architect54

That’s how long I have to wait before I can take Schematic Design over.

I’m pretty sure I failed.

I couldn’t locate pieces of furniture in my interior layout. The whole thing was tragic.

I didn’t prepare well enough. I didn’t practice enough. I didn’t even know some of the tools in the building layout vignette.

Tragic.

My interior layout was no different from the sample NCARB problem. Essentially I couldn’t fit the copy room. I placed a copy room but it was missing furniture. One other area was missing furniture too.

I started by placing the largest piece of furniture and then the room with the most furniture. About 20 minutes in, I couldn’t see where to place this copy room. So I adjusted everything. BIG MISTAKE. HUGE ERROR. BAD DECISION. 20 minutes later I adjusted it back, realizing the first way seemed more correct. I’m 40 minutes in with no doors and no copy room. I had to add them. Even though I’m not really sure, I thought without the copier it’s a definate fail. So I added a small room that had the turning radius and door clearances. I added doors. 2:43 remaining and I saw where the copy room could go. If I could have only seen that 20 minutes ago.

It was like a blow to the gut. It’s hard to describe the feeling of desparation. I could fit the copy room there (and have room for more furniture) if I had 15 more minutes. In the last few seconds (0:40 or 0:30, time was moving quick) I tried to add a lateral file, but realized I would have to rotate then move it. I just erased it. I didn’t think I had the time to accurately use both tools and place the item properly.

Tragic.

I’ve spoken about scheduling exams before. Well I should have rescheduled schematic design. Before Sunday of this week, I wasn’t practicing from my PPI Schematic Design practice exam book nor was I using the NCARB practice program (for schematic design). My solution time is slow towards the interior layout problem and I haven’t worked out a good way to solve the relationships on paper for the building layout problem. From my studies you need a way to list the program relationships to maintain them while you draw.

Barring my issues, I expect the architect in me will come out either a little before or during the exam. I know that’s really stupid. Actually now that I’ve written it, it sounds REALLY REALLY STUPID.

Still I considered my preparation for the site design vignette to be loose. I am employing that strategy with schematic design. I am gathering a comfort level on how to tackle the problem, not solve every possible building layout problem I can imagine. There is more than one solution to the graphic problems. I am hoping the architect in me, the one who wants to design, comes out and enjoys a chance to design (i.e. elaborate the distinct programmatic relationships in plan) during the exam.

Here are two tips and two areforum links I think are helpful.

• Run the tools tutorial in the NCARB practice program.
• Draw the NCARB solution before you draw any other version.
• How to do a quick Interior Layout (updated link)
• Acceptable clearances (couldn’t find this link, but I added two below)
• Clearance behind Executive Desk (added a link)
• Notes…come and get ‘em! (added a link)

I started practicing for Schematic Design. The tip to draw the NCARB solutions has taught me two things. It took more than an hour to draw that solution and I knew the answer. The second thing I learned – (actually I am still trying to learn) – is how the NCARB solution employs the generic code. It is not obvious.