California Supplemental Exam

Exam Contents (you must know)

SECTION 1: CONTRACT DEVELOPMENT / PROJECT PLANNING 25% 

• CA Architect Practice Act 

  • • Standard of care, responsible control, practice requirements, limit of liability.

• Architect's Services

  • • Architectural, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical (basic service).

    • Civil, Landscape, Telecom, Programming, FF&E, Post construction evaluation (additional service).

• AIA Contracts

  • • A101, A201, B101, C401

    • Owner, Architect, Contractor roles and responsibilities 

• Project Team 

  • • Principal, Project Manager, Job Captain, Drafter, Spec Writer, Interior Designer. 

• Project Stages

  • • Schematic Design-Design Development-Construction Document-Bidding and Negotiation-Construction Administration 

SECTION 2: SCHEMATIC DESIGN / DISCRETIONARY APPROVALS 30% 

• Programming and Design solutions 

  • • mostly likely in case study questions 

• Existing Conditions

  • • Topography (above ground), Hydrological (water related), Geological (below ground), Climatic conditions (temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind)

• CA CEQA

  • • Notice of Exemption, Negative Declaration/Mitigated Negative Declaration, Environmental Impact Report

    • Public review period 

• CA Coastal Act

  • • Maximize public access to and along the coast 

    • CA Costal Commission, Local Costal Program, Bay Conservation and Development Commission 

• CA Building Standard Act

  • • CCR Title 24

• CA Green Building Code

  • • Understand Mandatory Measures and Voluntary Measures 

    • Tested extensively

• CA Energy Code

  • • Understand Mandatory Requirements

    • Prescription vs Performance Approach 

• CA Accessibility Regulations

  • • Building Code Ch 11A and 11B

    • Local building department only review CA accessibility compliance, not ADA

• Zoning Regulations

  • • General Plan vs Master Plan & Specific Plan

    • Variance vs Conditional Use Permit 

• Special Building Types

  • • Essential Service Buildings: ESB Seismic Safety Act, enforced by local building department or DSA

    • Hospitals: Hospital Seismic Safety Act, enforced by HCAI

    • Schools: Field Act, enforced by DSA

SECTION 3: DESIGN DEVELOPMENT 15%

• Life Cycle Cost

  • • Initial cost, installation cost, operation cost, maintenance cost, replacement cost 

• Value Engineering 

  • • Consider performance, function, aesthetic, factors

• Special Conditions

  • • Seismic, Fire, Wind, Floor, Hazardous Materials 

SECTION 4: CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS / PERMITTING 10%

• Contract Documents

  • • Construction Drawings + Project Manual (Specifications, General and Supplemental Conditions) 

• Bidding 

  • • Bid RFI, Bid addendum

    • Allowance, Substitution, Alternate

• Local Agencies 

  • • Planning Department: entitlement, CEQA, zoning regulations

    • Building Department: safety, title 24 compliance

    • Fire Department: fire suppression, fire alarm, egress, FDC, fire truck turnaround

SECTION 5: PROJECT BIDDING AND CONSTRUCTION 20%

• Changes during Construction

  • • Architect Supplemental Instruction, Change Order, Construction Change Directive

• Communication 

  • • Owner-Contractor communicate via Architect, Sub Contractor-Architect communicate via Contractor

    • Architect is the default Initial Decision Maker 

• Payments

  • • Architects sign application for payment, authority to approve amount he/she believes to be reasonable

• Project Close Out

  • • Contractor prepare punch list, Architect inspect and issue certification of completion, Owner send payment

• Lien Laws

  • • Design Professional Lien, Mechanics Lien, Stop Notice 

• Statue of Limitation 

  • • 4 years (visible), 10 years (hidden)