Architect Exam Podcast

Michael Riscica
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Free, high-value ARE prep broken into digestible episodes that make studying accessible and actually enjoyable. We translate complex exam content into clear, actionable strategies based directly on NCARB's objectives—not complicated study approaches that miss the mark. Young Architect has guided thousands to licensure since 2013 by simplifying ARE prep to what truly matters and keeping it fresh. Subscribe for practical ARE insights delivered in a format that fits your busy life.

  1. 071 - ADA Door Clearance: Why These Dimensions Exist

    2d ago

    071 - ADA Door Clearance: Why These Dimensions Exist

    ADA door clearance requires 32 inches minimum, but a 32-inch door won't get you there. Learn why 36-inch doors became the standard and what every ADA dimension is actually solving. In this episode, Emily spent an entire day in a wheelchair during college and came back with a completely different understanding of accessible design. She walks you through how people actually move through buildings, from doors to ramps to corridors, and explains the human problem behind every ADA requirement. You'll learn door clear width, the 5-pound opening force rule, why pull-side maneuvering clearance is larger, and how the Capitol Crawl changed everything. Beyond doors, this episode covers ADA ramp slopes and the 1:20 threshold that triggers handrail requirements, the guardrail vs handrail distinction that contractors get wrong constantly, the 60-inch turning diameter (not radius), protruding objects and cane detection, and reach ranges for operable controls. 📝 Key topics covered: ADA door clearance: 32-inch clear width and why 36-inch doors are standard Door opening force: the 5-pound rule for interior doors Guardrail vs handrail: 42 inches for falls, 34-38 inches for grip ADA ramp slope: the 1:12 rule and the 1:20 ramp trigger Protruding objects: the 27-80 inch cane detection danger zone Reach ranges: 15-48 inches for operable controls ⏱️ Chapters:  (0:00) What Is ADA? (1:57) Free Study Notes (2:45) ADA Door Clear Width (6:06) ADA Door Opening Force (7:37) ADA Door Maneuvering Clearance (10:27) ADA History: The Capitol Crawl (11:59) ADA vs Building Code (13:50) When ADA Applies (15:11) ADA: Designing for Every Body (19:11) ADA Accessible Route (21:12) ADA Ramp Slope: The 1:12 Rule (23:39) Guardrail vs Handrail (26:42) ADA Turning Diameter (29:21) ADA Protruding Objects (32:09) ADA Reach Range Requirements (34:20) ADA Elevator Requirements (35:38) ADA Quick Reference (38:16) ADA Bathroom Layout Preview 📖 Read the full blog post 📝 Download the FREE ADA Door Clearance study notes 🎯 Get access to all ARE study materials with the ARE 101 Membership 🎯 Join our 10-week ARE Boot Camp 📚 Individual ARE Exam Courses: Building Codes 101 PA 101 (Programming and Analysis) PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design) PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs) CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation) PcM 101 (Practice Management) PjM 101 (Project Management) AIA Contracts 101 Mechanical Systems 101

    40 min
  2. 070 - Seismic Irregularities: Soft Story to Shear Walls

    Jun 8

    070 - Seismic Irregularities: Soft Story to Shear Walls

    Soft story buildings are one of the most dangerous structural conditions in seismic design, and the 1994 Northridge earthquake proved why. In this episode, we break down the seismic irregularities that cause buildings to fail during earthquakes. You will learn the difference between a soft story and a weak story, how geometric and mass irregularities create dangerous force concentrations, and why a broken load path is the most dangerous irregularity of all. We also cover re-entrant corners, torsional irregularity, rigid vs flexible diaphragms, and how collectors and drag struts keep the lateral load path connected. Then we walk through the exam strategy: red flags to watch for, common fixes including moment frames, braced frames, and seismic joints, and the one principle NCARB keeps coming back to. Eliminate the irregularity entirely rather than engineering around it. 📝 Key topics covered: Soft story buildings and the 1994 Northridge earthquake Soft story vs weak story: bending vs breaking Building drift and the 70% stiffness threshold Vertical geometric irregularity and building setbacks Mass irregularity and heavy mechanical floors Continuous load path: roof to diaphragm to shear walls to foundation In-plane discontinuity vs out-of-plane offset Collectors and drag struts Rigid vs flexible diaphragms Re-entrant corners in L-shaped and T-shaped buildings Torsional irregularity: center of mass vs center of rigidity Moment frames vs braced frames ARE exam red flags for seismic irregularities ⏱️ Chapters: 0:00) Soft Story Buildings and Northridge (1:40) Study Notes (3:26) Soft Story vs Weak Story (6:36) Geometric and Mass Irregularities (8:54) Load Path and Shear Wall Discontinuities (13:17) Re-Entrant Corners and Torsion (15:50) Seismic Irregularities on the ARE (18:32) Seismic Design Key Takeaways 📖 Read the full blog post and grab free study notes: Soft Story Building: Seismic Irregularities Explained 📝 Free study notes for this episode: youngarchitect.com/seismic 🎯 ARE 101 Membership (access all courses) 🎯 ARE Boot Camp (10-week coaching program) 📚 Individual ARE Exam Courses: PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design) PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs) Building Codes 101 PA 101 (Programming and Analysis) CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation) Mechanical Systems 101 PcM 101 (Practice Management) PjM 101 (Project Management) AIA Contracts 101 CDT 101 (Construction Documents Technologist) CCCA 101 (Construction Contract Administration)

    21 min
  3. 069 - Sealant Types, Backer Rod, and Joint Design for Buildings

    Jun 1

    069 - Sealant Types, Backer Rod, and Joint Design for Buildings

    Which sealant goes where on the building envelope? This episode covers every sealant type, backer rod, and how to design joints that actually work. We break down the five main sealant families: silicone, polyurethane, polysulfide, acrylic, and MS polymer. Each one has a personality, a best use, and a catch. You'll learn why silicone can't be painted, why polyurethane hates UV, why polysulfide smells like rotten eggs, and when MS polymer gives you the best of both worlds. Then we get into joint design, because even the best sealant fails if the joint is wrong. We cover backer rod (open cell vs. closed cell), the width-to-depth ratio that makes or breaks a sealant joint, tooling, and the number one joint design failure: three-sided adhesion. 📝 Key topics covered: Silicone sealant: acetoxy vs. neutral cure and when each one matters Polyurethane sealant for concrete expansion joints and window perimeters How backer rod controls depth and prevents three-sided adhesion The hourglass profile and why sealant joint geometry matters Adhesion failure vs. cohesion failure: two ways sealants break Sealant vs. caulk: what's the actual difference ⏱️ Chapters: (0:00) Why Sealants Matter Most (0:50) Free ARE Study Notes (1:22) Sealant vs. Caulk (2:26) Sealant Movement and Failure Modes (4:33) John Hancock Tower Sealant Failure (5:35) Silicone Sealant: The Diva (8:22) Polyurethane Sealant: The Workhorse (10:17) Polysulfide Sealant: The Hazmat Suit (11:39) Acrylic Sealant: The Weekend Warrior (12:45) MS Polymer Sealant: The Hybrid (13:48) Sealant Selection Cheat Sheet (14:26) Butyl and Acoustical Sealant (15:36) How to Design a Sealant Joint (15:57) Backer Rod (17:43) Sealant Joint Width and Depth (20:00) Three-Sided Adhesion (21:11) Sealant Speed Round (22:32) NCARB Exam Connections (23:27) Sealant Recap (24:44) Young Architect Academy 📖 Read the full blog post 📝 Download the FREE Sealant study notes 🎯 Get access to all ARE study materials with the ARE 101 Membership 🎯 Join our 10-week ARE Boot Camp 📚 Individual courses: PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs) PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design) Building Codes 101 CDT 101 (Construction Documents Technologist)

    26 min
  4. 068 - Project Delivery Methods: DBB, Design-Build, CMAR, and More

    May 26

    068 - Project Delivery Methods: DBB, Design-Build, CMAR, and More

    Project delivery methods define who holds the contracts, who carries the risk, and how the architect's role changes on every construction project. This episode breaks down all six major methods so you know exactly how each one works. Emily walks through Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), Construction Manager as Agent (CMa), Multiple Prime, and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD).  You'll learn why the architect works for the owner in some methods and for the contractor in others, what a GMP contract actually does, and how to match the right delivery method to a project scenario on the ARE. This topic shows up on three different ARE exams and the CDT exam. If you invest the time to learn it now, it pays off on every exam you take. 📝 Key topics covered: Design-bid-build: the traditional sequential method Design-build: one team, one contract, architect works for the contractor CMAR and GMP contracts: how the CM shifts from advisor to constructor CM at risk vs CM as agent: who holds the subcontracts Fast-tracking: a scheduling technique, not a delivery method Progressive design-build, design assist, and bridging ⏱️ Chapters:  (0:00) What Are Project Delivery Methods  (2:48) How Delivery Methods Hit the ARE (4:39) Design-Bid-Build Explained (6:16) DBB Pros and Cons (7:22) Who Holds the Risk in DBB (8:24) Design-Build Explained (9:36) Architect's Role in Design-Build (10:18) Fast-Tracking in Design-Build (12:33) DB Pros and Cons (13:32) Progressive Design-Build (14:11) Design Assist and Bridging (16:03) Construction Manager at Risk (16:55) What Is a GMP Contract (17:38) CMAR Phase Shift Explained (19:54) CMAR Pros and Cons (22:05) CM at Risk vs CM as Agent (23:11) Construction Manager as Agent (27:44) Multiple Prime Contracts (30:28) Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) (33:18) How to Choose a Delivery Method (36:12) ARE Study Resources 📖 Read the full blog post 📝 Download the FREE Project Delivery Methods study notes 🎯 Get access to all ARE study materials with the ARE 101 Membership 🎯 Join our 10-week ARE Boot Camp 📚 Individual courses: PcM 101 (Practice Management) PjM 101 (Project Management) CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation) AIA Contracts 101 CDT 101 (Construction Documents Technologist)

    39 min
  5. 067 - Types of Insulation: Materials, R-Values, and Assemblies

    May 22

    067 - Types of Insulation: Materials, R-Values, and Assemblies

    Types of insulation explained, from fiberglass batts to spray foam to rigid board to continuous insulation. This episode covers every major insulation type you need to know for the ARE exam and real-world practice. You'll learn how heat transfer works through buildings, then walk through each material one by one. Fiberglass vs mineral wool, open cell vs closed cell spray foam, EPS vs XPS vs polyiso, and why continuous insulation is the only way to solve thermal bridging. Every section connects back to how these materials behave in real wall assemblies, not just what their R-value is on a spec sheet. 📝 Key topics covered: Fiberglass insulation vs mineral wool insulation Open cell vs closed cell spray foam EPS vs XPS vs polyiso rigid board insulation Continuous insulation and thermal bridging Blown-in insulation and dense pack cellulose How insulation choice affects vapor management ⏱️ Chapters:  (0:00) Introduction (1:48) Free Study Notes (3:07) How Heat Transfer Works (6:49) Fiberglass and Mineral Wool Batts (9:51) Blown-In Insulation (12:25) Spray Foam: Open vs Closed Cell (15.28) Rigid Board Insulation (17:58) Continuous Insulation (20:51) SIPs, ICFs, Radiant Barriers (22:54) Vapor Barriers and Insulation (24:15) Common Insulation Exam Traps (26:08) ARE Study Materials (27:14) Wrap Up 📖 Read the full blog post and grab free study notes: Types of Insulation: Materials, R-Values, and Assemblies 📝 Free 2-page insulation study notes: youngarchitect.com/insulation 🎯 ARE 101 Membership (access all ARE courses) 🎯 ARE Boot Camp (10-week coaching program) 📚 Individual courses: PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design) PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs) Building Codes 101 Mechanical Systems 101 CDT 101 (Construction Documents Technologist) PA 101 (Programming and Analysis) CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation) PcM 101 (Practice Management) PjM 101 (Project Management) AIA Contracts 101

    28 min
  6. 066 - Types of HVAC Systems and How to Choose

    May 18

    066 - Types of HVAC Systems and How to Choose

    There are a lot of different types of HVAC systems, and if you're studying for the ARE or coordinating with mechanical engineers, you need to know what each one does and when to use it. In this episode, Layla breaks down every major HVAC system type into four categories: all-air, water-based, refrigerant-based, and packaged systems. She covers VAV, fan coil units, VRF, rooftop units, PTACs, radiant floor heating, chilled beams, DOAS, split systems, and more. Then she walks through how to match each system to different building types, which is exactly how the PPD and PDD exams test this material. If mechanical system questions have been tripping you up, this one's for you. 📝 Key Topics Covered: VAV systems: the workhorse of commercial office buildings Fan coil units: individual room control for hotels and apartments VRF systems: flexible refrigerant-based zoning for mid-rise and retrofit projects Rooftop units and PTACs: simple packaged systems for retail and hotels Radiant floor heating: when forced air can't reach the occupants DOAS: why ventilation gets its own dedicated system Matching HVAC systems to building types for the ARE ⏱️ Chapters: (0:00) Introduction (2:32) How to Think About HVAC (4:17) All-Air Systems (7:47) Water-Based Systems (10:32) Packaged and Refrigerant Systems (13:13) Matching Systems to Buildings (18:22) Wrap Up 📖 Read the full blog post with diagrams and a building-type matching table: Types of HVAC Systems and How to Choose 📝 Download the free HVAC study notes: Free HVAC Study Notes 🎯 Join ARE Boot Camp, our 10-week coaching program: ARE Boot Camp 📚 Get access to all ARE courses with the ARE 101 Membership: ARE 101 Membership Individual ARE and CSI Exam Courses: Mechanical Systems 101 PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design) PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs) Building Codes 101 CDT 101 (Construction Documents Technologist) CCCA 101 (Construction Contract Administration) PcM 101 (Practice Management) PjM 101 (Project Management) CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation) PA 101 (Programming and Analysis) AIA Contracts 101

    20 min
  7. 065 - How to Study for the Architect Exam - Trailer

    May 11

    065 - How to Study for the Architect Exam - Trailer

    How to study for the architect exam is the one topic I know more about than anything else. This episode is a trailer for a free 30-minute video presentation covering what actually works and how not to screw it up. I put this presentation together for an NCARB licensing advisor event, and it turned out so well that I decided to release it as a free resource on our website. It includes detailed slides that walk you through the architect exam prep strategies I've seen work over and over again with real candidates, based on 10+ years of coaching through the ARE Boot Camp. This isn't a regular Architect Exam Podcast episode. The full presentation is a video designed to be watched, not just listened to, which is why it lives on our website instead of in your podcast feed. 📝 Key topics covered in the full presentation: Why getting your architecture license is the most important project of your career The two phases of the ARE and why exam order matters Why NCARB's objectives are your only study roadmap How to use textbooks (and why video courses alone aren't enough) Realistic expectations: 700 to 1,300 hours and 3 years on average The mindset shift that separates people who finish from people who quit 📖 Watch the full free presentation or visit YoungArchitect.com/howtostudy 🎯 Get access to all ARE study materials with the ARE 101 Membership 🎯 Join our 10-week ARE Boot Camp

    2 min
  8. 064 - OFCI: Owner Furnished, Contractor Installed Simply Explained

    May 4

    064 - OFCI: Owner Furnished, Contractor Installed Simply Explained

    OFCI (owner furnished, contractor installed) is one of those procurement methods that sounds simple until coordination breaks down on a real project. In this episode, Emily explains what OFCI means, how it compares to CFCI and OFOI, and why splitting the furnish-and-install responsibility creates real risks for owners, contractors, and architects. We walk through the most common OFCI items you'll see on construction projects, the coordination challenges that come with owner-furnished materials including quantity estimation errors, delivery timing, trade coordination, chain of custody, and warranty disputes. Then we break down exactly how OFCI gets documented in Division 01 specifications, individual spec sections, drawings, and contracts. If you're studying for the ARE or CDT exam, this episode covers procurement scenarios you need to understand for PcM, PjM, and CE. 📝 Key topics covered: What OFCI means and how "provide" equals furnish and install in AIA contracts OFCI vs CFCI vs OFOI procurement methods Why owners choose OFCI: cost savings, schedule, quality control, and tax benefits Common OFCI items on construction projects The 5 major OFCI risks: quantity estimation, delivery timing, trade coordination, liability and chain of custody, and warranty disputes How OFCI gets documented in Division 01, specs, drawings, and contracts OFCI scenarios on the PcM, PjM, CE, and CDT exams ⏱️ Chapters: (0:00) Introduction (3:01) What Is OFCI? (5:28) Why Owners Choose OFCI (9:19) Common OFCI Items (10:39) Risks and Coordination Challenges (17:06) How OFCI Gets Documented (20:00) OFCI on the ARE and CDT Exams (22:11) Wrap Up 📖 Read the full blog post: OFCI: Owner Furnished, Contractor Installed Simply Explained 📝 Download the FREE 2-page OFCI study guide: YoungArchitect.com/OFCI 🎯 Ready to pass the ARE? Get access to all our ARE Study Materials with the ARE 101 Membership 🎯 Join the ARE Boot Camp coaching program 📚 Individual Courses: PjM 101 (Project Management) CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation) PcM 101 (Practice Management) CDT 101 (Construction Documents Technologist) PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs) CCCA 101 (Construction Contract Administration) PA 101 (Programming and Analysis) PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design) Building Codes 101 Mechanical Systems 101 AIA Contracts 101

    24 min
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About

Free, high-value ARE prep broken into digestible episodes that make studying accessible and actually enjoyable. We translate complex exam content into clear, actionable strategies based directly on NCARB's objectives—not complicated study approaches that miss the mark. Young Architect has guided thousands to licensure since 2013 by simplifying ARE prep to what truly matters and keeping it fresh. Subscribe for practical ARE insights delivered in a format that fits your busy life.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Riscica
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    73
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ©2025
  • Show Website
    Architect Exam Podcast

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