Submitted For
Module 3 - Points to Ponder
Please share your comments on 3 of the following Points to Ponder questions. (Choose 3 of the questions below.)
Why is it important to accurately model the land features of your project site with a toposurface?
- What aspects of a building design are most affected by the terrain features?
It is important because toposurface reflects the elevation changes, contours, and boundaries. It helps architects and engineers to understand the site's natural terrain and optimize the use of space. Terrain features mostly affect structural loadings, drainage systems, and overall layout of construction projects.
When designing a project...
- Should the building adapt to the terrain?
- Or, should you adapt the terrain to the building?
Usually the building should adapt to the terrain as it requires less excavation which may lead to higher budgets and environmental impacts.
What considerations affect a project team's decision-making when deciding the floor-to-floor height to use in a multi-story building?
- From a real estate developer's perspective?
Maximizing rentable space, profitability.
- From a designer's perspective?
Appearance, space distributions
- From an engineer's perspective?
Structure and materials, electrical systems, energy efficiency
- From a builder's perspective?
Materials, safety, construction difficulties
- From an owner's perspective?
Cost and benefits
What are the advantages of stacking the levels of a multi-story building vertically?
- Can you share an interesting example of a building that doesn’t vertically stack (where the floor plates change their shaped radically between the floor levels)?
- What were the advantages or reasons for non-vertical stacking?
Why do stairs follow specific proportions with a set relationship between the tread length and riser height?
- How can building modeling help prevent the mistakes that often occur when designing and installing stairs?