Syllabus for the Philippine Licensure Examination for Architects (LEA)

BUILDING MATERIALS , ARCHITECTURAL SPECIFICATIONS  AND METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION

A. Rationale and Description
1. Understanding of the properties of building con¬struction and finishing materials; their applica¬tion and articulation; systems and methods of specifying and construction;
2. Awareness of the different types/ formats of architectural specifications and presentations i.e. specifications brief, outline specifications, specifications matrix, technical specifications, schedules of finishes/ fenestrations (doors and windows)/ fixtures (sanitary, electrical, etc.)/ furniture (assembled, custom, etc.)/ equipment/ hardware, etc. ;
3.    Understanding of the types of con¬struction systems and methods; and
4. Application of certain management principles relative to the realization of the various stages of construction (including pre-construction and post-construction)

B.  Terminal Competencies for LEA Candidates
1. Ability to promote awareness and to apply in practice the principles of public safety through the correct specification and application of construction and finishing materials;
2. Ability to utilize the basic properties and compositions of construction and finishing materials, including their basic application and articulation for the building envelope;
3. Ability to specify appropriate building materials considering their applicability, practicability and functionality and in accordance with the standard and uniform system of architectural and/ or building specification e.g. Masterformat, etc.;
4. Ability to expresses the language of building materials, both in English and the vernacular e.g. Filipino, as used in the construction and design industries;
5. Ability to apply the essentials of architectural specification writing in identifying, recommending and using the appropriate type of materials for a particular building situation and/ or condition;
6. Ability to utilize architectural specifications as non-graphical tool to fully complement architectural working drawings;
7. Ability to promote awareness and to apply in practice the principles of public safety through systems and methods of construction;
8. Ability to describe the essentials of working drawing production through the language of graphical presentation;
9. Ability to translate conceptual architectural designs into architectural working drawings;
10. Ability to do detailing for architectural working drawings;
11. Ability to apply methods and techniques in the production of construction drawings/ documents for the construction, erection or assembly of a building/ structure;
12. Ability to describe essential concepts and principles relative to construction, erection, assembly and fabrication of various types of common buildings;
13. Ability to apply the different methods and techniques of estimating different quantities of materials, equipment and labor for use as a basis for sound project programming, scheduling and control;
14. Ability to describe the fundamental principles governing the design, purpose and application of the different types of non-conventional systems of construction and the advantages of using such systems;
15. Ability to provide some architectural working details for the various types of alternative building construction systems and components;
16. Ability to describe the latest system/s available in the construction industry; and
17. Ability to comprehend tender and construction documents and to understand the basic functions and legal importance of such documents.

C. Scope
The applicable architectural specifications for the following conventional and alternative building works:
a. Non-engineering civil works;
b. Carpentry and joinery;
Concrete and masonry;
d. Various metal works;
e. Structural steel for architectural applications;
f. Concrete and reinforced concrete for architectural applications;
g. Waterproofing, damp-roofing, insulation and the like;
h. Glass and glazing;
i. Painting and varnishing;
j. Doors, Windows and Other Fenestrations;
k. Hardware; and
1. Specialty works (pre-fabrication, vaults, signage, parking systems, etc.)

           The methods of construction for the following conventional and alternative building works:
a. Non-engineering civil works;
b. Carpentry and joinery;
c. Concrete and masonry;
d. Various metal works;
e. Structural steel for architectural applications;
f. Concrete and reinforced concrete for architectural applications;
g. Waterproofing, damp-roofing, sound and thermal insulation and the like;
h. Glass and glazing;
i. Painting and varnishing;
j. Doors, Windows and Other Fenestrations;
k. Hardware; and
1. Specialty works (pre-fabrication, vaults, signage, parking systems, etc.)

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

A. Rationale and Description

1. Understanding and analyses of architectural manifestations from the beginning of civilization to contemporary periods of development; and

2. Understanding and analyses of the influences of environmental, historical and socio-cultural factors and their relevance to the development of art, buildings, structures and of human settlements.

B. Terminal Competencies for LEA Candidates

1. Ability to relate the history of arts and architecture as well as the technologies and human sciences to considerations of ecology and sustainable development;

2. Ability to identify/ differentiate, analyze and compare evolved architectural styles; 

3. Ability to relate past architectural styles to the development of present-day utility and construction systems/ technologies;

4. Ability to help reinforce culture and architecture as reflected in tradition, convention and/ or current practices;

5. Ability to utilize insights in the history of the human community/ settlements planning and design, with special emphasis on Asian structures/ buildings/ settlements;

6. Ability to relate the evolution of Philippine architecture to historical and present-day architecture in Asia and elsewhere.

   C. Scope

1.. Introduction

a. The origin of architecture;

b. Historic styles of architecture; and

c. Factors affecting architectural solutions and styles.

2. Pre-Historic Architecture

a. Centers of development; and

b. Dolmen, Menhir, Cromlech. 

3. Historic Styles of Architecture

a. Period/ extent and centers of development;

b. Factors that affect the development of archi¬tectural solutions and styles (historical, environmental and socio-cultural);

c. General characteristics (architectural, struc¬tural, decorative, etc.);

d. General contributions; and

e. Notable examples.

3.1 Ancient architecture and the Western succession

a. Egyptian;

b. West Asiatic;

c. Greek;

d. Roman;

e. Early Christian;

f. Byzantine;

g. Romanesque Architecture in Europe;

h. Gothic Architecture in Europe;

i. Renaissance Architecture in Europe;

j. Nineteenth and Twentieth Century in Great Britain;

k. Architecture of Africa, Australia and New Zealand;

1. Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Architecture in Continental Europe; and

m. Architecture of the Americas.

3.2 Architecture in Asia and the Pacific Re¬gion

3.3 Architecture in the Philippines

a. Architectural legacies

a.1 Vernacular,  Folk and Pre-Spanish Architecture (before 1550 A.D.);

a.2 Spanish Colonial Architecture (1550-1899 A.D.);

a.3 American Colonial Architecture (1900-1945);

a.4 Architecture of the Commonwealth Period and of the Post-World War II period (1946-2000); and 

a.5 21st Century Philippine Architecture (2001 to present).

b. Architectural preservation, conser¬vation and restoration

c. Pillars of Philippine Architecture

c.1 Philosophies of Famous Filipino Architects; and

c.2 Examples of great works.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE

A. Rationale and Description

1. Understanding of the theories and principles of architectural programming, space planning, architectural planning and design and of the architectural program/ plan/ design process;

2. Understanding and analyses of the anthropometric, proxemic and kines¬thetic requirements of space in relation to the architectural program, plan and design preparation; and

3. Understanding and analyses of the socio-cultural and technological influences that contribute to the development of contemporary architecture.

B.  Terminal Competencies for LEA Candidates

1. Ability to identify, relate to and apply the principles of architectural programming, space planning and architectural planning and design to other art forms; 

2. Ability to transform the psychological, visual and perceptual language of architecture to symbols and representations of architectural programs, plans and designs; 

3. Awareness of construction and design industry standards for architectural program, plan and design preparation, particularly applicable space planning standards/ practices;

4. Ability to assess current theories and principles on architectural programming, on space planning and on architectural planning and design and to apply these theories and principles in the architectural program/ plan/ design processes; 

5. Ability to apply anthropometrics and ergonomics to architectural programming, to space planning and to architectural planning and design; 

6. Ability to apply the proxemic and kinesthetic requirements of space for human comfort in the context of Filipino culture, behavior and tradition and to anticipate the effects of these on architectural programs, on space plans and on architectural plans and designs;

7. Ability to apply analytical tools in determining the relevance of architectural programming, space planning and architectural planning and design theories to cultural development;

8. Ability to utilize critical socio-cultural and technological methods for analyzing architectural programming, space planning and architectural planning and design concepts in relation to national/ state development thrusts;

9. Ability to correlate architectural programs, space plans and architectural plans and designs with interior designs and landscape architecture plans and designs through a holistic approach.

10. Ability to effectively address climate, orientation and building environment/ setting considerations in the architectural programming, planning and design process.

11. Ability to employ different processes and instruments that shall result in a climate-/ setting-responsive architectural program, space plan and architectural plan and design;

12. Ability to apply different concepts, theories and principles of tropical architectural programming, planning and design as these apply to different architectural planning and design problems; and

13. Ability to correlate the significance of the philosophies of great/ past architects and their works to contemporary architecture.

C. Scope 

1. Introduction

a. The nature of architecture;

b. Architecture as an art and as a science; 

c. Processes in architectural programming and space planning; and

d. Processes in architectural programming, planning and design. 

2. Elements of Architecture and the Basic Principles of Architectural Programming, Space Planning and Architectural Planning and Design

a. Need-specific elements;

b. Structural, circulatory, protective and deco¬rative elements;

c. Influences in architectural programming, space planning and in architectural planning and design;

d. Basic principles of architectural programming, space planning and of architectural planning and design; and 

e.   Principles of Composition.

3. Architectural Planning and Design Perception

a. Anthropometric bases of architectural programming, planning and design;

b. Space articulation and territoriality;

c. Visual and perceptual language;

d. Psychology of space; and

e. Proxemics and culture.

4. Tropical Architecture - Architectural Programming, Planning and Design with Climate

a. Climatic Design : elements, factors, concepts, analysis and application for comfort;

b. Theories and Principles of Tropical Architectural Programming/ Planning/ Design;

c. Influences and elements of Tropical Architec¬ture; and

d. Specific examples of Tropical Architecture.

5. Masters of Architecture

a. Philosophies of the Great Architects; and

b. Examples of great works.

PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE

A. Rationale and Description

1. Understanding of the role, legal rights and obli¬gations and responsibilities of the registered and licensed architect (RLA);

2. Understanding, analyses and application of the various statutes, codes, and regulations affecting the state-regulated practice of the profession of architecture in the Philippines;

3. Understanding, analyses and application of the various international agreements affecting the global practice of the profession of architecture i.e. by duly-qualified Philippine RLAs outside the Philippines and by duly-qualified foreign architects (FAs) within Philippine territory; and

4. Understanding of the various aspects of the pro¬fessional practice of architecture as well as the efficient conduct of client and business-oriented relations for architectural planning/ design projects and for construction projects.

B.  Terminal Competencies for LEA Candidates

1. Ability to efficiently and effectively utilize legally-recognized types/ forms of architectural services in response to the needs of clients within the context of state-regulated professional architectural practice;

2. Ability to employ organized professional practice activities, basic concepts, tools and areas of application of business and office management, meeting/ monitoring project milestones and operational targets, etc.;  

3. Ability to conduct the post-evaluation and monitoring of completed projects and services;

4. Ability to implement the basic services of the registered and licensed architect (RLA) for effective organization, management and operation-related activities to satisfactorily deliver the RLA’s contracted services;

5. Ability to undertake comprehensive architectural planning and design services and the expanded role of the RLA beyond the regular architectural services;

6. Ability to prepares the various types of  architectural specifications and contract documents;

7. Ability to compute and evaluate architectural and other cost estimates involving construction, resource allocation and project management;

8. Ability to applies codes and standards of the profession and the laws, rules and regulations, guidelines, etc. relevant to the professional practice of architecture; 

9. Ability to understand and comply with the different laws that affect the professional practice of architecture in the Philippines;

10. Ability to understand and effectively address the legal consequences of an RLA’s actions as these relate to the pertinent laws, rules, regulations, guidelines and standards;

11. Ability to apply in practice the principles of public safety through building laws and codes;

12. Ability to comply with quality, cost and delivery standards;

13. Ability to apply ethical standards and professionalism in the practice of architecture i.e. ethical parameters applicable to situations in the practice of the profession;

14. Ability to comply with the moral responsibilities and obligations of a RLA to peers, clients, colleagues in the industry and society in general; 

15. Ability to understand and describe the processes involved in the generation of a globally competitive office/ project management system;

16. Ability to understand and appreciate the implications of a globally open practice; and

17. Ability to assume responsibility for personal and professional growth and the development of leadership qualities.

C. Scope

1. Current state regulations for the registration, licensing and practice of architecture, the Standards of Pro¬fessional Practice and the Code of Ethical Conduct

a. Statutes regulating the practice of architec¬ture in the Philippines

a.1 Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9266 (The Architecture Act of 2004) and its 2004 implementing rules and regulations (IRR), particularly those focusing on the relationships of the RLAs with the PRBoA and of the PRBoA with the PRC;

a.2 R.A. No. 8981 (The PRC Modernization Act of 2000) and its IRR; and

a.3 Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture (PRBoA) Resolutions  related to the Practice of Architecture in the Philippines.

b. Integrated and Accredited Professional Organization of Architects (IAPoA) - The United Architects of the Philippines as the IAPoA;

c. RLA’s Code of Ethical Conduct;  

d. RLA’s Credo;

d. Rights and responsibilities of the RLA;

e. Spectrum of architectural services;

e.1  Pre-Design Services

e.2  Design Services

e.3  Specialized Allied Services

e.4  Construction Services

e.5  Post-Construction Service

e.6  Comprehensive Services 

e.7  Design-Build Services

f. Architectural fees and charges;

g. Selection of the Architect and Methods of  Compensation  (including the conduct of architectural competitions); and

h.   Global Practice : GATS, APEC Architect, ASEAN Architect and its Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs)

2. General Laws, Building Laws and Related Regulations and Standards;

a. Architectural design standards, building and construction-related laws and their IRRs;

a.1 Presidential Decree (P.D.) No, 1096 : The 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP) and its 2004 Revised IRR;

a.2 R.A. No. 8293 : 1997 Philippine Intellectual Property Code and IRR; 

a.3 The Philippine Civil Code, particularly Article 1723 on the civil liability of RLAs;

         a.4 R.A. No. 9285 : The 2004 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Act and Executive Order (E.O.) No. 1008 : The Construction Industry Arbitration Law;

a.5 Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law;

a.6 R.A. No. 9184 : The Government Procurement Reform Act of 2003 and IRR; and

a.7 E.O. No. 278 : Practice of Architecture and Related Consulting Services for Foreign-Assisted Projects and its IRR and Guidelines;

b. Laws on real estate and subdivisions e.g. P.D. No. 957 and its 2001 IRR, etc.;

c. Laws on housing and human settlements e.g. Batas Pambansa (B.P.) No. 220 and its 2001 IRR, etc.;

d.   Awareness and general appreciation of P.D. No. 1096/ 1977 NBCP Referral Codes and their respective IRRs:

d.1  P.D. No. 1185 : Fire Code of the Philippines and IRR;

d.2  B.P. No. 344 : Accessibility Law and IRR;

d.3  Philippine Electrical Code;

d.4  Plumbing Code of the Philippines;

d.5  Sanitation Code of the Philippines;

d.6  Environmental Laws e.g. Clean Air, Water and Solid Waste Management Acts, etc.; and

d.7  National Structural Code of the Philippines. 

e.   Awareness and general appreciation of other professional regulatory laws (PRLs):

e.1  R.A. No. 1582 : Amended Civil Engineering Law of 1956, particularly its Sec. 24;

e.2  R.A. No. 8534 : Interior Design Law of 1997 and IRR; and

e.3  P.D. No. 1308 : Environmental Planning Law.

3. Other aspects of regulated architectural practice

a. Operating divisions of architectural practice, development, production, administration, and management (with emphases on prepa¬ration of tender and contract documents);

b. General quantity surveying for architectural works; 

c. Legal aspects of architectural practice e.g. administrative, criminal and civil cases, etc.;

d.      Business aspects of architectural practice;

e. 2008 Regional Trial Court (RTC) Decisions promulgated in support of RLAs; and

f, Various legal documents and issuances posted at the PRBoA website i.e. www.architectureboard.ph. 

PRINCIPLES OF PLANNING

A. Rationale and Description

1. Understanding and analysis of the concepts and techniques in macro-planning process at its various levels i.e. site and physical planning (specifically subdivision planning and master planning), human settle¬ments planning, urban and regional planning, land and water use planning, transportation planning, environmental planning, etc.; and

2. Understanding of the art and science of site and physical plan¬ning with emphases on their ecological, socio-psycho¬logical, aesthetic and functional bases.

B.  Terminal Competencies for LEA Candidates

1. Ability to utilize the art and science/s of site and physical planning with emphases on their ecological, socio-psychological, aesthetic and functional bases; 

3. Ability to relates the social issues and implications of site and physical planning; 

4. Ability to correlate history and macro-planning theories to ecology and sustainable development;  

5. Ability to employ the basic foundations of site and physical planning and the different macro-planning processes.

6. Ability to utilize useful planning techniques relevant to the rank of the architect as a planning and/ or design professional;

7. Ability to relate history and theories of site and physical planning, urban and regional planning, etc. to ecology and sustainable development; and

8. Ability to apply current thoughts and practices as regards site and physical plan formulation, implementation and monitoring. 

C. Scope

1. General Principles of Site and Physical Planning

a. Hierarchy of site and physical plans, definitions and classifications;

b. History and scope of site and physical planning; and

c. General planning process.

2. Urban and Regional Planning  

a. History of the urban and regional planning;

b. Theories of urban and regional planning;

c. Comprehensive land and water use planning (CLWUPs); 

d. Zoning ordinances (ZOs); and

e. Urbanization and urban social relationships.

3. Housing and Human Settlements Planning

a. Definitions and classifications;

b. State housing policies, programs and agencies;

c. State housing finance, production and practices;

4. The Art and Science of Site and Physical Planning 

a. Map and plan typology, identification and reading/ appreciation;

b. Site appreciation, analyses and programming; 

c. Primary considerations in site and physical planning e.g. physical, aesthetic, ecologi¬cal, socio-psychological, management, maintenance, etc.;

d. Subdivision Planning, Deed of Restriction and Development Guidelines; 

e. Master Development Planning (MDP); and

f.   Site Development Planning (SDP) for areas immediately surrounding buildings/ structures.

URBAN DESIGN

A. Rationale and Description

1. Understanding of the concepts and techniques in the general planning of physical settings and in the systematic/ comprehensive design of a community on an urban plane;

2.   Understanding of the art and science of urban design with emphasis on its ecological, socio-psychological, aesthetic and functional bases.

B.  Terminal Competencies for LEA Candidates

1. Ability to apply a sense of spatial order, scale, culture and history in handling urban design and community architecture problems;

2. Ability to develop an awareness of the need for expression and communication in the design of specific places in towns and cities;

3. Ability to utilize the knowledge of organization and behavior in the design of specific towns and cities through expression and communication;

4. Ability to associate the importance of community involvement/ participation and techniques in urban/community architecture; and 

5. Ability to describe the built environment in the context of ecological balance, sustainable development and conservation of cultural and historical heritage.

C. Scope 

1. General Principles of Urban Design and Community Architecture

a. Elements of urban design;

b. Community architecture e.g. orientation, identity, etc.;

c. Spaces in urban design, urban aesthetics and urban patterns;

d. Creating and identifying the sense of space;

e. Images of cities and symbols of urban design;

f. Cultural Basis of the design of communities;

g. Documenting the city: the system of design and process of presentation; and

h. Current public policy and concerns and legal considerations in urban design.

2.   Urban Design Theories, Rules and Processes

3.   Applications of design requirements for specific places in towns and cities:

a. Cluster Housing and Planned Unit Development (PUD);

b. Areas for Priority Development (APDs)/ Mixed Used Developments and Commercial Centers;

c. Industrial Parks and Districts;

d. Planning Educational Campuses;

e. Government/ Civic Centers and the Plaza Complex;

f. Village Planning,  Ecological Communities, Coastal/ Lakeshore Community Planning; 

g. Resort Community Planning and Design;

h. Parks and Open Spaces; Recreational Areas; 

i. Urban Renewal; 

j. Streetscapes; and 

k. Road rights-of-way (RROWs), ROWs and legal easements.

STRUCTURAL DESIGN (CONCEPTUAL LEVEL)

A. Rationale and Description

1. Understanding of the fundamentals of mechan¬ics, strength of materials and theory of struc¬tures; and

2. General conceptualization of the structural design for a building/ structure, its principles and analyses of the structural elements for the various types of construction materials, methods and systems to be used for the foundation, superstructure and shell of the building/ structure.

B.  Terminal Competencies for LEA Candidates

1. Ability to apply in practice the principles of public safety and structural stability;

2. Ability to generally conceptualize the building/ structure under combined loads and seismic forces;  

3. Awareness, appreciation and general understanding of he principles of stress and strain, bending, shear, torsion under plain and combined loads, shear and moment, determinate and indeterminate structures and elastic stability of columns;  

4. Ability to conceptualize structural design for simple timber, steel, reinforced concrete and composite buildings/ structures;

5. Ability to apply relevant provisions of P.D. No. 1096 (the 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines/ NBCP), the National Structural Code of the Philippines and other NBCP Referral Codes for simple timber and steel structures and simple reinforced concrete and composite buildings/ structures.  

6. Ability to read, understand and generally interpret structural plans, details, drawings, documents and soil investigation reports.

C. Scope

General conceptualization of structural design (including a basic understanding of seismic analysis), in the following building mate¬rials and construction systems:

a. Timber;

b. Reinforced concrete;

c. Structural steel;

d. Composite structures; and

e. Advanced construction methods.

UTILITIES

A. Rationale and Description

1. Understanding of the basic practices, principles, general design and installation and/or construc-tion of utilities required for a building/ struc¬ture and its grounds/premises;

2. Understanding and analyses of utility, facility, and equipment require¬ments in relation to aesthetics, function, and stability of a building/ structure and its pre¬mises.

B.  Terminal Competencies for LEA Candidates

1. Ability to identify and apply the fundamentals of building utilities and systems;

2. Ability to apply fundamental concepts and principles covering the general design and installation of electrical, mechanical, electronic/ communications, fire protection, building management, plumbing and sanitary systems, waste management systems, and the like in buildings and its grounds, consistent with trade practices and recommendations by the pertinent professionals;

3. Ability to applies the pertinent code provisions relative to the planning/ lay-outing, design, installation, operation and maintenance of such utility systems and their components; 

4. Ability to converse and coordinate with the professionals and their staff concerned with such utility systems and components;

5. Ability to apply the basic principles of planning, designing, operating and maintaining such utility systems and components;

6. Ability to identify and to apply  the different important aspects of acoustics and lighting as these relate to planning and design principles for buildings/ structures and their grounds; and

7. Ability to relate the psychological and physiological effects of such utility systems, sound and light on building occupants/ end-users.

C. Scope

Design and construction and/or installation of the following utility systems and their respective components:

1. Sanitary and Plumbing Systems and Equipment

a. Water source, storage, supply and distribu¬tion;

b. Plumbing rough-in and fixtures;

c. Drainage and sewerage systems; and

d. Waste collection, disposal, treatment and/or recycling.

2. Mechanical Systems

a. Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems;

b. Conveyors and other building mechanical equipment e.g. elevators, funiculars, escalators, walkalators, etc.;

3. Electrical and Other Power Systems

a. Electrical power and lighting supply, distri¬bution and fixtures; and

b. Electrical power source and alternative power sources.

4. Acoustics and Illumination

a. The psycho-physics of acoustics and lighting; and

b. Acoustical treatment and corrections.

5. Disaster Prevention and Protection Systems; Se¬curity Systems

a. Building fire-fighting, prevention, and pro¬tection apparatus;

b. Installation and/or construction of the different protection systems;

c. Materials and fixtures; and

d. Disaster prevention and mitigation systems.

6. Communication Systems

a. Electronics system; and

b. Telephone, intercom, internet/ DSL, cable TV, audio/video facilities, public address (PA) system, etc.

7. Building management and other systems

a. Climate/ lighting/ security controls and related applications for buildings/ structures;

b. Robotics and related intelligent building features.

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