Architecture Architectural Design Practice 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A contractor submits a substitution request for a specified product during bidding. Who has the authority to approve it?
- The contractor's supplier
- The subcontractor proposing it
- The architect, typically via addendum with owner concurrence (Correct answer)
- The building official
Correct answer: The architect, typically via addendum with owner concurrence
Substitutions during bidding are evaluated by the architect and, if accepted, communicated to all bidders through an addendum.
Question 2: Which contract structure gives the owner a single point of responsibility for both design and construction?
- Design-build (Correct answer)
- Construction manager as adviser
- Design-bid-build
- Multiple prime contracts
Correct answer: Design-build
In design-build, one entity holds responsibility for both design and construction under a single contract with the owner.
Question 3: An architect's certificate for payment indicates that work has progressed to the level claimed. What does it NOT certify?
- The amount the contractor is entitled to be paid
- That observed work has progressed as stated
- That the contractor has paid its subcontractors (Correct answer)
- That work generally conforms to the contract documents
Correct answer: That the contractor has paid its subcontractors
The architect certifies observed progress and conformance, not how the contractor disburses funds to subcontractors.
Question 4: A building site slopes steeply and lies partially within a 100-year floodplain. Which early design response is most appropriate?
- Ignore the floodplain if flood insurance is purchased
- Place mechanical equipment in a basement
- Regrade the entire floodplain to raise the site
- Elevate occupied floors above the base flood elevation (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Elevate occupied floors above the base flood elevation
Locating occupied space and critical systems above the base flood elevation is the fundamental floodplain design strategy required by code.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a project kick-off meeting with consultants at the start of design development?
- Select the general contractor
- Finalize construction details
- Negotiate consultant fee reductions
- Align scope, schedule, and coordination protocols across disciplines (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Align scope, schedule, and coordination protocols across disciplines
Kick-off meetings establish shared expectations for deliverables, schedules, and communication before coordinated work begins.
Question 6: Under standard AIA general conditions, who is responsible for construction means, methods, and jobsite safety?
- The building inspector
- The architect
- The contractor (Correct answer)
- The owner
Correct answer: The contractor
AIA A201 assigns means, methods, techniques, sequences, and safety programs exclusively to the contractor.
Question 7: A client asks the architect to reduce the project budget by 15% after design development approval. Which approach best preserves design intent?
- Deleting required egress stairs
- Reducing structural member sizes below calculated loads
- Uniformly downgrading every material one grade
- Value engineering that prioritizes cuts by impact on program and quality (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Value engineering that prioritizes cuts by impact on program and quality
Systematic value engineering evaluates each potential cut against program needs so essential quality and function are preserved.
Architecture Architectural Design Practice 3
A contractor submits a substitution request for a specified product during bidding.
Who has the authority to approve it?