Architekwiki
  • WIKI
  • Start Here
  • Resources
    • Arch Fin Model
    • MyCorbu
    • Trello-PM
    • FeeCalqs
    • OFFPLAN
    • Reading List
    • Free Resources
    • All Resources
  • Other
    • Details
    • About
    • Sign Up
    • Terms of Use
  • MyCorbu APP
  • WIKI
  • Start Here
  • Resources
    • Arch Fin Model
    • MyCorbu
    • Trello-PM
    • FeeCalqs
    • OFFPLAN
    • Reading List
    • Free Resources
    • All Resources
  • Other
    • Details
    • About
    • Sign Up
    • Terms of Use
  • MyCorbu APP

Architekwiki

A Resource For Architects
Subscribe

Do Architects Need Math?

2/21/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
 There is an assumption that architects need to know a lot of math. My experience is that some calculator work is about the extent of what you need to know. However, there are times when a spreadsheet can make life easier. The document below came from a client’s request to know how large of a building could be built on his site. After several schemes to try to maximize the site, which took hours each, the light dawned. There is a way to determine the answer mathematically!

Zoning puts several limits on projects - setbacks, height limitation, parking requirement. This problem requires sophisticated math to solve, but fairly unsophisticated math to get an approximation. Into the spread sheet you put various guesses. The answer you get tells you what your next guesses should be. After a little trial and error you have better information than a half dozen schemes. 

The second part of the spreadsheet reverses the problem. How big of a site do we need for a building of 'X' SF?
 
In both cases some knowledge of site topography and building characteristics are critical. For instance, a site with too steep of a slope could be difficult to maximize. Or a three-story building with only 5,500 SF per floor might have less useable SF than a one or two-story solution because of the space tied up in steps, elevator, toilet rooms and even exterior wall thickness (multi-storied buildings have a higher ratio of exterior wall to floor area). Math doesn't tell you this, experience and common sense tell you this. 

Math and especially spreadsheets can be timesavers, but a calculator has all the math you need to know. 
The document is downloadable as a PDF.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Resources

    Start Here

    Picture

    Picture

    MyCorbu

    Trello-PM

    FeeCalqs

    Picture

    Terms of Use
    Your use of Architekwiki is implicit agreement with the 
    ​
    Terms of Use.

    RSS Feed


    Categories

    All
    Business Development
    Communications
    Concepts
    Design
    Detail
    Estimating
    Finances
    Legal Issues
    Management
    Miscellaneous
    Money
    MyCorbu
    People
    Planning
    Process
    Projects
    Records
    Services
    Specifications
    Standards
    Time
    Tools


    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Resources
VISIT ARCHITEKWIKI'S RESOURCES
Picture
Architekwiki | Architect's Resource | Greater Cincinnati | (859) 444-4560
© 2012-2020   Architekwiki​