Preconstruction
Activities
Activities
The architect is preparing bidding documents. Which of the following should not be included in a typical bidding package?
a. Drawings and specifications
b. Invitation to bid and instructions to bidders
c. Owner’s confidential budget breakdown by trade
d. Bid form and conditions of the contract
c. Owner’s confidential budget breakdown by trade
Who is responsible for construction means, methods, techniques, sequences, and procedures?
a.) Owner
b. ) Architect
c. ) Structural Engineer
d. ) Contractor
d. ) Contractor
A contractor submits a Construction Change Directive (CCD) request due to owner-initiated scope changes. What distinguishes a CCD from a Change Order?
a.) CCDs are issued only after project closeout
b. ) CCDs do not establish final cost or time adjustments immediately
c.) CCDs eliminate the need for owner approval
d. ) CCDs are initiated by subcontractors
b. ) CCDs do not establish final cost or time adjustments immediately
What is the primary purpose of a punch list?
a.) To document change orders
b.) To record deficiencies for correction before final completion
c.) To approve final payment
d.) To certify code compliance
b.) To record deficiencies for correction before final completion
In the closeout process, what does “substantial completion” typically signify?
a) Final payment to contractor
b) Completion of all work, including punch list items
c) That the building is sufficiently complete for occupancy
d) That maintenance period begins and warranty is active
c) That the building is sufficiently complete for occupancy
Under which project delivery method does the architect have no contractual relationship withthe contractor?
A. Design–Build
B. Integrated Project Delivery
C. Construction Manager as Constructor
D. Design-Bid-Build
D. Design-Bid-Build
Which contract modification is used to direct a change in the work when the cost or time impact has not yet been agreed upon?
a.) Change Order
b.) Addendum
c.) Construction Change Directive (CCD)
d.) Supplemental Instruction
c.) Construction Change Directive (CCD)
If the architect discovers nonconforming work during a site visit, what is the MOST appropriate action?
a. Direct the contractor on how to fix the work
b. Reject the work and notify the owner and contractor
c. Revise the drawings immediately
d. Approve the work to maintain schedule
b. Reject the work and notify the owner and contractor
Which document is typically required by the authority having jurisdiction before a building can be legally occupied?
a) Final inspection report
b) Certificate of Substantial Completion
c) Certificate of Occupancy
d) Record drawings
c) Certificate of Occupancy
The contract includes a retainage clause. What is retainage intended for?
a.) A performance bonus to the contractor upon completion
b.) An amount withheld from progress payments to ensure completion of work and correction of defects before final payment
c.) Architect’s profit share for overseeing construction
d.) Payment for extra administrative fees
b.) An amount withheld from progress payments to ensure completion of work and correction of defects before final payment
If an owner requests early procurement of long-lead materials before completion of construction documents, what is the architect’s primary concern?
a. Contractor profit margins
b. Storage and insurance responsibility for materials
c. Reducing the number of RFIs
d. Eliminating the need for bidding
b. Storage and insurance responsibility for materials
Which of the following best limits the architect’s liability during construction observation?
a.) Continuous on-site supervision
b.) Clearly documenting observations without directing means and methods
c.) Guaranteeing contractor workmanship
d.) Performing field tests on materials
b.) Clearly documenting observations without directing means and methods
Which AIA document is used by the contractor to apply for payment for work completed to date?
a.) AIA G701
b.) AIA G702/G703
c.) AIA G710
d.) AIA G704
b.) AIA G702/G703
The contractor submits a final Application for Payment and a punch list remains. What is your recommendation as architect?
a.) Approve final payment immediately — punch list items are not important
b.) Withhold final payment until punch list items are completed and substantial completion is properly certified
c.) Approve part of payment and deny the rest permanently
d.) Require a new bid for punch list items
b.) Withhold final payment until punch list items are completed and substantial completion is properly certified
During construction observation you notice a material substitution approved earlier is now exhibiting deficiencies (e.g., cracking, poor finish). What should you do?
a.) Document non-conformance in writing, issue non-conformance notice, coordinate with contractor for remediation
b.) Wait until project completion — don’t raise issues mid-construction
c.) Field-direct contractor to fix it immediately yourself
d.) Ignore — aesthetic defects are not critical
a.) Document non-conformance in writing, issue non-conformance notice, coordinate with contractor for remediation
A pre-bid meeting is held. Which of the following is the architect’s primary role during the pre-bid meeting?
a.) To negotiate final contract costs with bidders before submission
b.) To clarify design intent and answer bidder questions about drawings/specifications
c.) To choose the contractor based on interpersonal rapport
d.) To rewrite any ambiguous specification sections on the spot
b. To clarify design intent and answer bidder questions about drawings/specifications
A contractor requests a substitution of a specified high-performance HVAC unit for a less expensive, lower-efficiency model. As architect, what should you do?
a.) Immediately approve — cost savings benefit the owner
b.) Reject — no substitutions allowed after contract signed
c.) Review substitution request vs. contract documents, performance requirements, and long-term energy/life-cycle impacts
d.) Approve if the contractor discounts the substitution by 10%
c.) Review substitution request vs. contract documents, performance requirements, and long-term energy/life-cycle impacts
A major unexpected soil condition is discovered during excavation that will increase cost and delay the project. What should the architect do first?
a.) Approve contractor claim without review — change orders are routine
b.) Evaluate the condition’s impact on cost, schedule, and design; coordinate with owner and contractor to determine corrective action
c.) Tell contractor to proceed at their own risk
d.) Ignore — soil conditions are contractor’s responsibility
b.) Evaluate the condition’s impact on cost, schedule, and design; coordinate with owner and contractor to determine corrective action
Which of the following documents is typically submitted at project closeout for the owner’s record?
a.) Warranty certificates, record drawings (as-built), maintenance manuals, and final submittals
b.) Original contract drawings only
c.) Contractor’s personal expense receipts
d.) The architect’s original design sketches
a.) Warranty certificates, record drawings (as-built), maintenance manuals, and final submittals
At project closeout, one of the systems (e.g., mechanical) fails to meet the original performance requirements documented in the contract. What is an architect’s best post-occupancy approach?
a. ) Deny responsibility — contractor should guarantee performance
b.) Facilitate review and coordinate with owner, contractor, and possibly consultants to identify deficiency, evaluate remedies
c.) Ask occupants to live with it — modifications are owner’s responsibility
d). Redesign system and bill owner for additional services
b.) Facilitate review and coordinate with owner, contractor, and possibly consultants to identify deficiency, evaluate remedies
Which of the following is not typically a valid consideration when evaluating contractor pre-qualification criteria?
a.) Contractor’s relevant project experience and past performance
b.) Contractor’s financial stability and bonding capacity
c.) Contractor’s willingness to waive all change orders
d.) Contractor’s current workload and available staff
c.) Contractor’s willingness to waive all change orders
The contractor submits shop drawings and product data for a critical system. What should the architect check first?
a.) Whether the drawings are drawn in 3D BIM format
b.) That the submittal conforms to design intent, specifications, and contract documents
c.) That the contractor’s name appears on every page
d.) Check that the dimensions are are correct with what is built on site
b.) That the submittal conforms to design intent, specifications, and contract documents
A contractor submits an Application for Payment. Which of the following is least relevant for the architect to verify before recommending payment?
a.) Work completed corresponds to schedule of values and approved change orders
b.) Work appears consistent with contract documents, as observed in site visits
c.) Contractor’s monthly profit margin percentage
d.) Retainage amount (if applicable) is correctly withheld
c.) Contractor’s monthly profit margin percentage
If a substitution or change during construction resulted in reduced life-cycle performance (e.g., durability, thermal comfort), which set of documents or processes might help capture and address these issues after occupancy?
a.) None — once construction is done, changes can’t be reviewed
b.) Post-occupancy evaluation, building commissioning, as-built documents, occupant feedback surveys
c.) Only warranty certificates
d.) Final contract amendment
b.) Post-occupancy evaluation, building commissioning, as-built documents, occupant feedback surveys
The contractor has submitted an application for payment that seems consistent, but upon reviewing shop drawings, some submittals were approved late and there is potential for delays in finishing. What should you do before recommending payment?
a. ) Approve — payments are due as long as visible work is done
b.) Withhold payment or issue a partial payment pending confirmation that delays or non-conformances are resolved
c. ) Pay full amount, then adjust on next payment if problems arise
d.) Reject the payment application entirely and restart payment schedule
b.) Withhold payment or issue a partial payment pending confirmation that delays or non-conformances are resolved