NCARB Project-Planning-Design Actual Free Exam Questions & Community Discussion

During design development of a new motel, the owner receives a cost estimate which was higher than what they had budgeted for. The project descriptions are as follows:
* Number of units: Twenty
* Construction type: V-B
* Number of stories: Two
* Structural system: Light wood frame
* Mechanical system: Central air system
The client wants the architect to reduce the initial construction cost without sacrificing the potential return on investment.

For a three-story building, which of the following is considered a vertical irregularity with respect to seismic design?

A one-story residence in a dry climate with cold winter nights is designed with an unconditioned dirt floor crawlspace utilizing underfloor plumbing and HVAC ductwork. The owner is interested in using a concrete slab-on-grade floor instead of the pier-and-beam concrete floor over an open crawlspace as originally designed.
What are the impacts of changing the design to a slab-on-grade floor system? Check the two that apply.

An architect has just received client approval of the Schematic Design documents for a three-story, outpatient medical clinic. The clinic is located within a mixed-use development governed by a City-approved Planned Development (PD) document. The medical clinic design utilizes standardized departmental layouts and includes outpatient clinics, as well as treatment spaces, administrative spaces and public/lobby spaces.
The site needs to accommodate four different vehicular traffic flows: patient traffic, staff traffic, service and delivery traffic, and emergency services traffic. In addition, a pedestrian plaza must connect to the mixed-use development sidewalks. The plaza must provide space for bicycle parking and will serve as the future bus stop.
The site design addresses several challenges related to building orientation. The southeast facade, with excellent visibility from the highway, is the location of all service equipment. The building entrance faces northwest, convenient to the parking but not visible from the highway.
The client believes future patient volumes will outgrow the clinic. The PD document allows for a planned Phase 2 development on the adjacent vacant site to the southwest. Phase 2 would include a second building (2 story, 80,000 BGSF) and/or a parking deck.
Other considerations for the project include:
* Protected tree requirements are defined in the PD document.
* Easy pedestrian access must be provided from Sycamore Boulevard.
* All required parking for the clinic must be accommodated on site.
* Programmed area includes 109,450 Departmental Gross Square Feet (DGSF) / 130,184 Building Gross Square Feet (BGSF).
* Exterior material percentages are dictated by the PD document and shall not exceed specific percentages for Primary and Secondary Finishes.
* All service equipment needs to be screened; see PD document for restrictions.
* Signage opportunities are important to the client.
* Acoustical privacy is a concern of the healthcare system.
The following resources are available for your reference:
* Drawings, including a perspective, plans, and exterior elevations
* Building Program, including client's departmental program and detailed program for Treatment 01 (Infusion)
* Exterior Material Cost Comparisons
* Planned Development Document
* IBC Excerpts, showing relevant code sections
* ADA Excerpts, showing relevant sections from the ADA Standards for Accessible Design The client proposes massing changes to the current design as well as programming for future phases.
Which of the following scenarios is permitted?

Which plumbing criteria will offer a flexible design for a 15-story office building?

Refer to the exhibit (louvered sunscreen cantilevered with beam). Assume the cantilevered beam is weightless.

Which of the following is the moment diagram?

An architect is developing a master plan for a small area of a city located on a lake. The master plan has four open sites being considered for a proposed park. The city needs to avoid incoming noise pollution at the park and provide a variety of activities for the city.
Click on the open site that is appropriate for a city park with baseball fields and nature trails.

Structural costs for wind resistance increase exponentially as building height is increased, primarily due to which of the following factors? Check the two that apply.

The design of a large, one-story building to be used for the storage of confidential documents is being evaluated for security. The owners wish to have as much storage space as possible.
Which of the following design strategies would be the most economical solution to maximize security?

Which light fixture and finish configuration will increase the apparent length of an office corridor?