Testing Procedures and Results

The TSA Architectural Model competition for the 2008-2009 school year requires students to design and model a freestanding emergency medical clinic. A foundation plan, exterior wall section, cross section and roof pitch were completed, for the final solution of the emergency medical clinic, as part of the construction. These components together make up the skeleton and basic structure of the building. Stucco and brick were chosen as the façade of the building. The materials chosen for the exterior building walls and the way they were constructed had to work with the façade. Exterior walls using these materials also had to be constructed to a certain height, for stability and safety reasons. The foundation plan must be able to support the structure and was expected to follow codes complying with that area’s conditions. A cross section was used to show the interior walls including the dimensioned heights of doors and windows. Being able to support the roof was also important. The roof pitch was at such a small angle that it was a flat roof, portrayed in the drawings as built up gravel and tar. Flat roofs are held up by trusses running throughout the building, so it was expected that these trusses would support the roof. This emergency medical clinic was placed in Asbury Park, New Jersey, so all chosen materials or plans for construction had to follow building and construction codes in effect for this area. Testing on construction, including foundation plan, exterior wall section, cross section, and roof pitch, involved meeting with a construction manager and building inspector in Asbury Park’s City Hall. 

Once all developmental work and construction of the model was completed, testing could begin. Testing procedures for construction of the actual emergency medical clinic in Asbury Park were as follows:

1) Schedule a meeting with potential clients (Asbury Park construction manager and building inspector)

2) Gather drawings and information

3) Check that materials are appropriate, measurements are correct, necessities are included, and drawings depict building plans accurately

4) Prepare a presentation of final work for clients using model to represent final solution

5) Meet with potential clients to present final solution 

6) Discuss whether or not foundation plan, exterior wall section, cross section, and roof pitch can work for actual construction of medical clinic in Asbury Park

7) Ask for feedback

8) Question whether or not plans comply with building and construction codes 

9) Once discussion is concluded, thank potential clients for agreeing to meet

10) Record information for testing results

Including a survey as part of the testing was omitted after revision of the procedures, due to the fact that testing construction was relying on a yes or no answer basis. When evaluating the final solution with the client, they would either respond, “Yes. These plans would work.” or “No. These plans would not work.” 

During the meeting with the Asbury Park construction manager and building inspector, both potential clients, there was much discussion about the construction plans for the final solution. 

Starting with the foundation plan, they agreed that the footing was the right size and placed at the correct depth for the New Jersey frost line, which is 3 feet.  In the footing were 3 rods running throughout the foundation. They mentioned that these rods must always be covered by at least 2 inches of concrete on either side, as shown in the drawing. From the footing the concrete block wall begins to build to ground level. This then became the exterior wall section. A few things the building inspector mentioned was the need to include a vapor barrier and weep holes, so the brick and stucco facade would not crack or fall off. On the inside of the walls the insulation should continue down to about 2 feet below ground level. Because of the conditions and sandy soil there would be no need for gravel under the concrete slab, but there is a need for welded wire mesh and another vapor barrier above the insulation. As for the roof pitch, both men agreed that a steel “I” beam is unnecessary and expensive to have around the whole building, so it could be eliminated completely. Instead the steel truss supporting the roof could be bolted into a steel plate, which would be mounted on the built up foundation wall and the exterior of that could be covered with a wood plate so the stucco can continue all the way up the building and even onto the parapet. The parapet was formed by building the foundation wall 1’ taller than the top of the flat roof. Covering the truss to form the roof had to be done using several materials such as 2” steel decking, 1” insulation, another vapor barrier, and built up gravel and tar. Both men approved everything after seeing the drawings and model, agreeing that the plans complied with the building codes, were in a usable site, and all materials used were appropriate. 

After working on developing plans for the emergency medical clinic, the final solutions for construction of the foundation, exterior walls, and roof were completed. The finished results were then tested by meeting with potential clients, the construction manager and building inspector for Asbury Park in this situation. Once discussion of the drawings and model had concluded, they were deemed successful, proving these plans would work for a real construction job to build a freestanding emergency medical clinic.