LARE LARE Stewardship and Design Principles 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The SITES rating system for sustainable landscape development evaluates projects in which of the following categories?
- Building energy efficiency and HVAC systems only
- Site selection, water, soil and vegetation, materials, human health, and construction (Correct answer)
- Transportation and parking management only
- Structural engineering and foundation design
Correct answer: Site selection, water, soil and vegetation, materials, human health, and construction
SITES (Sustainable SITES Initiative) assesses landscapes across categories including water, soil, vegetation, human health, and materials to measure ecological performance.
Question 2: Which planting design strategy most effectively supports urban heat island reduction?
- Maximizing impervious hardscape with light-colored paving only
- Planting large-canopy shade trees over paved surfaces and buildings to reduce surface temperatures (Correct answer)
- Installing reflective metal roofing on all structures
- Replacing all vegetation with gravel mulch
Correct answer: Planting large-canopy shade trees over paved surfaces and buildings to reduce surface temperatures
Large shade trees provide significant cooling through transpiration and shading of heat-absorbing surfaces, directly reducing urban heat island effects.
Question 3: When a landscape architect incorporates 'biophilic design' into an urban plaza, they are primarily aiming to:
- Maximize biodiversity by eliminating all hardscape
- Strengthen human connection to nature through natural patterns, materials, water, and living systems (Correct answer)
- Design exclusively with biologically certified materials
- Create wildlife habitat inaccessible to people
Correct answer: Strengthen human connection to nature through natural patterns, materials, water, and living systems
Biophilic design uses natural elements, patterns, and systems to satisfy humans' innate need to connect with nature, improving wellbeing and place quality.
Question 4: A 100-year floodplain designation on a site primarily means that:
- The site floods every 100 years on a fixed schedule
- The area has a 1% annual probability of flooding, requiring careful design to manage flood risk (Correct answer)
- Construction is prohibited within 100 feet of any water body
- The site will be underwater within 100 years due to sea level rise
Correct answer: The area has a 1% annual probability of flooding, requiring careful design to manage flood risk
A 100-year floodplain has a 1% annual chance of flooding; FEMA designation triggers regulatory requirements for design, grading, and construction.
Question 5: Which of the following best represents the landscape architecture principle of 'designing for resilience'?
- Using the least expensive construction materials available
- Creating landscapes that can absorb disturbances, adapt, and continue functioning under changing conditions (Correct answer)
- Designing with rigid geometric forms that resist modification
- Avoiding plant species that require any maintenance
Correct answer: Creating landscapes that can absorb disturbances, adapt, and continue functioning under changing conditions
Resilient design anticipates change and stress — from climate, use, or disturbance — by building in adaptability and redundancy at the landscape systems level.
Question 6: The design principle of 'scale' in landscape architecture refers to:
- The weight-bearing capacity of landscape structures
- The relationship between elements in the landscape and the human body or surrounding context (Correct answer)
- The size of the project budget relative to scope
- The proportion of native plants compared to exotic species
Correct answer: The relationship between elements in the landscape and the human body or surrounding context
Scale describes how landscape elements relate in size to the human figure and to each other, creating spaces that feel intimate, monumental, or appropriately proportioned.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of conducting a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) after a landscape project is completed?
- To finalize the contractor's payment application
- To assess how well the completed design meets user needs and project goals, informing future design decisions (Correct answer)
- To obtain the certificate of occupancy from the building department
- To document plant replacement warranties
Correct answer: To assess how well the completed design meets user needs and project goals, informing future design decisions
POEs gather evidence about real-world design performance and user experience, allowing designers to refine their approach and improve future projects.
LARE LARE Stewardship and Design Principles 5
The SITES rating system for sustainable landscape development evaluates projects in which of the following categories?