ratio be low but the building is still
considered efficient - Answer -Places like hospitals where large corridors and service
spaces are partially-programmed
,Physical site characteristics - Answer -Climate, topography, soil, haz mats,
neighbourhood, and site services
Legal site characteristics - Answer -legal title, survey, easements, restrictions,
permitted uses, height and size restrictions, accessibility, site plan
control/neighbourhood character, remediation requirements, historical, floodway/seismic
requirements
True or False: a project might be abandoned if costs to accommodate preliminary
programming requirements are too high - Answer -True - but identifying this as early as
possible can help the client decide whether they want to re-assess programming needs,
phasing options, financing, etc.
One of the top priorities of programming? - Answer -Size of the building
True or False: Begin thinking about "green building" standard targets as early as
programming - Answer -True
What kind of service is Site-Analysis - Answer -Pre-Design Service. It includes
evaluating existing or potential sites in relation to the program, budget, and schedule
Is Site Analysis a basic service? - Answer -No, it is additional, unless baked into the
contract ahead of time.
Why is site analysis important? - Answer -Determine the obstacles the project might
face during construction, operation, etc.
True or False: You might need to tear open a wall to properly perform a Building
Condition Assessment - Answer -False - typically just remote sensing devices are used
for this.
What is Facility Condition Index (FCI)? - Answer -Ratio of total maintenance, repair and
replacement costs required against the cost to replace the entire building completely
Distinguish between "As-built" and "As-found" drawings - Answer -As-built = contractor
drawings submitted after building is completed for record drawings
As-found = drawings of building provided by owner, could be sketchy, not always
accurate to reality
Cultural aspects of a site - Answer -Former uses (anything hazardous? Remediation?
Burial site?), present zoning and restrictions, type of land ownership, land use patterns,
location and availability
, What constitutes the site description? - Answer -Address, orientation, appearance,
climate, availability of utilities, permitting requirements by AHJs, access to municipal
services
Environmental factors of a site - Answer -prevailing winds, solar orientation,
temperature and humidity, physical features, views, vegetation (protected species?!),
vehicle/pedestrian access, neighbourhood structures, smells and noises
Water considerations of a site - Answer -Existing bodies of water, access to quality /
potable water, drainage, subsurface and surface waterway easements, flood
considerations
Former site uses to beware of? - Answer -Hazardous dumping, landfill, old foundations,
burial sites, history of existing structures, zoning effects, type of land ownership, land
use patterns, community services available
Main difference between master planning and urban planning? - Answer -Master
planning is high level only, whereas urban planning studies all scales
What's an ESA? - Answer -Environmental Site Assessment
Which ESA phase is characterized by office-based review of existing paperwork and
available info? - Answer -ESA Phase 1
What is ESA Phase 2 about? - Answer -In the first phase of environmental site
assessment, concerns were raised that required site visit for some drilling and sending
materials to lab for analysis
What is ESA Phase 3 about? - Answer -It's about documenting contaminants detected
on site during lab testing + plan to remediate!
Is Silica a hazardous material commonly found on sites? - Answer -Apparently yes!
What are concerns about ground slopes on sites that are 25%+? - Answer -Subject to
erosion and hard to build on
What kind of slope (approx)would expensive, but not impossible to build on, and hard to
run around on? - Answer -10% slope
What's the ideal slope of a site for building practicality? - Answer -under 5%
Where does groundwater come from?? - Answer -It's mainly surface water that seeped
in
Give examples of subsurface drainage systems - Answer -underground piping, sewer,
natural openings at lower elevations
What does a functional program respond to - client - Answer -Needs and objectives,
facility availability requirements, space needs
What does a functional program respond to - design - Answer -scope, site
requirements/availabilities, spatial relationalities
Who is involved in functional programming - Answer -Client and Architect, jointly
Site requirements to consider during programming - Answer -parking, circulation,
orientation, accessibility, services
Financial requirements to consider during programming - Answer -Projected cash flow,
life cycle costs, preliminary budget, procurement
True or False: Programming is a basic architectural service - Answer -False - it is
typically an additional service
Information to gather during programming: - Answer --Users and their activities,
occupant loads, organization, hours of use, storage and support spaces
-Gross-up factor applied to functional areas: mech/elec, circulation, structure, cores etc.
-volumes of activity planned
-precedents and similar buildings
Considerations to document during programming: - Answer -Critical dims of
furniture/equipment
-Durability and maintenance of finishes, furnishings, etc.
-environmental needs
-hardware requirements for IT/AV
Strategies to aggregate info for programming: - Answer --Research and observe
-interviews and consultations
-focus groups
-questionnaires/surveys
Ratio of net vs. gross programmable space efficiency for a condo? - Answer -ideally
85%+
Ratio of net vs. gross programmable space efficiency for a typical building? - Answer -
70%-85%
Where would the net vs. gross programmable space ratio be low but the building is still
considered efficient - Answer -Places like hospitals where large corridors and service
spaces are partially-programmed
,Physical site characteristics - Answer -Climate, topography, soil, haz mats,
neighbourhood, and site services
Legal site characteristics - Answer -legal title, survey, easements, restrictions,
permitted uses, height and size restrictions, accessibility, site plan
control/neighbourhood character, remediation requirements, historical, floodway/seismic
requirements
True or False: a project might be abandoned if costs to accommodate preliminary
programming requirements are too high - Answer -True - but identifying this as early as
possible can help the client decide whether they want to re-assess programming needs,
phasing options, financing, etc.
One of the top priorities of programming? - Answer -Size of the building
True or False: Begin thinking about "green building" standard targets as early as
programming - Answer -True
What kind of service is Site-Analysis - Answer -Pre-Design Service. It includes
evaluating existing or potential sites in relation to the program, budget, and schedule
Is Site Analysis a basic service? - Answer -No, it is additional, unless baked into the
contract ahead of time.
Why is site analysis important? - Answer -Determine the obstacles the project might
face during construction, operation, etc.
True or False: You might need to tear open a wall to properly perform a Building
Condition Assessment - Answer -False - typically just remote sensing devices are used
for this.
What is Facility Condition Index (FCI)? - Answer -Ratio of total maintenance, repair and
replacement costs required against the cost to replace the entire building completely
Distinguish between "As-built" and "As-found" drawings - Answer -As-built = contractor
drawings submitted after building is completed for record drawings
As-found = drawings of building provided by owner, could be sketchy, not always
accurate to reality
Cultural aspects of a site - Answer -Former uses (anything hazardous? Remediation?
Burial site?), present zoning and restrictions, type of land ownership, land use patterns,
location and availability
, What constitutes the site description? - Answer -Address, orientation, appearance,
climate, availability of utilities, permitting requirements by AHJs, access to municipal
services
Environmental factors of a site - Answer -prevailing winds, solar orientation,
temperature and humidity, physical features, views, vegetation (protected species?!),
vehicle/pedestrian access, neighbourhood structures, smells and noises
Water considerations of a site - Answer -Existing bodies of water, access to quality /
potable water, drainage, subsurface and surface waterway easements, flood
considerations
Former site uses to beware of? - Answer -Hazardous dumping, landfill, old foundations,
burial sites, history of existing structures, zoning effects, type of land ownership, land
use patterns, community services available
Main difference between master planning and urban planning? - Answer -Master
planning is high level only, whereas urban planning studies all scales
What's an ESA? - Answer -Environmental Site Assessment
Which ESA phase is characterized by office-based review of existing paperwork and
available info? - Answer -ESA Phase 1
What is ESA Phase 2 about? - Answer -In the first phase of environmental site
assessment, concerns were raised that required site visit for some drilling and sending
materials to lab for analysis
What is ESA Phase 3 about? - Answer -It's about documenting contaminants detected
on site during lab testing + plan to remediate!
Is Silica a hazardous material commonly found on sites? - Answer -Apparently yes!
What are concerns about ground slopes on sites that are 25%+? - Answer -Subject to
erosion and hard to build on
What kind of slope (approx)would expensive, but not impossible to build on, and hard to
run around on? - Answer -10% slope
What's the ideal slope of a site for building practicality? - Answer -under 5%
Where does groundwater come from?? - Answer -It's mainly surface water that seeped
in
Give examples of subsurface drainage systems - Answer -underground piping, sewer,
natural openings at lower elevations
