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Copyright 2011

EXAM GUIDE
Schematic Design
Overview Interior Layout Vignette Sample Passing Solution Sample Failing Solution Building Layout Vignette Sample Passing Solution Sample Failing Solution 1 2 4 5 6 9 11

References

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This document, effective July 2011, supersedes all previous editions of the ARE 4.0 Exam Guide: Schematic Design. Please check NCARBs web site, www.ncarb.org, regularly for updates to the ARE 4.0 Exam Guides and for the most current information regarding the ARE.

Schematic Design

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Schematic Design

2 Vignettes

Overview

Interior Layout Vignette Building Layout Vignette References

DIVISION STATEMENT
Apply knowledge and skills required for the schematic design of buildings and interior space planning.

Vignettes
Interior Layout Design an interior space plan and furniture arrangement responding to program, code, and accessibility requirements. Building Layout Develop a schematic design for a two-story building addressing program, code, site, and environmental requirements.

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INTERIOR LAYOUT VIGNETTE

Overview

Interior Layout Vignette Building Layout Vignette References

General Tips for Taking Interior Layout

Directions
The plan on the work screen shows a vacant office space that is to be developed in accordance with the given program and code requirements. Using the tools provided, draw all required spaces (other than the reception or circulation space). As each space is drawn, it is enclosed by walls. To avoid having double walls between adjacent spaces, you must move the walls together until the two walls merge into a single wall. The reception or circulation space is defined by exterior walls and/or the walls of the other spaces. You must use the label that has been provided to identify it. Complete your solution by drawing doors and placing all required furniture. Before beginning your solution, you should review the program and code information that can be accessed through the Vignette Index screen and familiarize yourself with the plan of the area to be developed on the work screen.

not aligned

good alignment

overlapped

Move furniture into each room, then rotate and move each item as necessary.

Program
Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith are opening a law office in a historic building. The space is a vacant corner suite of approximately 1,200 ft . All spaces and workstations shall comply with the accessibility requirements stipulated in the code. Each program space shall include one clear space for a wheelchair to make a 180-degree turn as described in the code. A continuous path that meets the minimum clear distance requirement of the code shall be provided to each work table and to the seating area behind each desk. The furniture layout must allow for reasonable clearances and access to all of the furniture elements.

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Schematic Design
INTERIOR LAYOUT VIGNETTE

Overview

Interior Layout Vignette Building Layout Vignette References

Space and Furniture Requirements

1. Reception and Business Office (RBO) The configuration and furniture layout of this space must allow a clear view of the suites main entrance door from a secretarial desk. This is the only space to be used for circulation. All spaces must have direct access to this space. Furniture requirements: 2 secretarial desks 1 work table 3 lateral file cabinets 2 lounge chairs 1 square coffee table 2. Mr. Jones Office (JO) Must have an exterior window. Furniture requirements: 1 executive desk 1 credenza

Code
Comply with the following code requirements. These are the ONLY code-related criteria you are required to use.
FIGURE 1: TURNING SPACE

General
1. The space required for a wheelchair to make a 180degree turn is a clear space of 60 inches in diameter, as shown in Figure 1. 2. The minimum clear distance between walls or between a wall and any other obstruction along an aisle, corridor, or passageway shall be 36 inches.
60 min. 60 min.

Doors
1 table for four 2 arm chairs 1. Clear width: Doorways shall have a minimum clear opening of 32 inches with the door open 90 degrees, measured between the face of the door and the opposite stop. 2. Maneuvering clearances: Minimum maneuvering clearances at doors shall be as shown in Figure 2. The floor or ground area within the required clearances shall be level and clear. No door, when open to 90 degrees, shall interfere with the maneuvering clearance of another door. 3. Double-leaf doorways: If doorways have two independently-operated door leaves, then at least one leaf shall meet the requirements above for clear width and maneuvering clearances.
FIGURE 2: MANEUVERING CLEARANCES AT DOORS

3. Mr. Smiths Office (SO) Must have an exterior window. Must have direct access to the Library and Conference Room. Furniture requirements: 1 executive desk 3 arm chairs 1 round coffee table 1 small bookcase 4. Library and Conference Room (LCR) Furniture requirements: 1 conference table 2 large bookcases 1 arm chair 1 square coffee table 5. Copy Room (CR) Furniture requirements: 1 copy machine 1 small bookcase

1 storage cabinet

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Schematic Design
INTERIOR LAYOUT VIGNETTE - Sample Passing Solution

Procedural Tips
Check overlaps while you are working through your solution. Be sure to keep scrolling until you have seen all of the Program information. Click on the down arrow on the scroll bar to ensure that you have seen all of the text. When elements overlap, you may have trouble selecting a particular element. If this happens, keep clicking (without moving the mouse) until the desired element highlights.

Overview

Interior Layout Vignette Building Layout Vignette References

Direct access provided as required.

All work stations are accessible.

Sketch circle used as accessibility gauge.

Warnings
Doors cannot be attached to existing walls. They are only for walls of rooms you draw.

Acceptable visual control.

Typical latch side accessibility is maintained throughout.

Tools You Might Find Useful

Zoom is especially useful in this vignette to: see whether walls overlap adjust overlapping elements check clearances enlarge a room before you furnish it Sketch grid tool to get an idea of the scale of the rooms you want to lay out.

This symbol should be used to designate the Reception Area.

This solution has appropriate access to all workspaces as required by the code. Each room has enough space for a wheelchair to turn around in as well as to allow access to all furniture. The reception and business office (RBO) allows for a clear view of the main entrance from a desk, controls access to all other spaces, and is the only space used for circulation.

Mr. Smith's office (SO) has the required direct access to the library and conference room (LCR). All doors have correct clearances required for accessibility, the two spaces required to have windows are properly located, and all of the furniture is provided as stated in the program.

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INTERIOR LAYOUT VIGNETTE - Sample Failing Solution
Proper clearance is not maintained at door.

Overview

Interior Layout Vignette Building Layout Vignette References

This area is too narrow and prevents access to copy machine.

Furniture interferes with accessibility.

Required direct access is not provided.

Second bookcase is missing in conference room.

This solution has a number of accessibility mistakes that cause it to fail. Walls and/or furniture encroach or block the necessary clearances in Mr. Jones' office (JO) and the work room (WR). Mr. Smith's office (SO) does not have the required direct access to

the library and conference room (LCR), and the work room (WR) is too narrow at the copier to allow proper access. The library and conference room (LCR) is also missing a piece of furniture.

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Schematic Design
BUILDING LAYOUT VIGNETTE

Overview

Interior Layout Vignette Building Layout Vignette References

General Tips for Taking Building Layout

Directions
Using the tools provided, develop floor plans for the two-story building described in the program. Your floor plans should be responsive to given program and code requirements and should reflect principles of sound design logic. Adequate and code-compliant circulation should be provided, and the orientation of the building should be responsive to site influences. Develop your floor plans by sizing and locating all required spaces and any necessary corridors on the site plan provided on the work screen. Indicate all windows, doors, and wall openings, and use the Open to Below tool that has been provided to indicate the upper story of the two-story space. To avoid having double walls between adjacent spaces, you must move the walls together until the two walls merge into a single wall. Before beginning your solution, you should review the program and code information that can be accessed through the Vignette Index screen and familiarize yourself with the site plan on the work screen.

All walls properly aligned.

Use the layers icon to switch between floors.

Program
The family life center will provide recreational and fellowship facilities for a community church. 1. The site is located on Market Street adjacent to a community church. Parking is available off the site. 2. The major view is to the north. 3. The receptionist is to have visual control of the entry to each of the following spaces: the lobby, the game room, and the childrens room. 4. The main entrance door shall face west. 5. All spaces shall have a 9 ft ceiling height except the multi-purpose room, which shall have an 18 ft ceiling height. 6. The area of each space shall be within 10 percent of the required program area. 7. The total corridor area shall not exceed 25 percent of the total program area. 8. The second floor envelope must be congruent with or wholly contained within the first floor envelope with the exception that doors to the exterior may be recessed for weather protection.

Floor 1 shown in light gray.

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BUILDING LAYOUT VIGNETTE

Overview

Interior Layout Vignette Building Layout Vignette References

ProgramSpaces
Tag ST E EE EM AO CR DO GR L LM LR MP R SM SO SW TR TS Name Stair Elevator Shaft Elevator Equipment Room Electrical/Mechanical Room Assistant Director's Office Children's Room Director's Office Game Room Lobby Large Meeting Room Locker Rooms Multi-purpose Room Receptionist Small Meeting Room Secretarial Office Social Worker Toilet Rooms Table/chair Storage TOTAL PROGRAM AREA Area (ft ) 800 200 100 500 200 750 350 1,350 700 1,000 200 2,600 400 750 500 500 800 300 12,000 Requirements 2 per floor @ 200 ft per stair 1 per floor @ 100 ft each; Minimum dimension = 7 ft

Exterior window required; Direct access to Secretarial Office Exterior window required; Near Multi-purpose Room Exterior window required; Direct access to Secretarial Office Viewexterior window required Main Entrance Exterior window required 2 @ 100 ft each; Exterior windows prohibited; Direct access to Multi-purpose Room Viewexterior window required; 18 ft ceiling; 2 exits; First floor Exterior window required; Near Lobby Exterior window required; Near Large Meeting Room Exterior window required; Near Large Meeting Room; Second Floor Exterior window required 2 per floor @ 200 ft each Near Multi-purpose Room ft

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BUILDING LAYOUT VIGNETTE

Overview

Interior Layout Vignette Building Layout Vignette References

Code
Comply with the following code requirements. These are the ONLY code-related criteria you are required to use. 3. In rooms required to have two exit doors, separate the two exit doors by a distance equal to not less than 1/2 of the length of the maximum overall diagonal dimension of that room. Exit doors may discharge directly to the exterior of the building at grade. 4. Required exit doors shall swing in the direction of egress travel. 5. Door swings shall not reduce the minimum clear exit path to less than 3 ft.

Definitions
1. Means of egress: A continuous and unobstructed path of travel from any point in a building to a public way. A means of egress comprises the vertical and horizontal means of travel to an exit and includes intervening doors, interior wall openings, corridors, circulation areas, and stairs. 2. Circulation area: A lobby or a space designated as an "area." 3. Exit: That portion of a means of egress that provides a protected route of travel to the exit discharge. Exits include both exterior exit doors and exit stairways.

Corridors
1. Discharge corridors directly to the exterior at grade or through stairs or circulation areas. 2. Do not interrupt corridors with intervening roomscirculation areas are not considered to be intervening spaces. 3. Maximum length of dead-end corridors: 20 ft. 4. Minimum clear width of corridors: 6 ft. 2. Every room shall connect directly to a corridor or circulation area. Exception: elevator equipment rooms and rooms with an area of 50 ft or less may connect to a corridor or circulation area through an intervening space, but not directly to a stair.

Exiting Requirements
1. Provide a minimum of two exits from each floor separated by a travel distance equal to not less than 1/2 of the length of the maximum overall diagonal dimension of the floor to be served.

Stairs
1. Discharge stairs directly to the exterior at grade. 2. Connect stairs directly to a corridor or circulation area at each floor with exit access doors. 3. Minimum width of stairs: 4 ft.

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BUILDING LAYOUT VIGNETTE - Sample Passing Solution
Required view.

Procedural Tips
Before you begin, it helps to toggle between the Program and the work screen, looking at each in the context of the other. Read the Program and Program Spaces listing carefully. Be sure to keep scrolling until you have seen all of the Program information. Click on the down arrow on the scroll bar to ensure that you have seen all of the text. You may want to draw each space so that it has approximately the required area, assemble the spaces into a finished floor plan, then adjust the areas if necessary. Note that the dimensions that are given as you draw a space are from wall centerline to wall centerline. It is especially important to take this into consideration when you are drawing corridors to coderequired widths, which are measured from one edge of the corridor to the other. Keep layers from the other floor turned on to help you see the limits of the building. Check for overlaps while you are drawing. Be sure to use the check tool on both floors.

Overview

Interior Layout Vignette Building Layout Vignette References Required view.

Visual control of required spaces.

Direct access to exterior.

Floor 1 This solution succeeds in meeting all of the program requirements. The main entrance is from the west, and the receptionist (R) has good visual control of the entrances to the lobby (L), the game room (GR), and the childrens room (CR).

The locker rooms (LR) have direct access to the multi-purpose room (MP), and the table/chair storage (TS) is near the multipurpose room (MP).

You are not required to show doors or wall openings in elevator walls.

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BUILDING LAYOUT VIGNETTE - Sample Passing Solution

Overview

Interior Layout Vignette Building Layout Vignette References Relationships meet program requirements. Straightforward egress system. Open to below is properly located above high ceiling space.

When elements overlap, you may have trouble selecting a particular element. If this happens, keep clicking (without moving the mouse) until the desired element highlights.

Warnings
Wall openings may be drawn only between circulation areas (including corridors). Circulation areas are indicated by a lighter hatched background. Be sure that the walls of adjacent circulation areas (including corridors) are opened by doors or wall openings.
Direct access requirements provided.

Remember that you cannot move elements from one floor to another.

Tools You Might Find Useful

Zoom to see the walls more clearly Full-screen cursor to help you line up the walls Sketch grid tool to help you align elements

Floor 2 On the second floor, the small meeting room (SM) is near the large meeting room (LM). The directors office (DO) and the assistant directors office (AO) are directly connected to the secretarial office (SO). The corridor system is straightforward

with exit stairs at each end on the second floor and exits to the exterior on the first floor. There are no dead-end corridors that exceed the 20-foot limit established in the code.

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Schematic Design
BUILDING LAYOUT VIGNETTE - Sample Failing Solution

Overview

Interior Layout Vignette Building Layout Vignette References

Building entrance from the wrong street.

No visual control of childrens room.

Floor 1 This solution has many problems that resulted in a failing score. The main entrance is from the east instead of from the west, as required. The receptionist (R) does not have adequate visual control over the entrance to the childrens room (CR).

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Schematic Design
BUILDING LAYOUT VIGNETTE - Sample Failing Solution

Overview

Interior Layout Vignette Building Layout Vignette References Small meeting room is smaller than required

Room has poor aspect ratio.

Floor 2 On the second floor, the director and assistant directors offices (DO and AO, respectively) are directly connected to the secretarial office (SO), but the aspect ratio of one of the rooms is unacceptable. Though less important, the small meeting room (SM) is smaller than the program allows.

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Schematic Design
REFERENCES
The following references are presented to assist candidates in preparation for the examination. This list represents texts that have content covered in this division of the examination. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible reference materials for the subject area. NCARB makes no guarantee that the various references are currently in print.

Overview

Interior Layout Vignette Building Layout Vignette References

The Architects Studio Companion: Technical Guidelines for Preliminary Design Edward Allen and Joseph Iano John Wiley & Sons, latest edition Architectural Graphic Standards Charles G. Ramsey and Harold R. Sleeper The American Institute of Architects John Wiley & Sons, latest edition Time-Saver Standards for Architectural Design Data Donald Watson, Michael Crosbie, and John Hancock Callender, Editors McGraw-Hill, latest edition

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