LARE Construction Documentation Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A landscape architect is reviewing a submittal from a contractor for a custom-designed steel planter. The submittal includes detailed fabrication drawings, material specifications, and finish samples. What is the primary purpose of the landscape architect's review of these shop drawings?
- To verify the contractor's means and methods of construction.
- To ensure the proposed planter conforms to the design intent shown in the contract documents. (Correct answer)
- To approve the contractor's choice of material suppliers and fabricators.
- To check for dimensional accuracy for the purpose of quantity take-offs and payment.
Correct answer: To ensure the proposed planter conforms to the design intent shown in the contract documents.
The landscape architect's primary responsibility when reviewing shop drawings is to confirm that the contractor's interpretation of the design, as detailed in their drawings, aligns with the original design intent, performance requirements, and aesthetics specified in the construction documents. The review is not for approving means and methods, which are the contractor's responsibility, nor for selecting suppliers or verifying quantities for payment.
Question 2: During construction of a plaza, the contractor notes a discrepancy. The drawings show a dimension of 10 feet for a seat wall, but the written specifications call for a 12-foot wall. If the contract documents do not contain a specific 'order of precedence' clause, what is the generally accepted principle according to standard AIA documents?
- The drawings govern over the specifications because they are a graphical representation.
- The contractor should build to the more expensive of the two options.
- The documents are complementary, and the discrepancy should be brought to the landscape architect for clarification. (Correct answer)
- The specifications govern over the drawings because they are in written form.
Correct answer: The documents are complementary, and the discrepancy should be brought to the landscape architect for clarification.
Standard AIA General Conditions, such as A201, state that the contract documents are complementary, and what is required by one is as binding as if required by all. There is no automatic hierarchy where one document type governs the other. In the event of a conflict, the contractor must seek clarification from the architect/landscape architect, typically via a Request for Information (RFI), rather than making an assumption.
Question 3: A landscape architect wants to specify a particular type of permeable paver for a driveway but also wants to allow for competitive bidding. The specification calls for a paver that meets a minimum infiltration rate, a specific compressive strength, and a certain percentage of recycled content, allowing any manufacturer who meets these criteria to be considered. What type of specification is this?
- Proprietary
- Prescriptive
- Performance (Correct answer)
- Reference Standard
Correct answer: Performance
This is a performance specification because it defines the required results and the criteria by which a product's performance will be verified (e.g., infiltration rate, compressive strength). It does not prescribe a specific manufacturer (proprietary) or a detailed recipe of how the product must be made (prescriptive).
Question 4: At the conclusion of a project, the contractor provides the landscape architect with a full set of construction drawings marked up with red ink to show all on-site changes, modifications, and final locations of utilities. The landscape architect then incorporates these markups into a clean, final set of electronic drawings. What is this final set of drawings prepared by the landscape architect properly called?
- Shop Drawings
- As-Built Drawings
- Construction Drawings
- Record Drawings (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Record Drawings
Record Drawings are the final drawings prepared by the design professional. They incorporate the contractor's on-site changes (which are documented on what are called 'as-built drawings' or markups) into a clean set of official documents reflecting the completed project. As-built drawings are the contractor's markups, not the final version from the architect.
Question 5: Which of the following documents is prepared by the landscape architect and signed by the owner, contractor, and landscape architect to formally authorize a modification to the contract sum, contract time, or scope of work after the construction contract has been executed?
- Addendum
- Change Order (Correct answer)
- Request for Information (RFI)
- Architect's Supplemental Instruction (ASI)
Correct answer: Change Order
A Change Order is a formal amendment to the construction contract used to document changes affecting the contract sum, time, or scope. It requires agreement and signatures from the owner, contractor, and architect/landscape architect to be valid. An addendum is issued before the contract is signed, an RFI is a question, and an ASI is a minor change not affecting cost or time.
Question 6: A landscape architect's specifications for soil require the contractor to submit a report from an independent testing laboratory verifying the composition, pH, and organic content of the proposed topsoil mix before it is delivered to the site. This report is part of which formal process?
- Project Closeout
- Bidding and Negotiation
- Submittal Process (Correct answer)
- Value Engineering
Correct answer: Submittal Process
The submittal process is the formal procedure during construction administration where the contractor provides information, samples, product data, and reports to the design team for review to ensure that the proposed materials and equipment comply with the contract documents before they are purchased or installed. This soil report is a classic example of a product data submittal.
LARE Construction Documentation Questions and Answers
A landscape architect is reviewing a submittal from a contractor for a custom-designed steel planter.
The submittal includes detailed fabrication drawings, material specifications, and finish samples.
What is the primary purpose of the landscape architect's review of these shop drawings?