PDC Test - Symbiotic Structures

You can earn 0.25 PDC by passing the exam following this article, which has been approved for publication by NCRA's Council of the Academy of Professional Reporters.

The questions are based on the material in the article but some may require additional research. Send your answer sheet to NCRA's Continuing Education Office, 8224 Old Courthouse Road, Vienna, VA 22182, and enclose a check for $40 (member) or $50 (non-member) to cover the processing fee.

Symbiotic Structures

It is a reciprocal arrangement. Buildings protect us from nature; and in turn, we must safeguard nature from our architectural designs. With all their variety, the one thing all buildings have in common is that they are constructed and have a foundation on earth. Most buildings now have a lifespan of 50-100 years, during which time they consume phenomenal amounts of energy and emit greenhouse gases at dangerous levels. With approximately five billion square feet of new construction a year in the United States alone, perhaps we should take a closer look at the structures we create and the impact they have on our global environment.

The beauty of a town can be determined by its architecture. The materials used, as well as the sizes and shapes of buildings, can blend with the surroundings to create a pleasant environment. Some buildings from ancient and medieval times still exist, surviving some of the harshest conditions over the centuries. Perhaps best known are the ruins of 35 pyramids still standing along the Nile, possibly dating back as far as 2500 B.C. Architecture has evolved throughout history, introducing and combining styles from many cultures, such as Egyptian, Chinese, Japanese, Mayan, Indian, Islamic, Greek and Roman.

Elements of architecture include function, appearance and durability. Whether it is a small house or a large industrial complex, the builder will need to consider functional aspects, such as heating, air conditioning, ventilation, lighting, access, parking, traffic patterns, as well as the main purpose of the structure. When designing a building, the materials used will play a role in the ultimate appearance of the site. The end product of some buildings may be more aesthetically pleasing by using bricks or stones rather than glass and concrete, or vice versa, depending on the location. The durability of a building must always be a factor in the design. A building should include a strong foundation, with weather resistance and maintenance considerations taken into account when designing the exterior.

One of the key elements of indoor environmental quality is thermal comfort. This means moderating the temperature, relative humidity and draftiness to within comfortable levels for all occupants. Noise is another aspect of indoor comfort that should be considered. The types of acoustical emissions expected, as well as the ambient noise in the vicinity, are areas to think about since these audio waves will have an effect on the comfort level of people in the building. Other indoor considerations include the chemical or microbiological agents present in the area, such as mold, bacteria, allergens, surface dust, pesticides, lead, asbestos or other volatile organics.

Early American buildings resembled European architecture. In the early 1900s, a man who would become one of America’s greatest architects began designing homes and buildings which would revolutionize the use of space. This imaginative and influential architect was Frank Lloyd Wright, who designed over 1,000 buildings and structures. With his use of light and natural materials, Wright was a visionary in what we call “sustainable design” today. Not only did Wright use the environment as a basis for his designs, he applied principles of geometry to glass and other materials to create effects using natural light. Eventually, Wright’s cubic shapes had an influence on European architecture.

During his lifetime, Frank Lloyd Wright described his work as “organic architecture.” In addition to his style being innovative and completely individual, his work influenced the very nature of how we live. Wright’s theories of architecture set new standards for what Americans called home. The Robie House in Chicago, for example, was considered uniquely American in that it represented the ideal of freedom: complete open space and sound structure. The roof of the Robie House is low and protecting, yet allowing as much daylight as possible into the dwelling. This new family atmosphere was embraced by Americans as never before seen in an architectural style. It represented the complete freedom of new people in a new land. Although the personal life of Frank Lloyd Wright was also quite eventful, including three wives and several arsons, he never retired from designing and building. He was 92 when he died in 1959.

The principle of integrating the indigenous landscape with the structure to be built was a concept used regularly by Frank Lloyd Wright. As with other architectural styles, some of his designs are now features of sustainable building techniques in contemporary America. The application of methods and systems found in nature, combined with design and engineering using modern technology, illustrates a building principle some call “biomimicry.” Biomimicry can also include redesigning industrial systems along biological lines, enabling the constant reuse of materials.

Buildings are responsible for the largest source of emissions and energy consumption around the globe today. About 76 percent of all electricity generated by power plants is used to operate buildings. While cities consume over 75 percent of the world’s resources, they occupy only two percent of its land. It is in our best interest to pay attention to the structures we create today. One avenue to explore in an attempt to manage the impact of buildings focuses on sustainable design principles, which include optimizing the sun’s energy as well as using the land and resources in a wise and responsible manner. For example, we now know that, in the northern hemisphere, windows facing north and south will optimize lighting and reduce heating and cooling costs by maximizing cross-ventilation within the building. The world’s oil reserves are expected to last about 40 more years. Natural gas reserves may last 67 years. In contrast, the sun’s energy supply will last billions of years.

By combining strategies for using resources wisely, with technology that allows for more self-sufficiency, buildings will persist functionally and efficiently, adding beauty to the local landscape and the environment as a whole.

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Symbiotic Structures Test

1. Frank Lloyd Wright is often considered one of the greatest American architects. A) true b) false

2. Robie House is in a) Paris b) Nashville c) New York City d) Chicago

3. One characteristic of Wright’s work was to eliminate the wall as often as possible and create open spaces. A) true b) false

4. Frank Lloyd Wright designed over ______ structures. A) 50 b) 200 c) 1,000 d) 5,000

5. The Imperial Hotel complex in Tokyo did NOT survive a severe earthquake that struck that city in 1923. a) true b) false

6. One of the most famous designs by Frank Lloyd Wright was a) the White House b) Yale University c) the Guggenheim Museum d) none of the above

7. Early works of Wright were designed in his famous a) prairie style b) closed-space style c) waterfall style d) Richland style

8. Wright’s cubic shapes had an influence on a) Asian architecture b) European architecture c) Indian architecture d) none of the above

9. Wright’s personal life was a) very traditional and uneventful b) full of drama, including three wives and several arsons c) one of solitude d) none of the above

10. Most of Wright’s work was a) classical design b) routine and conforming c) somewhat innovative d) completely individual

11. Wright retired from design work at age 65. a) true b) false

12. Architects in the United States must be licensed by state agencies governing the profession. A) true b) false

13. What are the key elements of indoor environmental quality (IEQ)? A) Thermal comfort B) Light C) Noise D) Air quality, ventilation, heating & cooling, microbiologic and/or chemical agents in the air or surface dust E) all of the above

14. Cities consume over _____ percent of the world’s resources, while occupying only ____ percent of its land. A) 50/50 b) 60/10 c) 75/2 d) 80/15

15. The number of pyramids still standing along the Nile River is ______. A) 35 b) 50 c) 200 d) none of the above

16. Generally, buildings have a lifespan of _______ years, during which they consume energy and produce emissions. A) 10-15 b) 50-100 c) 100-200 d) 400-500

17. The biggest source of emissions and energy consumption around the globe is a) vehicles b) power plants c) buildings d) none of the above

18. Architecture which uses sustainable design techniques and follows biological lines can be called: A) thermal comfort b) acoustical design c) pyramids d) biomimicry

19. Sustainable design principles include optimizing the use of the sun as well as using the land wisely and responsibly. A) True b) False

20. The sun’s energy supply will last ___________. A) 200 years b) 1,000 years c) a million years d) billions of years

21. Architecture has evolved over the centuries, persisting and changing with man’s changing circumstances. A) True B) False

22. In the northern hemisphere, windows facing east and west will optimize lighting and reduce heating and cooling costs. A) True b) False

23. The basic elements of architecture for an attractive, efficient building include a) greenhouse gas exchange b) renovation and rehabilitation c) site drainage d) function, durability and appearance

24. About _______square feet of new construction takes place in the United States every year. A) 100 million b) 500 million c) 5 billion d) 10 billion

25. About ______ percent of all electricity generated by power plants is used to operate buildings. A) 76 b) 52 c) 38 d) 10

You can earn 0.25 PDC by passing the exam following this article, which has been approved for publication by NCRA's Council of the Academy of Professional Reporters.