SITE PLANNING

& DESIGN

JANUARY 2016

WWW.EVOLVINGARCHITECT.COM

THERE ARE NO SECRETS

TO SUCCESS.
IT IS THE RESULT OF
PREPARATION, HARD
WORK, AND LEARNING
FROM FAILURE.
COLIN POWELL

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CONTENTS

1 // OVERVIEW
2 // RESOURCES
3 // VIGNETTE

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SECTION 1

OVERVIEW
A big picture look at what each A.R.E. Section
covers and what to expect.

SITE PLANNING
& DESIGN

MULTIPLE CHOICE
1 HR 30 MIN | 65 QUESTIONS
1. PRINCIPLES
(22-30 percent of scored items)
2. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(24-32 percent of scored items)
3. CODES & REGULATIONS
(18-26 percent of scored items)
4. MATERIALS & TECHNOLOGY
(16-20 percent of scored items)
5. PROJECT & PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
(4-8 percent of scored items)

VIGNETTES
2 HR | 2 VIGNETTES
1. SITE GRADING
Modify a sites topographical characteristics
responding to programmatic and regulatory
requirements.

This Exam Section is all about the way a

building is designed according to its relationship with the existing site.
Unlike Programming, Planning, & Practice
which is heavier on issues related to zoning, history, and other abstract issues, Site
Planning & Design is first and foremost
about the practicalities related to a given
site. Issues tested here lean towards tactile site construction methods, building
orientation, soil conditions, testing, etc.
That's not to say that theoretical applications aren't tested as well, just that the
emphasis here is about how to build on
a site. Other tests emphasize social and
governmental implications more heavily.

2. SITE DESIGN
Design a site, including building placement,
parking, and vehicular and pedestrian circulation, responding to programmatic, functional,
environmental, and setback requirements
utilizing general site planning principles.

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SECTION 2

RESOURCES
A curated list of books, pamphlets, and online
tools that will help you conquer the A.R.E.

NCARB
RESOURCES
USED BY NCARB TO DEVELOP THE A.R.E.

The Architects Handbook of Professional Practice

The American Institute of Architects
John Wiley & Sons
13th & 14th editions

Architectural Graphic Standards

The American Institute of Architects
John Wiley & Sons
Latest Edition

Cracking the Codes: An Architects Guide to Building Regulations

Barry D. Yatt
John Wiley & Sons
1998

Dictionary of Architecture and Construction

Cyril Harris
McGraw-Hill
Latest Edition

Landscape Architectural Graphic Standards

Leonard J. Hopper, Editor
John Wiley & Sons
2007

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NCARB
RESOURCES
USED BY NCARB TO DEVELOP THE A.R.E.

Mechanical & Electrical Equipment for Buildings

Walter T. Grondzik, Alison G. Kwok, Ben Stein,
and John S. Reynolds, Editors
John Wiley & Sons
Latest Edition

Site Engineering for Landscape Architects

Steven Strom, Kurt Nathan, and Jake Woland, Editors
John Wiley & Sons
Latest Edition

Site Planning, Third Edition

Kevin Lynch and Gary Hack
MIT Press
1984

Site Planning & Design Handbook

Thomas H. Russ
McGraw-Hill
Latest Edition

Sustainable Construction: Green Building Design and Delivery

Charles J. Kibert
John Wiley & Sons
2005

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PRIMARY
RESOURCES
WHAT YOU MUST GET THROUGH

A.R.E. 4.0 EXAM GUIDE FOR SPD

NCARB

BALLAST A.R.E. REVIEW MANUAL

PPI

STUDY GUIDE FOR SPD

KAPLAN

Q+A FOR SPD

KAPLAN

ARCHIFLASH FLASH CARDS

NALSA

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ILLUSTRATED

Francis D. K. Ching
Wiley
Latest Edition

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SECONDARY
RESOURCES
WHAT YOU COULD GET THROUGH

ARE VIDEO SERIES

BLACK SPECTACLES

JENNYS NOTES
ARENDURANCE

#ARE SKETCHES
LORA TEAGARDEN

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SECTION 3

VIGNETTE
Tips and tricks to help you practice for each A.R.E.
Drawing Vignette.

VIGNETTE
SITE GRADING
THINGS TO CONSIDER

Overview
This vignette exists in order to test your ability to place a basic
structure on a given site and to regrade soil in order to ensure
that site water and drainage will continue to flow properly without disrupting existing site features.
The key here is to understand the drawing conventions for
contours. You want to know the difference between creating a
berm and a swale, what each looks like and how to calculate the
maximum and minimum slopes of each.
The program will give you the overall existing site, complete
with contours. You need to place your given building at the best
location possible, indicate its elevation, and then shape the contours accordingly to provide adequate site drainage.
Basic Steps
1. Place the given building for scale and potential location
2. Check the given minimum and maximum slopes provided
3. Adjust your building as necessary and confirm elevation
4. Adjust Contours for proper drainage
5. Check that your solution has met all requirements
6. Check Again

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VIGNETTE
SITE GRADING
THINGS TO CONSIDER

TIPS & TRICKS

You have the opportunity to switch between the Site Grading
and Site Design Vignettes during the Exam. It may help you to
glance quickly at both site drawings before you begin, complete
the easier one to about 90%, and switch to the other. After
youve nearly finished the second, check both and determine
what still needs to be figured out. You dont want to get stuck on
one and not finish the other. If you fail either, you fail the entire
exam. This method may allow you to at least have a solution for
both that the computer can grade if you get hung up.
Dont Kill Trees. Period. Its an automatic fail and Mother Nature
would not be happy with you.
Contours dont cross, so dont let them. The only place this is
even remotely possible is for caves. There are no caves on your
exam so dont get any ideas about crossing contours - for real.
Dont alter anything beyond the property lines. Would you want
your neighbor randomly changing the landscape at your house?
No, I didnt think so.

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VIGNETTE
SITE DESIGN
THINGS TO CONSIDER

Overview
This vignette exists in order to test your ability to place various
structures and provide adequate circulation for pedestrians and
service needs throughout.
The key to remember here is that the program will give you a series of fairly regimented requirements that will begin to design
the solution for you.
Basic Steps
1. Read the program thoroughly
2. Use given scratch paper to write important relationships
3. Place the buildings and sketch preliminary parking
4. Draw the parking layout in detail
5. Check that you have met all program requirements
6. Check again

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VIGNETTE
SITE DESIGN
THINGS TO CONSIDER

TIPS & TRICKS

Practice using sketch tools with some pre-determined parking
layouts that you know will work for a few types of parking. Initially moving around a sketch rectangle is much easier than the
entire group of parking and youll want that extra time for more
important tasks.
Some trees can die, but be careful of how many. Use the check
tool often in order to see how many helpless trees youve taken
out. Kill too many trees and Mother Nature will give you an automatic fail.
Make sure that you have drive-through or continuous vehicular
circulation on your site. There can be absolutely no dead ends. If
you have to back up and turn around from anything other than
a parking space, you may want to check your layout.
Use the right kinds of trees for the right types of applications.
Deciduous trees provide only shade. Coniferous trees views and
wind.

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GO AND CONQUER
THE A.R.E.
YOU GOT THIS.