Mixed Deck — All Architecture and Design Topics Flashcards
100 cards from real Architecture and Design practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 20 Mixed Deck — All Architecture and Design Topics flashcards as text
In urban design, 'figure-ground' diagrams show:
Answer: The relationship between built mass (figure) and open space (ground)
Figure-ground maps illustrate the relationship between building footprints (solid) and open space/streets (void), revealing urban fabric patterns.
A flat plate structural system in a concrete building is characterized by:
Answer: A slab supported directly by columns with no beams or drop panels
A flat plate is a two-way reinforced concrete slab of uniform thickness supported directly by columns with no beams or capitals.
Which building system uses mechanical fans to maintain higher air pressure inside exit stairwells than in adjacent spaces during a fire, preventing smoke infiltration?
Answer: Stairwell pressurization system
Stairwell pressurization systems fan air into stairwells to maintain positive pressure relative to adjacent smoke-filled areas, keeping evacuation routes clear.
The Prairie Style of architecture was developed primarily in which U.S. region?
Answer: The Midwest
Frank Lloyd Wright developed the Prairie Style in the Chicago area, reflecting the flat Midwestern landscape.
What does 'net-zero energy building' mean?
Answer: A building that generates as much energy as it consumes on an annual basis
A net-zero energy building produces as much energy from on-site renewable sources (typically solar) as it consumes over the course of a year.
The term 'curtain wall' in construction refers to:
Answer: A non-load-bearing cladding system attached to the structure
A curtain wall is a non-structural cladding system, typically glass and aluminum, that hangs on the building's structural frame.
What is 'occupancy classification' in building codes?
Answer: A category that defines the intended use of a building and determines applicable code requirements
Occupancy classification (e.g., A for Assembly, B for Business, R for Residential) defines a building's use and triggers specific fire safety, egress, and structural requirements.
Which LEED credit category rewards strategies that minimize site disturbance and protect natural features?
Answer: Sustainable Sites
The Sustainable Sites category in LEED rewards protection of undeveloped land, restoration of habitats, reduction of heat island effect, and stormwater management.
Which ASHRAE standard establishes minimum ventilation rates and indoor air quality requirements for commercial and institutional buildings?
Answer: ASHRAE 62.1
ASHRAE 62.1 specifies minimum outdoor air ventilation rates and IAQ procedures to maintain acceptable indoor air quality in commercial buildings.
What does 'STC rating' measure in building materials?
Answer: Sound Transmission Class
Sound Transmission Class (STC) rates a partition's ability to reduce airborne sound transmission between spaces.
What is the purpose of weep holes in masonry cavity walls?
Answer: Drainage of water from the cavity
Weep holes allow water that penetrates the outer wythe or accumulates in the cavity to drain out at the base of the wall.
What does 'dead load' refer to in structural design?
Answer: The permanent weight of the building's own structure and fixed components
Dead loads are permanent, static loads from the building's own weight including structure, finishes, and fixed mechanical equipment.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires a maximum slope of _____ for an accessible ramp.
Answer: 1:12 (8.33%)
ADA Standards require accessible ramps to have a maximum slope of 1:12 (one inch of rise for every 12 inches of horizontal run), equivalent to 8.33%.
What does 'ASHRAE 90.1' govern?
Answer: Energy efficiency standards for commercial buildings (except low-rise residential)
ASHRAE Standard 90.1 establishes minimum energy efficiency requirements for commercial buildings and is widely referenced by energy codes including IECC.
The transfer of loads in an arch primarily occurs through:
Answer: Axial compression
An arch converts vertical loads into compression forces that travel along its curve to the supports (abutments).
What is the primary purpose of a 'fire sprinkler system' in a building?
Answer: To control fire growth and suppress fire to allow safe occupant egress
Sprinkler systems are designed to control fire growth and limit heat release, buying time for occupant evacuation — not necessarily to extinguish fires completely.
In site analysis, 'solar access' refers to:
Answer: The right to receive unobstructed sunlight on a property for solar energy purposes
Solar access rights protect a property owner's ability to receive sunlight, especially important for solar energy systems that could be shaded by neighboring buildings.
Which architectural order is characterized by a simple, unadorned capital?
Answer: Doric
The Doric order features a plain, cushion-like capital with no ornamentation.
What is the primary purpose of a building's electrical grounding system?
Answer: To provide a safe low-resistance path for fault currents and prevent shock hazards
Electrical grounding provides a path for fault currents to return safely to earth, causing overcurrent devices to trip and preventing dangerous voltage buildup.
Which type of ventilation system both supplies fresh air and exhausts stale air in equal quantities to maintain indoor air quality without creating pressure imbalances?
Answer: Balanced ventilation
Balanced ventilation systems manage both supply and exhaust airflows equally, preventing pressure imbalances and ensuring consistent fresh air delivery.