WARNING: If there are conflicts between a stated word and the number/ amount/ figure described, the stated

/ spelled word
shall prevail. Should there be conflicts between two (2.0) stated quantities, the higher figure shall prevail.

IMPORTANT NOTE: For this reformat of the examination in this subject, the Examinee shall be allowed to make full use (open
books) ONLY of Rule VII and Rule VIII of the 2004 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Presidential Decree
(P.D.) No. 1096, otherwise known as the 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP) i.e. ONLY as downloaded and
reproduced from the PRBoA website at www.architectureboard.ph. The use of other IRR versions are specifically disallowed
during this examination.

A. PROJECT NO. 1 TITLE AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

A Proposed Medium-Rise APARTMENT BUILDING Project i.e. a development with Basement component and
on a Project Site having an 8.0% slope.

B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

A Development company has decided that its newly-acquired property with a Total Lot Area (the “TLA”) of six
thousand square meter (6,000.0 Sq.M.) shall be developed to host a medium-rise apartment building (the “Project”).
The property is zoned as a high density housing lot (Maximum R-3), located somewhere in the better parts of Pasig City
(the “Project Site”). Only two (2.0) types of rentable/leasable apartment units shall be provided, as follows:

1) Studio-Type apartment units with a twenty two square meter (22.0 Sq.M.) Gross Floor Area (GFA); and
2) One (1.0)-Bedroom (BR) apartment units with a GFA of fifty (50.0) Sq.M.

For greater market acceptance, the minimum parking requirements for the Project under the 2004 Revised Implementing
Rules and Regulations (R-IRR) of P.D. No. 1096, otherwise known as the 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines
(NBCP), should be exceeded.

C. PROJECT SITE FEATURES:

The Project Site is rectangular in shape and is an interior lot with a fifty (50.0) m. width. As there is no other
means of direct access to the Project Site, a two (2) lane right-of-way (ROW) still has to be negotiated with the owner of
the adjoining vacant lot that faces north, where a twenty meter (20.0m) wide street i.e. a road right-of-way (RROW) is
located. The said RROW has two point four (2.4) m wide sidewalks on each side. The Project Site uniformly slopes at
eight percent (8.0%) towards the vacant lot in front, which is only 80.0 m deep but also uniformly 8.0% slopes toward the
RROW. The surface of the sidewalk adjoining the vacant front lot shall be considered as elevation 0.0m. To the left of the
Project Site is a private high school building. To its right is a residential condominium building. To the rear of the Project
Site are proposed three (3.0)-storey single-detached residences.

D. DESIGN OBJECTIVES:
a. To design a medium-rise apartment building, marketable and attractive to middle income renters/lessees;
b. To design the apartment building in a way that can maximize rentals and leases for the Developer; the ratio of
saleable versus non-saleable spaces shall be 70:30; if attainable, the overall rentable/leasable areas for the
building could be at approximately eighty five percent (80.0)% of the TGFA or better, which must include the
parking spaces at the basement; and
c. To design a building that shall serve as a landmark in the Project area, with sustainable plan/design features
and deliverable at the least cost.

QUESTIONS
1. Under the NBCP and based on the maximum GFA (in square meters), what shall be the maximum Total Gross
Floor Area (TGFA) for the Project?
a. 77, 760
b. 56, 160
c. 82, 080
d. 58, 320
2. For the Project Site (zoned as Maximum R-3 under the NBCP), how much is the maximum allowable ISA (in
square meters)?
a. 1,800
b. 1,200
c. 2,400
d. 3,000
3. For the Project Site (zoned as Maximum R-3 under the NBCP), how much is the minimum USA (in square
meters)?
 a. 400
b. 500
c. 700
d. 600
4. For the Project Site (zoned as Maximum R-3 under the NBCP), how much is the combined total for the
maximum allowable ISA plus the minimum USA (in square meters)?
a. 2,400
b. 1,800
c. 2,700
d. 2,100
5. Under the NBCP, which is part of the GFA for the Project?
a. Covered parking
b. ACCU balcony
c. Roof deck, if introduced
d. Lobby
6. If the client decided that the Apartment is reduced to 4-Storeys, how many elevators will be used?
a. 1
b. 4
c. 2
d. 0
7. What will be the minimum # of Sprinkler in each apartment unit?
a. 1
b. 3
c. 2
d. 0
8. Where on the property is the best site to plant large trees that will serve as “Habagat” wind buffers for the Projects
lower floors?
a. West, SouthWest (SW) and South perimeters
b. East, SouthEast (SE) and South perimeters
c. North, NorthEast (NE) and East perimeters
d. West, NorthWest (NW) and North perimeters
9. Given the street position, what are the main orientations of the road right-of-way (RROW) view corridor?
a. North and South
b. NorthEast (NE) and NorthWest (NW)
c. SouthEast (SE) and SouthWest (SW)
d. East and West
10. Given the Project Site orientation, where on the property is the best site to plant large shade trees for the lower
floors?
a. Right and left side yards
b. SouthEast (SE) corner of the property
c. front and rear yards
d. (NE) corner of the property
11. Under the NBCP, which of the following does NOT form part of the footprint of the Project?
a. Exterior walls of the building at ground floor
b. Tower ground floor
c. ground floor
d. Basement level
12. Under the NBCP, which of the following still do NOT form part of the footprint of the Project?
a. Elevator lobby and service stairs at ground floor
b. Garden at ground floor
c. Main lobby and reception area at ground floor
d. Utility rooms at ground floor
13. Which of the following should NOT be provided for the Project?
a. Executive lounge
b. Clubhouse or social area
c. Elevator lobby and service stairs
d. Utility rooms
14. Which of the following should NOT be provided at the basement component of the Project?
a. Elevator lobby and service stairs
b. Enclosures for electronic equipment
c. Solid waste storage
d. Covered parking slots, driveways, ramps,etc.
15. For the Intended Fire Escape/Exit, Which is not deemed necessary?
 a. Alcove
b. Smoke Trap/Stop
c. Fire Reserve
d. Pressurization System
16. Based on RA 9514, what stair riser height is applicable to the project?
a. Minimum of 100mm
b. Maximum of 150mm
c. Minimum of 100mm, maximum of 150mm
d. Minimum of 100mm, maximum of 180mm
17. In term of architectural exterior finishing, which of the following material set can best convey that the Project is a
place for multi-storey budget residences?
a. Substantial use of masonry and some glass
b. Much glass, some metal and limited masonry
c. Some glass, plastics and engineered stone
d. Much glass, much metal and some hard wood
18. In term of architectural exterior finishing and energy conservation, which of the following material set is NOT a
good material and finish combination for the southern face of the Project?
a. Transparent glass and dark color-painted masonry
b. Heavily tinted glass and medium color-painted masonry
c. Translucent glass and light color-painted masonry
d. Transparent glass and light-colored metal panels
19. Which architectural image can BEST suit the Project?
a. Fun, Frivolous and carefree
b. Inviting relaxed and laid back.
c. Attractive but aloof and business like
d. Warm, safe and comfortable.
20. Which architectural style may BEST suit the Project to help cut cost?
a. Stylized Neo-Classical or Classical
b. Modern with clean but textured lines
c. Tropical American Country
d. Mediterranean
21. Which architectural lines need to emphasized for this project?
a. Vertical
b. Horizontal
c. Diagonal
d. Curvilinear
22. To fit 3 vehicles side by side within the main driveway located between 2 columns, which clear measurement (in
meters) should NOT be used as the distance between column faces?
a. 6.6
b. 7.8
c. 8.2
d. 8.6
23. To attain overall design economy, where should the perimeter beam centrelines for typical floors be aligned or
positioned, in relation to the building’s perimeter column?
a. positioned near the column interior face
b. positioned near the column exterior face
c. aligned with the column centerlines
d. positioned outside the column interior face
24. Under Appendix A of the IRR of B.P. No. 344, what should be the minimum clear dimensions (in meters by
meters) of the elevator shaft?
a. 1.5 x 1.8
b. 2.1 x 2.4
c. 1.2 x 1.5
d. 1.8 x 2.1
25. Which of the following is NOT anymore considered an appropriate lighting element for the lease units?
a. LED lighting
b. CFL
c. halogen lamps
d. Fluorescent lighting