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Chapter 21 Building Sections
may need to ask how the foundation and walls
should be constructed to best prevent water
damage to the home and its foundation in case
of high water or fl ood.
Other questions, like those that follow,
should be asked for every project. These questions
are only a few of the most critical questions you
should ask before beginning to draw the sections.
They certainly do not include all of the questions
you may need to answer. Consider each design
or building project individually.
• What type of foundation will be used?
Will the house have a basement, a raised
fl oor with a crawl space, or a slab on grade
foundation? Are details needed to clarify
its construction? See Figure 21-8.
• How will the house relate to the existing
grade? Must the grade be altered to
accommodate the structure?
• What are the heights from the fi nished
fl oors to the fi nished ceilings? Consider
the basement and each fl oor of the house
separately.
• Will standard rough opening heights
be used for windows and doors? See
Figure 21-9.
• What type of roof construction is planned?
See Figure 21-10.
• What kind of exterior materials will be used?
• What type of soffi t, if any, will be used?
Sustainability
Many companies in the architectural fi eld
now include a sustainability plan in their formal
company business plans. A sustainability plan
contains guidelines and procedures to help an
organization use, develop, and protect resources
in a way that meets needs without harming the
environment. As the demands on our natural
resources increase, companies must implement
sustainable practices to safeguard environmental
health, economic growth, and quality of life. The
creation of a sustainability plan may rely on
individual employee input, but the goals are simple.
The sustainable practices a company implements
must focus on reducing the use of materials,
energy, and water; reducing the pollution put out
by the company; reducing the amount of waste
produced by the company; and using more
non-toxic, recycled, and remanufactured materials.
Communication and education within the company
are necessary to meet these goals.
Sustainability Plan PlPlan
Green
Architecture
Using Social Media
Social media is used by some architectural
fi rms to reach current customers and fi nd new
ones. Because social media is so available and
easy to use, those who are writing communications
for the organization must be prudent when using
sites such as Facebook or Twitter for business
purposes. Remember that it is unethical to “spam”
customers who have not requested to be on an
organization’s mailing list. Keep your messages
honest and return messages from those who
have taken time to respond to your communication.
Use good judgment and represent the organization
in a professional manner.
Activity
Contact several architectural fi rms in your
area and ask how they use social media for
marketing and advertising purposes. Find out
what guidelines employees are given for using
social media for company business. Do any of
the fi rms have rules about using social media
for personal business? Write a summary of
your fi ndings.
Employability Employa a