Building Design and Programming
Programming and building design questions test your ability to convert needs into space, adjacency, and code-compliant layouts. The exam favors quantitative checks and functional relationships over aesthetics.
Core rules
- Net assignable area excludes walls, shafts, and circulation; gross includes everything. Efficiency = net/gross; office projects often run 70-80%.
- Adjacency matrices and bubble diagrams establish functional relationships; blocking and stacking test multi-story fit.
- Circulation typically consumes 20-30% of gross area; corridor width and egress travel matter.
- Universal design requires clear floor space, turning radius, and reach ranges.
Worked example
A 12,000 sf gross floor plate targets 75% efficiency. Net = 9,000 sf. If the program needs 40 offices at 120 sf net = 4,800 sf, 6 conference rooms at 300 sf = 1,800 sf, and 2,400 sf open workstations, total net = 9,000 sf. The program exactly fits, but wall thickness and shafts reduce net; the designer must verify gross includes those. If efficiency drops to 70%, net = 8,400 sf and the program is over by 600 sf.
Traps
Using net area as gross; forgetting mechanical and electrical shafts; ignoring egress travel distance; treating corridor area as net assignable.