PcM - Black Spectacles Exam UPDATED
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Indemnification - CORRECT ANSWER Indemnification is a legal relationship where
one party takes on responsibility for the loss or damage suffered by another party. The AIA
contracts contain extensive references to this concept throughout, as the owner, architect, and
contractor each indemnify the other in various ways.
RFQ - CORRECT ANSWER Request for qualifications: a request issued to a
prospective supplier or consultant to demonstrate their ability to meet project requirements.
Scope of Work - CORRECT ANSWER The full agreed-upon extent of what work is to
be performed; also typically includes a list of deliverables and their schedule. The project
team mus be aware of and able to manage how this may change throughout design and
construction
Structural Engineer - CORRECT ANSWER A common consultant on design projects,
hired by the architect, who designs the structural system of the project.
Associate / Intern - CORRECT ANSWER This member of a firm has the least amount
of experience of all of the team members - they're unlicensed, often recent graduates, and
provide production work for the firm. They may be working towards licensure by taking the
ARE and gaining experience via the AXP.
Marketing - CORRECT ANSWER The act of promoting your services to your target
audience. This is an activity that contributes to the firma overhead costs. Examples include
creatijg or updating your website, seeking to be published in periodicals, and social media
Overhead Costs - CORRECT ANSWER Expenses that your office incurs that are not
directly related to a single project, but are required to keep the office running, such as the
office lease.
,Foundations Engineer - CORRECT ANSWER A specialized consultant who may be
required on a project with particularly adverse soil conditions, or where a unique foundation
design is required. If they're required, the architect typically hires them, and they work
closely with the architect and structural engineer.
MEP Engineer - CORRECT ANSWER A consultant, typically hired by the architect,
who designs the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for a project.
Lighting Designer - CORRECT ANSWER A consultant who may be hired by the
architect to specify and arrange the light fixtures and controls for a project
Acoustical Consultant - CORRECT ANSWER A consultant who may be hired by the
architect on projects where noise or sound are of particular concern, such as a concert hall.
Vertical transportation consultant - CORRECT ANSWER A consultant who can design
and specify elevators and escalators. They're typically hired by the architect if these systems
are required by the program.
Door Hardware Consultant - CORRECT ANSWER A specialized consultant who the
architect may hire to prepare the door schedule and specifications related to the functions of
doors and other openings.
Exterior envelope consultant - CORRECT ANSWER A consultant who may be utilized
on a project with a particularly complicated facade system. They're typically hired by the
architect.
Expeditor - CORRECT ANSWER A consultant who works with the project team to file
the project with the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). They may be hired either by the
architect or the owner.
bar chart - CORRECT ANSWER Also called a Gantt chart, it is used to graphically
depict the sequence and temporal overlap of project tasks or phases
, Critical Path Method (CPM) - CORRECT ANSWER A scheduling process in which all
tasks necessary for the completion of a given goal (or overall project) are mapped out so that
dependencies and optimal timeframes can be established.
Float - CORRECT ANSWER The amount of time a task can be delayed without
affecting other tasks or the project end date
Utilization rate - CORRECT ANSWER The percentage of an employee's time that is
billable to clients. Calculated using the formula: (billable time/total time) x 100.
Reimbursables - CORRECT ANSWER Any expense incurred on behalf of the project
that, in accord with the contractual agreement, is to be reimbursed by the client. For example,
travel and lodging costs associated with site visits.
Billable rate - CORRECT ANSWER The amount charged for labor performed,
typically by the hour.
Internal candidate - CORRECT ANSWER These candidates are already employees of
the firm who may be considered to fill a different role, based on a hiring need.
Receptionist - CORRECT ANSWER This member of a firm provides administrative
support by greeting clients, managing architects schedules, and coordinating meetings. Their
time is typically not billed to any specific project
Administrative assistant - CORRECT ANSWER This member of a firm takes on
project related administrative tasks, such as taking meeting minutes and maintaining project
files. They can be invaluable during the CA phase of a project, when they might log
submittals and RFIs, assist in completing and distributing field observation reports, and
provide general administrative support to the project team. Their time is often billed directly
to projects.
Marketing coordinator - CORRECT ANSWER A member of a firm who seeks new
work for the firm. This team member may source new clients by seeking RFPs to respond to,
preparing responses to RFPs, and maintaining the firm's website and social media accounts.
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Indemnification - CORRECT ANSWER Indemnification is a legal relationship where
one party takes on responsibility for the loss or damage suffered by another party. The AIA
contracts contain extensive references to this concept throughout, as the owner, architect, and
contractor each indemnify the other in various ways.
RFQ - CORRECT ANSWER Request for qualifications: a request issued to a
prospective supplier or consultant to demonstrate their ability to meet project requirements.
Scope of Work - CORRECT ANSWER The full agreed-upon extent of what work is to
be performed; also typically includes a list of deliverables and their schedule. The project
team mus be aware of and able to manage how this may change throughout design and
construction
Structural Engineer - CORRECT ANSWER A common consultant on design projects,
hired by the architect, who designs the structural system of the project.
Associate / Intern - CORRECT ANSWER This member of a firm has the least amount
of experience of all of the team members - they're unlicensed, often recent graduates, and
provide production work for the firm. They may be working towards licensure by taking the
ARE and gaining experience via the AXP.
Marketing - CORRECT ANSWER The act of promoting your services to your target
audience. This is an activity that contributes to the firma overhead costs. Examples include
creatijg or updating your website, seeking to be published in periodicals, and social media
Overhead Costs - CORRECT ANSWER Expenses that your office incurs that are not
directly related to a single project, but are required to keep the office running, such as the
office lease.
,Foundations Engineer - CORRECT ANSWER A specialized consultant who may be
required on a project with particularly adverse soil conditions, or where a unique foundation
design is required. If they're required, the architect typically hires them, and they work
closely with the architect and structural engineer.
MEP Engineer - CORRECT ANSWER A consultant, typically hired by the architect,
who designs the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for a project.
Lighting Designer - CORRECT ANSWER A consultant who may be hired by the
architect to specify and arrange the light fixtures and controls for a project
Acoustical Consultant - CORRECT ANSWER A consultant who may be hired by the
architect on projects where noise or sound are of particular concern, such as a concert hall.
Vertical transportation consultant - CORRECT ANSWER A consultant who can design
and specify elevators and escalators. They're typically hired by the architect if these systems
are required by the program.
Door Hardware Consultant - CORRECT ANSWER A specialized consultant who the
architect may hire to prepare the door schedule and specifications related to the functions of
doors and other openings.
Exterior envelope consultant - CORRECT ANSWER A consultant who may be utilized
on a project with a particularly complicated facade system. They're typically hired by the
architect.
Expeditor - CORRECT ANSWER A consultant who works with the project team to file
the project with the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). They may be hired either by the
architect or the owner.
bar chart - CORRECT ANSWER Also called a Gantt chart, it is used to graphically
depict the sequence and temporal overlap of project tasks or phases
, Critical Path Method (CPM) - CORRECT ANSWER A scheduling process in which all
tasks necessary for the completion of a given goal (or overall project) are mapped out so that
dependencies and optimal timeframes can be established.
Float - CORRECT ANSWER The amount of time a task can be delayed without
affecting other tasks or the project end date
Utilization rate - CORRECT ANSWER The percentage of an employee's time that is
billable to clients. Calculated using the formula: (billable time/total time) x 100.
Reimbursables - CORRECT ANSWER Any expense incurred on behalf of the project
that, in accord with the contractual agreement, is to be reimbursed by the client. For example,
travel and lodging costs associated with site visits.
Billable rate - CORRECT ANSWER The amount charged for labor performed,
typically by the hour.
Internal candidate - CORRECT ANSWER These candidates are already employees of
the firm who may be considered to fill a different role, based on a hiring need.
Receptionist - CORRECT ANSWER This member of a firm provides administrative
support by greeting clients, managing architects schedules, and coordinating meetings. Their
time is typically not billed to any specific project
Administrative assistant - CORRECT ANSWER This member of a firm takes on
project related administrative tasks, such as taking meeting minutes and maintaining project
files. They can be invaluable during the CA phase of a project, when they might log
submittals and RFIs, assist in completing and distributing field observation reports, and
provide general administrative support to the project team. Their time is often billed directly
to projects.
Marketing coordinator - CORRECT ANSWER A member of a firm who seeks new
work for the firm. This team member may source new clients by seeking RFPs to respond to,
preparing responses to RFPs, and maintaining the firm's website and social media accounts.
