Republic of the Philippines

Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)

Professional Regulatory BOARD of ARCHITECTURE (PRBoA)
Architecture Licensure Examinations (ALE)

SUBJECT: ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND SITE PLANNING

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.

I. PROJECT TITLE (and General Description):

A Proposed High-Rise CALL CENTER Project [development with Basements,
Podium and Tower components] ON A FLAT CORNER LOT

II. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

A newly established CALL CENTER Company (the “Client”) has decided to
build on a two thousand five hundred square meter (2,475.0 sqm) property located
in Ortigas Center, Pasig City a multi-storey Call Center Building (the “Project”).
The lot frontages measure 45.0 meters (m) wide along the wider street and the
other frontage is at 55.0 m along the narrower street (reference Figure 1). There is
a 2.0 m difference in elevation between the front and rear portions of the lot.
Note: a discrepancy exists between the drawing provided on the whiteboard(showing
chamfered corner) and the description of the lot (as shown above which implies a simple
rectangle with no chamfer. You can check this by simply computing 45 x 55 = 2,475). This
could be intentional, or accidental. But if you had discovered it in the course of the
computations, you will have proceeded to answer the exam correctly.

The Client shall offer the following 24-hour-on-site facilities and/or generic
services to the public:
1) three (3) specialty restaurants (i.e. pasta, oriental, Filipino food, etc);
2) one (1) fastfood restaurant
3) one (1) coffeeshop;
4) one (1) convenience store;
5) one (1) fitness gym facility;

It is the intention of the CALL CENTER Company to build a facility for a total of
6,000 seats, but initially occupy only half capacity so that the unoccupied portion
will be leased/rented to other end-users e.g. professional offices, real estate
offices, travel agencies and the like. However, there is absolute need to cluster
such leaseable/rentable spaces in a manner that will avoid operational and
attendant safety/security problems, and most especially to allow the ease of
occupancy of the CALL CENTER in the future.

III. PROJECT SITE FEATURES:

The site has a zoning classification of C-3 (metropolitan commercial
development) allowing for a high to very high intensity commercial structure and
land use. The deed of restrictions for the property and local ordinances allow
firewalls and arcades for the property. The 2,475.0 SqM Total Lot Area/TLA

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 (reference Figure 1) is slightly rectangular and is a sloping corner lot. It is sited at
the corner of a 15.0 m wide street and a 12.0 m wide RROW. The 45.0 m wide
frontage faces the south while the other 55.0 m wide frontage faces west. The site
slopes towards the southern street [with two point four (2.4) m wide sidewalks on
either side]. The surface of the southern sidewalk shall be considered as elevation
0.0 m. To its east and west are other high-rise commercial buildings and directly
across the street are two (2) restaurant-bars with live band performances. To the
rear of the Project site is a medium-rise residential condominium.

IV. EXAM PROBLEM:

a. Establish the maximum Development Potential of the property attributes as
stated above:

A. Development B. Reference in the C. Finding/s for Comparative

Potential to be 2005 Revised IRR Use
Determined of the NBC
(PD1096)
1. Is the C-3 Table VIII.G.7
property of the (Guidelines)
minimum
recommended
lot size?
2. What is the Table VII.1
general (IRR)
classification of
use/ character of
occupancy
allowed for the
proposed
building/
structure?
3. What are the Table VIII.3 (IRR); see
required also Figures VIII.12
setbacks for the through 15 and 20 (IRR);
proposed and Figure VIII.G.13
building/ (Guidelines)
structure?
4. What are the Check against allowed
Allowable setbacks in Table VIII.3
Maximum and then against Table
Building VII.1 (IRR)
Footprint
(AMBF) and the
Maximum
Allowable
Percentage of
Site Occupancy
(PSO) if the
property is to be
developed with

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 firewalls on 2
sides and a court
at the center of
the structure?

5. Check Against Table VIII.1 (IRR) .

Maximum Table VIII.1. Reference
Allowable Table of Maximum
Allowable PSO, Maximum
Percentage of Allowable ISA, the
Site Occupancy MACA, the Minimum USA
(PSO) and the TOSL by Type of
Land Use Zoning per
Lot

6. What is the Table VII.2 (IRR) if

Building Height there is no covering
Limit (BHL) ordinance
7. Check Table VII.G.3
Application of (Guidelines), Figure
Angles/ Slopes VIII.20 (IRR); and
to Satisfy Figure VIII.G.13
Natural Light (Guidelines)
and Ventilation
Requirements

8. What is the Max. Table VII.G.2 .

Total Gross (Guidelines)
Floor Area
(TGFA) based
on the applicable
Max. GFA?
9. What is the Multiply TLA of
Maximum Gross 2,475.00 SqM by
Floor Area applicable FLAR
(GFA) based on information from
the applicable Table VII.G.1
FLAR? (Guidelines)

10. What is the Table VII.G.1

Floor to Lot (Guidelines)
Area Ratio
(FLAR)
Designation/
Rights above
grade?
11. Check Minimum Table VII.4 (IRR)

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 Required Off- Unit with a gross floor
RROW/ Onsite area
Parking of more than 70.00 sq.
meters provide one (1)
parking slot* for every
70.00
sq. meters and for a
fraction
thereof;
12. Basement See Figure VIII.G.23
(Guidelines); check also
local ordinances
concerning basement
construction limitations
(if any)
13. Arcades check local ordinances
concerning arcade
construction limitations
(if any)

Summarize the maximum development potential of the subject property

as follows:
1) AMBF (from item 4);
2) PSO of the TLA (from item 4);
3) Max. TGFA (from item 7 and 8);
4) Max. GFA (from item 9);
5) FLAR (from item 10).

b. To determine the following:

1. What is the TOTAL CALL CENTER FLOOR AREA if 1 seat = 8 to 9
sqm.?
2. What is the TOTAL REQUIRED FLOOR AREA if the Call Center Area is
65% of the TOTAL FLOOR AREA?
3. Is the TOTAL REQUIRED FLOOR AREA compliant with the
ALLOWABLE MAXIMUM TGFA (Total Gross Floor Area)?

4. What is your DESIGNED BUILDING HEIGHT?

V. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS:
a. Function and efficiency;
b. Vertical and horizontal circulation patterns;
c. Architectural character and form;
d. Aesthetics and landmark quality;
e. Solar, wind, noise, odor and view orientations;
f. Amenities, Facilities, Services and Utilities (AFSU) introduced;
g. Security and Safety Features;
h. Compliance with prevailing laws on condominium development, the NBCP,
the Fire Code and the Accessibility Law;
i. four (4.0) elevators with clear car sizes measuring 1.35 meters (m) x 1.40 m; a
fifth unit shall serve as the service elevator;
j. natural and artificial ventilation where applicable; and

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 k. building’s exterior shall be along modern lines/styles;

VI. DESIGN REQUIREMENTS:

The stated Project requirements are as follows. Should the requirements exceed
the development controls and potentials under items VI and VII above, the
necessary adjustments have to be made to fully comply with the stated
development controls.

a. Basement level/s:
1. Services
i. Building Administration office;
ii. Building Safety and Security office; Safety/Security Staff Quarters,
Locker & Shower; and
iii. Building & Common Facilities/Amenities maintenance room &
workshop.
2. Parking (below grade or lower than the elevation of the street); driveways,
ramps, etc.;
3. Elevator Lobby and Service Stairs;
4. Common Toilets (male and female);
5. Utility rooms (electrical, machine, pump, etc.);
6. Fire Exits; and
7. Garbage chute room and solid waste storage.
b. Ground Floor:
1. Main Lobby/Reception Area
2. Elevator Lobby and Service Stairs;
3. Concessionaire areas
4. Common Toilets (male and female);
5. Utility rooms (electrical, etc.);
6. Fire Exits;
7. Garbage chute room;
8. Wells for natural light and ventilation (as applicable); and
9. Balconies are optional but considered part of the GFA.
c. Podium:
1. Eco-roof
2. Garden/relaxation area
d. Tower floors:
1. 6,000-seat CALL CENTER offices
2. Board Room (12.0 seats) with Anteroom (capacity of 8.0)
3. Two (2.0) Meeting Rooms (4.0 seats each);
4. Executive Offices
5. Technical Offices
6. Break Rooms
7. two (2.0) pantry areas;
8. Common Toilets (1.0 each for male and female);
9. Elevator Lobby and Services Stairs;
10. Utility rooms (electrical, etc.);
11. Fire Exits;
12. Garbage chute room;
13. Balconies are optional but considered part of the GFA.

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 e. Utilities
1. Generator room (at basement)t ;
2. Transformer room (at basement);
3. Domestic water cistern (at basement separate from Genset and
Transformer);
4. Pump Room (at basement near water cistern);
5. Fire Reserve tank (at Roof Deck);
6. Overhead water tank (at Roof Deck);
7. Sump pit and sump pump (at basement);
8. Solid Waste Storage; and
9. Sewage treatment plant (STP).

VIII. DRAWING REQUIREMENTS:

a. Site Development Plan at scale 1:200 Meters (M) and showing the following
key information:
1. outline of the building footprint;
2. accessibility features (disabled);
3. site perimeter security features e.g. perimeter wall/ fence, gate, pedestrian/
vehicular barriers, guard outpost (as necessary), etc.;
4. pedestrian access systems;
5. open parking, driveway and parking ramps (as needed);
6. ground-mounted signage locations (if any);
7. call out/indicate areas to be landscaped (hardscape and softscape);
8. the area of the building footprint and its percentage with respect to the
2,475.0 SqM Total Lot Area (TLA);
9. the street, particularly the sidewalks;
10. the adjoining land uses; and
11. indicate the northing and the directions of the sunpath, the major winds
(habagat and amihan), sources of noise and odors and available views (if
any are clearly identifiable).
b. Ground-level (man’s eye view) Exterior Perspective at any convenient scale;
c. Floor Plans at scale 1:200 M; provide furniture/ equipment layouts only as
necessary; if rooms/areas are typical, provide furniture layout only for a
representative room/area to save time; highlight all introduced accessibility
features and fire exits;
1. Basement Level/s;
2. Podium Levels:
i) Ground Floor;
ii) Upper Floor (Amenities or Facilities); and
iii) Podium Parking (only if introduced);
3. Tower Floor/s; and
4. Deck Level Plans (Podium and Tower).
d. Longitudinal Section (at long axis of the building) at scale 1:200 M
(referencing the 0.0 m sidewalk elevation);
e. Corporate Logo (to appear in perspective); and
f. Area Computations/Breakdowns:
1. Parking; and
2. Total Gross Floor Area (TGFA) covering all levels/ floors including
basement levels (if introduced).

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IX. BASES OF GRADING:
a. Functionality, space planning and inter-relationships of exterior and interior
activity areas (20.0%);
b. Conformity to instructions and completeness of the design solution/s and drawing
requirements (20.0%);
c. General compliance with accepted architectural, site development planning and
construction standards (10.0%);
d. Architectural character and aesthetics (10.0%);
e. Structural concept (10.0%); and
f. Compliances (for a total of 30.0%) with:
1. the 2004 R-IRR of the NBCP (otherwise known as PD 1096) -(10.0%);
2. The Law to Enhance the Mobility of Disabled Persons (otherwise known as
BP 344) an its IRR -(10.0%); and
3. The Fire Code (otherwise known as PD 1185) and its IRR (10.0%).

Figure 1. Lot Plan

(refer to separate sheet)

Nothing follows.

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