Architect Exam Podcast

Michael Riscica
  • 5.0 (63)
  • Design
  • Updated Weekly

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. 2d ago

    079 - Galvanic Corrosion: How Dissimilar Metals Cause Failure

    Galvanic corrosion happens when dissimilar metals touch in the presence of moisture, and it destroys building assemblies faster than most people expect. In this episode, Layla breaks down exactly how galvanic corrosion works using the Statue of Liberty's 1980s restoration as a real-world case study. She covers the three ingredients every galvanic reaction needs, walks through the galvanic series chart so you know which metals are the bullies and which are the victims, and explains why copper beats up almost everything it touches. You will learn the surface area ratio concept, the water flow rule, and the "coat the cathode" trick that is counterintuitive but critical. The episode wraps with four prevention strategies and three quick rules you can apply to any material selection or detailing scenario. 📝 Key topics covered: What galvanic corrosion is and how it works The three ingredients for galvanic corrosion Galvanic series chart for architectural metals Why galvanized steel is galvanic action by design Surface area ratio and fastener corrosion Copper vs aluminum vs steel vs galvanized steel Water runoff corrosion and the water flow rule Four prevention strategies Coat the cathode, not the anode Galvanic corrosion on the ARE exam Three rules quick reference ⏱️ Chapters:  (0:00) Statue of Liberty Corrosion  (1:59) Free Galvanic Action Study Notes (3:16) How Galvanic Corrosion Works (4:27) Three Ingredients for Galvanic Corrosion (5:49) Galvanic Series Chart (6:59) Galvanized Steel Explained (7:47) Surface Area Ratio and Fasteners (9:46) Copper vs Aluminum vs Steel (13:04) How to Prevent Galvanic Corrosion (15:45) Galvanic Corrosion on the ARE Exam (17:14) ARE Study Materials (18:12) Galvanic Action Recap 📖 Read the full blog post 📝 Download the FREE Galvanic Action study notes 🎯 Get access to all ARE study materials with the ARE 101 Membership 🎯 Join our 10-week ARE Boot Camp 📚 Individual courses: PPD 101 PDD 101 Building Systems 101 Building Codes 101

    079 - Galvanic Corrosion: How Dissimilar Metals Cause Failure

  2. Aug 10

    078 - Roof Membrane Types: How to Choose for Any Building

    The five major roof membrane types for low-slope roofs: BUR, modified bitumen, EPDM, TPO, and PVC. In this episode, you will learn what each one is, where it belongs, and how to choose the right one for any building. We break down the two roofing families (built-up vs. single-ply), the thermoset vs. thermoplastic distinction that explains why some seams are welded and others are glued, and a decision framework based on budget, climate, and building use.  Whether you are studying for the ARE or working on a real project, this episode makes roof membranes simple. 📝 Key topics covered: Built-up roofing (BUR) vs. single-ply roofing Modified bitumen roofing: APP and SBS EPDM roofing (the rubber roof) TPO roofing: the most common single-ply membrane PVC roofing and chemical resistance Thermoplastic vs. thermoset seams (welded vs. glued) How to choose a roof membrane by budget, climate, and building use Roof membrane attachment methods: fully adhered, mechanically fastened, ballasted ⏱️ Chapters: (0:00) What Is a Low-Slope Roof Membrane  (1:07) Free Study Notes (1:48) Sloped vs Low-Slope Roof (2:40) Why Shingles Fail (3:16) Built-Up vs. Single-Ply Roofing (5:30) Built-Up Roofing (BUR) (8:06) Modified Bitumen Roofing (10:30) EPDM Roofing (12:36) TPO Roofing (14:24) PVC Roofing (16:39) How to Choose a Roof Membrane (19:12) How a Roof Membrane Stays Put (20:19) Roof Membrane Recap (21:55) Study with Young Architect 📖 Read the full blog post 📝 Download the FREE Roof Membranes study notes 🎯 Get access to all ARE study materials with the ARE 101 Membership 🎯 Join our 10-week ARE Boot Camp 📚 Individual courses covered in this episode: PPD 101 PDD 101 Building Systems 101

    078 - Roof Membrane Types: How to Choose for Any Building

  3. Aug 3

    077 - Study Motivation When the Exam Feels Impossible

    Study motivation is the real barrier to passing the architect exam, not the content itself. If you've been closing the laptop every night without reading a single page, this episode is for you. Emily shares her own experience with exam overwhelm and breaks down how to get unstuck. You'll learn why too many study resources makes the problem worse, how to shrink the entire ARE down to one objective you can tackle tonight, and why the 20-minute rule beats a 4-hour study session every time. This episode also covers why practice exams are your most powerful diagnostic tool, how to turn a bad score into a focused study plan, and how to fix the physical and digital environment that's working against your focus. 📝 Key Topics Covered: Decision fatigue: why too many resources causes study paralysis The two-source rule for cutting through information overload Micro-goals: using NCARB objectives as your daily study roadmap The 20-minute rule for building study momentum Practice exams as diagnostic tools, not pass/fail tests The ritual object technique for creating a study space anywhere Digital detox: why ARE forums and Reddit threads fuel anxiety ⏱️ Chapters:  (0:00) The 50-Pound Box (1:39) 150 Books vs 2 (3:12) Emily's Turning Point (4:16) Free Study Notes (4:53) Brain Dump Your Exam Fears (6:17) Stop Hoarding Study Resources (9:23) Shrink the Problem (10:45) Study One Topic at a Time (11:57) Micro-Goals and the 20-Minute Rule (13:45) The 20-Minute Rule (15:52) Practice Exams Are Diagnostic Tools (17:28) Normalize a Low Practice Score (18:13) What To Do With Your Results (21:30) Fix Your Study Environment (23:32) Digital Detox for Exam Prep (25:19) Self-Talk During Exam Prep (27:33) Permission to Be a Beginner 📖 Read the full blog post 📝 Download the FREE Study Motivation 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: PcM 101 (Practice Management) PjM 101 (Project Management) CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation) PA 101 (Programming and Analysis) PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design) PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs) Building Codes 101 Building Systems 101 AIA Contracts 101

    077 - Study Motivation When the Exam Feels Impossible

  4. Jul 27

    076 - What Is a Foot Candle? Lumens, Lux, and Luminance

    What are foot candles, and how are they different from lumens? Foot candles measure how much light actually arrives at a surface, while lumens measure total light output from the source. One foot candle equals one lumen per square foot. This episode breaks down all four core lighting measurements: candela, lumens, foot candles, and luminance. Layla uses one garden hose analogy to connect the entire chain from source to eye. You will learn what candela and luminous intensity measure, how luminous efficacy compares lamp performance, why lumens replaced watts, and how to convert foot candles to lux with a simple divide-by-10 shortcut. The episode also covers the difference between illuminance and luminance. A room can have 50 foot candles at the desk and still feel wrong because of surface reflectance, glare, and luminance ratios. Direct glare, reflected glare, and how the architect controls visual comfort through finish selection are all covered. 📝 Key topics covered: Candela and luminous intensity Lumens and luminous flux Lumens vs watts and luminous efficacy Foot candles and how they relate to lumens Foot candles to lux conversion Illuminance vs luminance Direct glare and reflected glare Luminance ratios and visual comfort Lighting vocabulary on the architect exam ⏱️ Chapters:  (0:00) Introduction (1:08) Free ARE Study Notes (2:12) How Light Is Measured (3:23) Candela and Luminous Intensity (5:35) Lumens and Luminous Flux (6:37) Lumens vs Watts (7:59) What Are Foot Candles (10:31) Foot Candles to Lux Conversion (11:14) Illuminance vs Luminance (13:36) Direct and Reflected Glare (15:24) From Lumens to Luminance (16:58) Lighting on the Architect Exam (19:03) Lighting Units Recap (20:02) Building Systems 101 📖 Read the full blog post 📝 Download the FREE Lighting Fundamentals study notes 🎯 Get access to all ARE study materials with the ARE 101 Membership 🎯 Join our 10-week ARE Boot Camp 📚 Courses mentioned in this episode: Building Systems 101 PPD 101 PDD 101

    076 - What Is a Foot Candle? Lumens, Lux, and Luminance

  5. Jul 21

    075.5 - Free CDT and CSI Certifications Presentation (Fall 2026)

    Join Michael and Emily for a free CDT® certification presentation on August 6, 2026 at 7:30 PM Eastern. Learn why CDT® takes just 30 to 60 hours to pass compared to the 900 to 1,300 hours for the full architect exam, and how over 300 Boot Camp members have already earned their CDT® certification. This episode breaks down all four CSI® certifications: CDT®, CCCA®, CCS®, and CCPR®. You will learn how CDT® serves as the foundation for three advanced credentials, why CDT® is designed for everyone in the AEC industry, and how the Fall 2026 exam schedule works so you do not miss early bird pricing. Register for the free presentation and get invited to a bonus CDT® study session. Whether you are an ARE candidate, interior designer, engineer, contractor, or product rep, CDT® certification gives you a real credential while you are already in exam mode. 📝 Key Topics Covered: Why CDT® takes 30 to 60 hours vs 900 to 1,300 for the ARE CDT®, CCCA®, CCS®, and CCPR® certifications explained CCCA® has 75% overlap with the CE exam Fall 2026 CDT® exam timeline and early bird registration How to register for the free presentation on August 6 ⏱️ Chapters: (0:00) Free CDT® Presentation Invite (1:31) Why CDT® Certification Matters (3:15) CDT® Certification for the AEC Industry (3:56) CSI® Certifications Explained (5:52) CDT® Exam Schedule Fall 2026 (6:44) What We Cover at This Event (8:38) Register at YoungArchitect.com/CDTwebinar 📖 Read the full blog post 🎯 Register for the FREE CDT® Presentation 🎯 Join our 10-week ARE Boot Camp 🎯 Get access to all ARE study materials with the ARE 101 Membership 📋 CSI® Certification Courses: CDT® 101 CCCA® 101 📚 Individual ARE Exam Courses: Construction and Evaluation (CE 101) Practice Management (PcM 101) Project Management (PjM 101) Programming and Analysis (PA 101) Project Planning and Design (PPD 101) Project Development and Documentation (PDD 101) Building Codes 101 Building Systems 101 AIA Contracts 101

    075.5 - Free CDT and CSI Certifications Presentation (Fall 2026)

  6. Jul 20

    075 - Historic Preservation: From Rehabilitation to Reconstruction

    Historic preservation defines four distinct approaches to working on historic buildings, and mixing them up can send your project in the wrong direction. In this episode, Michael Riscica breaks down the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and explains what preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and reconstruction each mean, what they allow, and how to tell them apart. You'll learn why adaptive reuse falls under rehabilitation, how the 20% federal historic tax credit works, and why "renovation" is not one of the four approaches. 📝 Key topics covered: Secretary of the Interior's Standards and the regulatory framework Preservation: maintaining every layer of a building's history Rehabilitation and adaptive reuse: compatible but differentiated additions 20% federal historic tax credit and contributing vs. non-contributing structures Restoration: returning to a specific period of significance Reconstruction: rebuilding what no longer exists ⏱️ Chapters: (0:00) Four Words That Mean Different Things (1:26) Free Study Notes (2:01) Secretary of the Interior's Standards (5:05) The Intervention Spectrum (5:54) Preservation: Press Pause (7:52) Rehabilitation: Adapt and Reuse (13:43) Restoration: Turn Back the Clock (16:50) Reconstruction: Build It Again (18:56) Which Approach Applies? (20:44) Study with Young Architect 📖 Read the full blog post 📝 Download the FREE Historic Preservation 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: PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design) PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs) Building Codes 101 PA 101 (Programming and Analysis) PcM 101 (Practice Management) PjM 101 (Project Management) CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation) AIA Contracts 101 Mechanical Systems 101

    075 - Historic Preservation: From Rehabilitation to Reconstruction

  7. Jul 13

    074 - Architecture Firm Finances: From Salary to Profit

    Architecture Firm Finances: From Salary to Profit The overhead rate, utilization rate, and net multiplier are the financial concepts that keep architecture firms alive. In this episode, Emily breaks down how architecture firm finances actually work, starting with the gap between what an architect earns ($50/hr) and what the client gets billed ($125/hr). You'll learn where that $75 difference goes, why it has to exist, and how to calculate every number in between. Emily walks through each formula using one running example so you can follow the math from start to finish. You'll see how direct labor and indirect labor create the need for overhead, how the overhead rate and break-even rate determine the minimum a firm needs to charge, and how the net multiplier ties it all together. She also covers a real $50K project staffing scenario and explains the markup vs margin trap that trips up ARE candidates on exam day. 📝 Key topics covered: Overhead rate formula and how to calculate it Direct labor vs indirect labor in an architecture firm Utilization rate targets for architects and principals Break-even rate: the minimum billing rate to survive Net multiplier and net operating revenue (NOR) Markup vs profit margin: the ARE exam trap ⏱️ Chapters:  (0:00) Salary vs. Billing Rate  (0:30) Welcome and Episode Overview (1:32) Free Study Notes (2:07) What Is a Staff Work Plan? (4:24) Direct vs. Indirect Labor (5:56) Utilization Rate Explained (8:44) Overhead Rate Formula (12:04) Break-Even Rate Formula (14:18) Net Multiplier and NOR (16:59) Staffing a $50K Project (20:43) Overhead vs. Profit (22:24) Markup vs. Profit Margin (25:04) PcM and PjM Exam Connections (26:16) Recap (27:04) Check Out PCM 101 📖 Read the full blog post 📝 Download the FREE Architecture Firm Finances 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: PcM 101 (Practice Management) PjM 101 (Project Management) AIA Contracts 101 CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation) PA 101 (Programming and Analysis) PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design) PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs) Building Codes 101 Mechanical Systems 101

    074 - Architecture Firm Finances: From Salary to Profit

  8. Jul 6

    073 - Vapor Barriers Explained: Water, Air, and Moisture in Walls

    Vapor barriers, air barriers, and water barriers each do a completely different job inside your wall assembly, and mixing them up is one of the most common mistakes on the ARE. In this episode, we break down the three barrier types that protect your building envelope from moisture damage. You'll learn how weather resistive barriers and drainage planes keep bulk water out, and why air leakage actually carries far more moisture than vapor diffusion. We walk through perm ratings, the three classes of vapor retarders, and the warm-side rule for vapor retarder placement by climate. We also cover rainscreen systems, the perfect wall concept, thermal bridging, blower door testing, and the moisture sandwich trap that causes mold and rot inside walls. 📝 Key topics covered: Vapor barrier vs vapor retarder terminology Weather resistive barriers and house wrap Drainage planes and rainscreen assemblies Window flashing and water intrusion Air barrier material vs air barrier system Blower door testing for air leakage Perm ratings and vapor retarder classes Vapor retarder placement by climate Smart vapor retarders for mixed climates Perfect wall concept and continuous insulation Thermal bridging Moisture sandwich: why walls need to dry ⏱️ Chapters:  (0:00) Introduction (1:42) Building Envelope Explained (3:53) Water Barriers and WRBs (5:12) Drainage Planes and Rainscreens (7:38) Flashing and Water Intrusion (9:29) Air Barriers Explained (12:27) Blower Door Testing (12:53) Air Barrier vs Vapor Barrier (13:44) Vapor Retarders and Perm Ratings (17:05) Vapor Retarder Placement (19:52) Smart Vapor Retarders (20:52) How Wall Assemblies Work Together (22:38) Thermal Bridging and Perfect Wall (24:41) Common Vapor Barrier Mistakes (27:08) Recap and Free Study Notes (29:39) PDD ARE Study Materials 📖 Read the full blog post and grab free study notes: Vapor Barriers Explained: Water, Air, and Moisture in Walls 📝 Free 2-page study notes: Download free study notes 🎯 ARE 101 Membership (all courses, one subscription) 🎯 ARE Boot Camp (10-week coaching program) 📚 Individual ARE Exam Courses: PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs) PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design) Building Codes 101 Mechanical Systems 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

    073 - Vapor Barriers Explained: Water, Air, and Moisture in Walls
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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.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Riscica
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    81
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    ©2025
  • Show Website
    Architect Exam Podcast