Exam Project-Planning-Design Topic 4 Question 51 Discussion
Actual exam question for NCARB's Project-Planning-Design exam
Question #: 51
Topic #: 4
Question #: 51
Topic #: 4
An architect has just received client approval of the Schematic Design documents for a three-story, outpatient medical clinic. The clinic is located within a mixed-use development governed by a City-approved Planned Development (PD) document. The medical clinic design utilizes standardized departmental layouts and includes outpatient clinics, as well as treatment spaces, administrative spaces and public/lobby spaces.
The site needs to accommodate four different vehicular traffic flows: patient traffic, staff traffic, service and delivery traffic, and emergency services traffic. In addition, a pedestrian plaza must connect to the mixed-use development sidewalks. The plaza must provide space for bicycle parking and will serve as the future bus stop.
The site design addresses several challenges related to building orientation. The southeast facade, with excellent visibility from the highway, is the location of all service equipment. The building entrance faces northwest, convenient to the parking but not visible from the highway.
The client believes future patient volumes will outgrow the clinic. The PD document allows for a planned Phase 2 development on the adjacent vacant site to the southwest. Phase 2 would include a second building (2 story, 80,000 BGSF) and/or a parking deck.
Other considerations for the project include:
* Protected tree requirements are defined in the PD document.
* Easy pedestrian access must be provided from Sycamore Boulevard.
* All required parking for the clinic must be accommodated on site.
* Programmed area includes 109,450 Departmental Gross Square Feet (DGSF) / 130,184 Building Gross Square Feet (BGSF).
* Exterior material percentages are dictated by the PD document and shall not exceed specific percentages for Primary and Secondary Finishes.
* All service equipment needs to be screened; see PD document for restrictions.
* Signage opportunities are important to the client.
* Acoustical privacy is a concern of the healthcare system.
The following resources are available for your reference:
* Drawings, including a perspective, plans, and exterior elevations
* Building Program, including client's departmental program and detailed program for Treatment 01 (Infusion)
* Exterior Material Cost Comparisons
* Planned Development Document
* IBC Excerpts, showing relevant code sections
* ADA Excerpts, showing relevant sections from the ADA Standards for Accessible Design The owner is considering fitting out part of the shell space on the third floor as a cafeteria with tables and chairs and a 1,000-square-foot kitchen. The architect notes that the aggregate occupant load is 325 for the spaces already planned for the third floor and the proposed kitchen.
What is the net area that can be allocated to the cafeteria before a third exit stair is needed from the third floor?
The site needs to accommodate four different vehicular traffic flows: patient traffic, staff traffic, service and delivery traffic, and emergency services traffic. In addition, a pedestrian plaza must connect to the mixed-use development sidewalks. The plaza must provide space for bicycle parking and will serve as the future bus stop.
The site design addresses several challenges related to building orientation. The southeast facade, with excellent visibility from the highway, is the location of all service equipment. The building entrance faces northwest, convenient to the parking but not visible from the highway.
The client believes future patient volumes will outgrow the clinic. The PD document allows for a planned Phase 2 development on the adjacent vacant site to the southwest. Phase 2 would include a second building (2 story, 80,000 BGSF) and/or a parking deck.
Other considerations for the project include:
* Protected tree requirements are defined in the PD document.
* Easy pedestrian access must be provided from Sycamore Boulevard.
* All required parking for the clinic must be accommodated on site.
* Programmed area includes 109,450 Departmental Gross Square Feet (DGSF) / 130,184 Building Gross Square Feet (BGSF).
* Exterior material percentages are dictated by the PD document and shall not exceed specific percentages for Primary and Secondary Finishes.
* All service equipment needs to be screened; see PD document for restrictions.
* Signage opportunities are important to the client.
* Acoustical privacy is a concern of the healthcare system.
The following resources are available for your reference:
* Drawings, including a perspective, plans, and exterior elevations
* Building Program, including client's departmental program and detailed program for Treatment 01 (Infusion)
* Exterior Material Cost Comparisons
* Planned Development Document
* IBC Excerpts, showing relevant code sections
* ADA Excerpts, showing relevant sections from the ADA Standards for Accessible Design The owner is considering fitting out part of the shell space on the third floor as a cafeteria with tables and chairs and a 1,000-square-foot kitchen. The architect notes that the aggregate occupant load is 325 for the spaces already planned for the third floor and the proposed kitchen.
What is the net area that can be allocated to the cafeteria before a third exit stair is needed from the third floor?
Suggested Answer: B Vote an answer
Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:
According to IBC egress requirements, the number of exits depends on occupant load and travel distance. For occupant loads over 300, additional exits (such as a third exit stair) may be required.
Given the current occupant load (325 including kitchen), the net area allowed for the cafeteria before requiring a third exit stair can be calculated based on occupant load factors for dining areas (typically about
15 sq ft per occupant).
Multiplying occupant load capacity by occupant load factor yields the net area.
The value 2,625 square feet (Answer B) corresponds to the maximum area before exceeding the occupant load threshold requiring a third exit stair.
References:
IBC Chapter 10 - Means of Egress
ARE 5.0 PPD - Codes and Regulations
According to IBC egress requirements, the number of exits depends on occupant load and travel distance. For occupant loads over 300, additional exits (such as a third exit stair) may be required.
Given the current occupant load (325 including kitchen), the net area allowed for the cafeteria before requiring a third exit stair can be calculated based on occupant load factors for dining areas (typically about
15 sq ft per occupant).
Multiplying occupant load capacity by occupant load factor yields the net area.
The value 2,625 square feet (Answer B) corresponds to the maximum area before exceeding the occupant load threshold requiring a third exit stair.
References:
IBC Chapter 10 - Means of Egress
ARE 5.0 PPD - Codes and Regulations
by Thomas at Jun 23, 2026, 07:00 PM
0
0
0
10
Comments
Upvoting a comment with a selected answer will also increase the vote count towards that answer by one. So if you see a comment that you already agree with, you can upvote it instead of posting a new comment.
Report Comment
Commenting
You can sign-up / login (it's free).