CMA Architectural Design & Planning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In architectural programming, what does a 'design charrette' primarily accomplish?
- Finalizes construction documents
- Intensively engages stakeholders in collaborative design problem-solving (Correct answer)
- Conducts structural load calculations
- Prepares permit application packages
Correct answer: Intensively engages stakeholders in collaborative design problem-solving
A design charrette is an intensive, time-limited collaborative workshop that brings together stakeholders to address design challenges and build consensus.
Question 2: Which zoning concept allows mixed-use development by permitting multiple use types within a single zone district?
- Euclidean zoning
- Form-based code (Correct answer)
- Overlay zoning
- Cumulative zoning
Correct answer: Form-based code
Form-based codes regulate the physical form of buildings and public spaces rather than separating land uses, naturally enabling mixed-use development.
Question 3: The 'defensible space' theory, developed by Oscar Newman, focuses primarily on which design aspect?
- Fire egress route optimization
- Reducing crime through territorial design and natural surveillance (Correct answer)
- Structural redundancy in tall buildings
- Acoustic separation between dwelling units
Correct answer: Reducing crime through territorial design and natural surveillance
Newman's defensible space theory posits that environmental design can deter crime by fostering residents' sense of ownership and enabling natural surveillance.
Question 4: When a site has a 2% grade, how much elevation change occurs over a 150-foot horizontal distance?
- 1.5 feet
- 3 feet (Correct answer)
- 7.5 feet
- 15 feet
Correct answer: 3 feet
A 2% grade means 2 feet of rise per 100 feet of run, so over 150 feet the elevation change is 3 feet.
Question 5: In passive solar design, a 'Trombe wall' functions primarily as a:
- Thermal mass that absorbs daytime solar heat and radiates it indoors at night (Correct answer)
- Reflective surface that directs sunlight into north-facing rooms
- Ventilation stack that exhausts hot air from the building
- Insulated barrier that blocks summer solar gain
Correct answer: Thermal mass that absorbs daytime solar heat and radiates it indoors at night
A Trombe wall is a south-facing masonry wall that stores solar heat during the day and slowly releases it into the building during nighttime hours.
Question 6: Which planning principle underpins the concept of 'complete streets'?
- Maximizing vehicle throughput on arterial roads
- Designing streets to safely accommodate all users including pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders (Correct answer)
- Eliminating on-street parking to widen travel lanes
- Prioritizing emergency vehicle access above all other uses
Correct answer: Designing streets to safely accommodate all users including pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders
Complete streets are designed to be safe and accessible for everyone regardless of age, ability, or mode of transportation.
Question 7: A 'section drawing' in architectural documentation primarily communicates which information?
- Horizontal layout of rooms on a single floor
- Vertical relationships, floor-to-floor heights, and interior spatial qualities cut through a building (Correct answer)
- Site boundaries and easement locations
- Exterior material and color specifications
Correct answer: Vertical relationships, floor-to-floor heights, and interior spatial qualities cut through a building
A section drawing cuts vertically through a building to reveal interior heights, structural systems, and the spatial relationships between stacked floors.
CMA Architectural Design & Planning 2
In architectural programming, what does a 'design charrette' primarily accomplish?