ARE 5.0 key terms

The level of skill and care that a reasonably competent architect would exercise under similar circumstances; it is the legal benchmark for negligence claims against a design professional.

Insurance that covers an architect's legal defense and damages from claims of professional negligence, errors, or omissions in design services. It typically excludes faulty workmanship and is commonly written on a claims-made basis.

The written description of what the architect will and will not do on a project. It defines deliverables, phases, and responsibilities, and it anchors the fee and the contract obligations.

Work beyond the basic services listed in the owner-architect agreement, such as extra design revisions or extended construction observation. These services are billed separately, often hourly or as a stipulated amount.

A written offer stating the architect's compensation, assumptions, and scope for a project. It may use hourly rates, a fixed fee, a percentage of construction cost, or a combination.

Indirect business costs not chargeable to a single project, such as rent, insurance, marketing, and administrative staff. Overhead must be recovered through fees for a firm to be profitable.

A document that breaks a project into tasks, assigns responsibility, and sets durations and deadlines. It links the design process to staff, budget, and milestones.

A scheduling technique that identifies the longest sequence of dependent tasks, which determines the shortest possible project duration. Any delay on the critical path delays completion of the whole project.

A documented set of reviews, checkpoints, and standards used to catch errors and omissions before documents are issued. It assigns who reviews what and when.

The owner's total funds allocated to a project, including construction, fees, furniture, and contingency. The architect must manage the design so that it stays within this budget.

A reserve of money or time set aside for unforeseen conditions or changes. Design and construction contingencies shrink as a project advances and its risks are resolved.

The organized statement of an owner's needs, including spaces, sizes, relationships, and performance requirements, that guides design. It is developed through interviews, observation, and analysis of the project.

A grid that rates how closely each pair of spaces should be located to one another. It helps translate functional relationships into a zoning or floor-plan arrangement.

The ratio of a building's total floor area to the area of its lot. Zoning codes use it to control density and building bulk on a site.

The minimum distance a building must be held back from a lot line, street, or other feature, as required by zoning. Setbacks help control light, air, and street presence.

The study of a site's climate, topography, drainage, vegetation, access, views, and surrounding context to inform design decisions and identify constraints and opportunities.

An early analysis of whether a proposed project can meet the owner's program, budget, schedule, and site constraints. It may compare options before the owner commits to design.

The building-code category assigned to a structure based on how it is used, such as business, assembly, or residential. It sets requirements for egress, fire protection, and construction type.

The calculated number of people a space or building is designed to hold, based on floor-area factors or fixed seating. It drives egress width, the number of exits, and plumbing fixture counts.

The first design phase, in which the architect tests concepts, massing, and space planning at a broad scale and confirms the program and budget direction with the owner.

The three-dimensional form and bulk of a building, considered before detailed design. Massing responds to program, site, zoning, solar orientation, and surrounding context.

The continuous path people use to leave a building safely, including exit access, exits, and exit discharge. Codes set requirements for width, travel distance, and the number of exits.

A drawing that shows exits, egress paths, fire ratings, and related safety features for code review. It demonstrates how occupants escape and how fire and smoke are contained.

Design strategies that use building form, envelope, and natural forces, such as sun, wind, and shading, to reduce energy loads before mechanical systems are added.

Designing spaces and products so they can be used by as many people as possible, regardless of age or ability, without adaptation. It goes beyond minimum accessibility code requirements.

The phase after schematic design in which the design is refined and major systems, including structure, mechanical, and materials, are selected and coordinated, and the drawings and outline specifications are advanced.

The final drawings and specifications that describe the project in enough detail to obtain permits, bid, and build. They form part of the contract documents.

A written description of materials, products, installation methods, and quality standards for a project. It complements the drawings, which show quantity and location.

Building information modeling: a digital three-dimensional model of a building enriched with data about its components. It supports coordination, clash detection, quantity takeoffs, and documentation.

The process of checking a coordinated building model for places where systems or components physically conflict, such as a duct passing through a beam. Conflicts are resolved before construction begins.

A written clarification or revision to bidding or contract documents issued before bids or proposals are due. It becomes part of the contract documents.

The process of soliciting priced proposals from contractors based on completed construction documents. The owner and architect compare bids for scope, price, and qualifications before awarding a contract.

A product data sheet, shop drawing, or sample sent by the contractor for the architect's review to confirm that materials and equipment meet the design intent and specifications.

A request for information: a formal written question from the contractor asking the architect to clarify or interpret the contract documents during construction. Responses are logged and distributed to the project team.

A written modification to the construction contract that changes scope, price, or time, signed by the owner and contractor. The architect typically prepares and evaluates it.

The contractor's periodic request for payment based on work completed. The architect reviews it, often after a site visit, and certifies the amount due to the owner.

The stage at which the work is sufficiently complete for the owner to use the building for its intended purpose, even though punch-list items remain. It starts warranty periods and shifts risk.

A list of incomplete or defective work identified during a final walkthrough. The contractor is expected to correct these items before final completion and final payment.

A structured review, conducted after a building has been occupied, of how well it performs against the program and the occupants' needs. Findings can inform future projects.

The architect's periodic visits to the construction site to check general progress and conformance with the contract documents. It is not the same as continuous supervision or inspection.