FACT LIST FOR

ARCHITECTURAL
PROGRAMMING
TO GATHER IN ARCHITECTURAL
DESIGN ING

ARCHITECTURAL
DESIGNING

Below are some TYPICAL traditional

architectural fact categories. For any
specific situation some are more
relevant than others. Groupings may
also be different depending on the
problem (pertain to and involve
important building consequences).

1. Similar projects and Critical issues

(Competition)(Hard Data)
a)

b)

c)

past projects of similar quality (goal

issues) ,function (performance issues),
circumstances and scope .Also called
review of literature.
critical issues involved in the building
type ( quality goal issues)
trends or development in the field
(competition, forces)

2. Client
a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

f)

client Mission Statement(MS), Goal

Statements(GS) & Performance
Requirements/Specifications(PRS)
philosophy of the organization and vision
statement(VS)
goals (GS) of the clients process sub goals to
achieve main goals user goals
staff organization and framework personnel
diagram or organizational chart (for space
adjacency)
rank and role /responsibilities of personnel (for
space size and space adjacency)
major departmental divisions within the
organization role of each goals and sub-goals

Client , contd
g. critical issues involved in the organization (people
to people relationships, channels)
h. does organization usually operate the way it is
structured?
I. divergence of present operations form expressed
goals possible improvements
j. degree of achievement of sub-goals
k. individuals of committees responsible for planning
with architect role and responsibility in decision
making
l. related (non-client) organizations which might
affect planning
m. impact of change or growth of related
organization

3. Financial (Cost)
a)
b)

c)

d)

budget firmness , degree of flexibility

funding methods bonds, loans, fund
raising
timing construction costs, escalation,
interest rates, concurrent similar projects
taxing public support
construction phasing prices, local
construction market, strong and weak
local trades, incremental construction

Financial, contd
e)

f)

design requirements of lending

institutions
f. comparative cost data on similar
projects which have been constructed

4. Building Codes
a)

b)
c)
d)

architectural plans occupancy allowed,

minimum size of rooms, minimum
heights of ceilings, maximum heights of
buildings/structures, towers if any
structural loads allowed
exits required
stairs (number type, access, fire rating,
size, minimum distances to reach stairs)

Building Codes , contd

e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)

fire ratings required of materials

ventilation openings
toilets (number and fixtures of each)
fire sprinklers
alarm systems
security systems (ex. cctv, door
controls,)

5. Planning by related organizations

a)
b)
c)

d)

duplication of services
review boards
approval boards (local and national
regulations, by-laws, planning criteria)
projected construction of similar projects

6. Function
a)

b)

c)

d)

operational system including links

beyond the building
critical issues in insuring success in the
systems operation
needs-internal and external facilities,
utilities, furniture and tools, fittings, and
equipment which are supporting to
operation (lounge, waiting, toilet, janitor)
main operational sequences feeder
sequences which support main
sequences

6. Function , contd
e) divisions or departments in the system
f) general departmental relationship
affinities
g) number and type of people involved
(task categories)
h) operations performed and furniture,
equipment/machine by each type of
person

I. systems of people
movement/circulation
1.
2.

3.
4.
5.

points of origin and destination

frequency and pattern (continual or
intermittent)
degree of urgency
role in overall operation
peak loads

j. systems of information
movement (include paper flow,
phones, computer hookups, multimedia conversation, etc.)
1.
2.

3.
4.
5.

points of origin and destination

frequency and pattern (continual or
intermittent)
degree of urgency (speed required)
role in overall operation
form

systems of information movement (include

paper flow, phones, computer hookups,
multi-media conversation, etc.), contd
6. storage implications and special vaults
7. operations performed on information
(including production and removal of
trash)
8. peak loads

k. systems of material movement (

raw and finished material, utility
services as paper and foods,
furniture, equipment, etc.)
1. points of origin and destination (including
delivery and pickup)
2. frequency and pattern (continual or
intermittent)
3. degree of urgency (speed required)
4. role in the overall operation

k. systems of material movement ( raw and

finished material, utility services as paper and
foods, furniture, equipment, etc.),contd
5.
6.
7.

8.
9.

form (size, weight)

special considerations
operations performed on information
(including production
and removal of
trash)
storage implications
peak loads

L. work nodes (stations where work is performed)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.

number, type and relationships

number and type of people at each
nature of tasks performed
key issues in successful of tasks
identification of possible sources of
strain in performing tasks
furniture and equipment required for
each person (including visitors, clients)

L. work nodes (stations where work is

performed) , contd
7.
8.

9.

10.
11.

12.

area requirements for each node

circulation patterns within each node
(people, material, information)
safety and security requirements (open,
closed, locked)
general electrical requirements at each node
criteria for selecting architectural surfaces
and detailing
special relationships with other work

(13) lighting requirements

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)

intensity required at task

incandescent vs. fluorescent
direct vs. indirect
skylight vs. window
need for total darkness
need for controlled lighting

(14) sensory
(a) type and intensity stimuli produced
(noise, odors, vibration, dust, electromagnetic radiation, bacteria)
(b) type and intensity of stimuli which must
be excluded or screened (including visual
privacy)
(c) important environmental situations
(mood, atmosphere)

(15) air conditioning requirements

(a) heat generated by equipment and
people
(b)special air circulation or ventilation
requirements (isolation, 100% exhaust,
decontamination)
(c) special temperature requirements
(d) air additives
(e) special controls over air conditioning

(15) air conditioning requirements , contd

(f) groupings of similar air conditioning
requirements
(g) total needs
(h) space required for mechanical
equipment
(i) vibration control
(j) heating and cooling seasons

7. Site Conditions

a. legal description of property

(boundaries and property lines and
secure concrete monuments, dimensions,
rights of way, deed restrictions,
easements, curbs, curb cuts, hydrants,
poles)

b. zoning
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

present allowable uses whether residential,

commercial, industrial, agricultural, etc.
Setbacks
access points
relation to street lights and median breaks
Density
heights allowed
parking required

c. utilities
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.

locations
distances to site
depths
telephone, gas, water, sewer,
electrical , drainage
capacities (present and projected)

d. soil conditions
1.
2.
3.
4.

Percolation
bearing
chemicals
density

e. land contours
5.
6.

7.

Elevations
drainage patterns including from and to
adjacent land
flood basins (tides)

e. land contours , contd

(4) blocked visual access due to mound
and ridges
(5) points of visual emphasis
(6) flat areas
(7) slope orientation to surrounding
areas (visually)

f. significant features
(1) rock outcroppings
(2) existing buildings

f. significant features , contd

3. Ditches
4. water
5. trees

g. existing foliage
6.
7.
8.
9.

tree types
limb spread
Heights
ground cover (where drainage may be
affected)

h. sensory
1.

2.

3.

noise/audibility (direction, intensity,

frequency, pattern, probability of
continuance)
odors/olfactory (direction, intensity,
pattern, type, probability for
continuance)
visual/visibility (poor views, good views,
public and private zones, reliability of
continuance of views)

i. time-distance
1.
2.
3.

car-pedestrian
to and from significant points
time-distance on site

j. existing pedestrian traffic on

and around site
4.
5.

Volume
location

j. existing pedestrian traffic on and around

site , contd
3.
4.
5.

frequency and pattern

nature
possible contribution to these activities

k. existing vehicular traffic

6.
7.

(bicycles,
motorbikes, tricycles, cars, buses, trucks,
etc) on and around the site
Volume
location

k. existing vehicular traffic ,contd

(3) frequency and pattern

(4) nature
(5) possible contribution to these
activities

l. surrounding physical
environment
(1) surrounding zoning
(2) possible development on
adjacent and surrounding
property
(3) profile (skyline)
(4) scale
(5) image
(6) materials
(7) forms
(8) density

l. surrounding physical environment ,

contd
(10) orientation (views of the site from
other points)
(11) landscaping forms
(12) details
(13) geometry (existing paving patterns,
building edges and heights, axes, walls,
modules and rhythms)

m. surrounding social
environment
1.
2.
3.

identifiable patterns
ethnic groups and values
relationships between groups

n. shadow patterns on the site

(trees, adjacent buildings and other
structures)

o. parking and site circulation

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

(for

bicycles, motorbikes, vehicles)

needs (present and projected)
area required
drop-offs required at entry
lighting and signages required
special controls (restricted parking)
on-site circulation required (between
buildings)

o. parking and site circulation , contd

7.
8.

9.

10.
11.

supporting circulation (to lunch, to work)

volume and frequency patterns (peak
loads)
patterns of direction of entry approach
and departure (people and cars)
existing roads
surrounding land values

p. check with government agencies

nature and location of lot if away
from earthquake fault line (Phivolcs in
the Philippines) and disaster history in
the area.(storm surges, floods,
landslides ,tsunami)

q. Highest And Best Use (HABU)

consideration

8. Climate
a. rainfall (frequency, volume, patterns)
b. sunlight (critical vertical and horizontal
angles)
c. temperatures (seasons, extremes)
d. wind, breezes (seasons, directions,
velocity, extremes)
e. snow (seasons, percentages)
f. humidity (seasons, percentages)
g. potential natural catastrophes (tornado,
hurricane, earthquake, flood)

9. Growth and Change

a. present and projected supporting market
of public served
b. projected staffing (number and type)
c. projected goals and supporting sub-goals
d. anticipated deletion of departments and
addition of new departments
e. areas of expected changes in operations
(layout and building perimeter
implications)
f. projected changes in information or
material systems (disposables)

9. Growth and Change , contd

g. influence of growth and change of one
department on all others
h. future area needs (construction, cost,
design and parking implications)
i. projected utility needs comparison with
present and projected supply capacities

C. each of these fact categories may be

EXPANDED to more DETAIL depending on the
design requirements. There are also many
other fact categories not listed here that
pertain to some of the other programming
FORMS (long range plan).

Every fact and category and specific fact

contained under its heading involves
CONSEQUENCES that the building has on its
environment and contained functions and
which the environment has upon the building.