Free ARE PPD podcast episodes designed to help you pass the Project Planning and Design exam. Each episode breaks down NCARB’s objectives so you know exactly what to study – and what to skip.
PPD is the “design it” exam. Once you’ve analyzed the site and the program in PA, PPD is where you start making design decisions. Topics include:
PPD is one of the bigger exams on the ARE. It pulls from site design, structural systems, mechanical systems, building envelope, and code compliance all at once. Take PA first if you haven’t already – it builds the foundation PPD depends on.
No need to take notes while you listen. For many episodes, we’ve already made a free two-page set of study notes for you – just go to the episode page and grab them.
Ready for more than a podcast? Check out our complete PPD 101 course with 10+ hours of video lessons and 250+ practice questions.
PPD covers design-level decision making across five sections – environmental conditions, codes and regulations, building systems and assemblies, program and systems integration, and project costs. It’s one of the most content-heavy ARE exams because it pulls from so many different technical areas at once.
Most candidates find PPD significantly harder than PA. PA is focused on research and analysis – PPD asks you to apply that knowledge to actual design decisions across structural systems, mechanical systems, building envelope, and code compliance simultaneously. Give yourself extra study time for PPD.
Many episodes include a free two-page set of study notes. Just go to the individual episode page, enter your email, and download them. No note-taking required – just listen.
Architect insurance is one of those topics that nobody wants to think about until they absolutely have to. But understanding your coverage (from professional liability and errors and omissions insurance to claims-made policies, tail coverage,...
The A201 general conditions govern how construction projects actually work. Fifteen articles covering means and methods, the schedule of values, substantial completion, change orders, and dispute resolution for every party on the project. This...
An ADA bathroom layout requires specific dimensions for turning space, toilet clearance, grab bar placement, sink height, and fixture reach ranges. But the numbers only make sense when you understand the physical experience behind...
The difference between life and death during a building emergency often comes down to one thing: means of egress. These critical escape pathways aren’t arbitrary rules imposed by building officials; rather, they’re the result...
QA vs QC is one of the most commonly confused topics in construction and architecture. Quality assurance (QA) prevents problems before they happen. Quality control (QC) finds and fixes them after the fact. This...
On a pitched roof, gravity does all the work. Flatten that roof out and the water has nowhere to go. The only thing standing between that pooling water and the inside of the building...
Study motivation is the single biggest barrier for ARE candidates who have the books, the courses, and the study plan but can’t seem to open any of them. If exam stress and decision fatigue...
Join Michael and Emily for a free CDT® certification presentation on August 6, 2026. Learn how CDT certification fits into your ARE or NCIDQ prep, the full CSI® certification landscape, the Fall 2026 exam schedule,...
Construction disputes and construction claims are an unavoidable part of working in the AEC industry. Whether you’re managing an active project or preparing for the ARE exam, knowing how to prevent, navigate, and resolve these...
The architect standard of care doesn’t mean perfect work. It means the level of skill and care that a reasonably competent architect would exercise under similar circumstances. If you’re studying for the ARE or...
Every wall assembly has to manage three things: bulk water, air leakage, and vapor diffusion. A vapor barrier, an air barrier, and a weather resistive barrier each handle one of those jobs, but most people...
Most people working in architecture have worked under an AIA B101 for years without ever actually reading it. The contract gets signed, it sits in a drawer somewhere, and the entire team works under...
Years ago, I spent an entire day in a wheelchair. Not because I needed one, but because my professor told me to. I could dimension every ADA door clearance on a floor plan, but...
The most critical material on your building is not the steel, the concrete, or the glass. It is the quarter-inch bead of sealant between them, and most building envelope failures happen right there at...
Project delivery methods define the contractual relationships between the owner, the architect, and the contractor on every construction project. This post breaks down all the major construction delivery methods, from Design-Bid-Build to CMAR to...
There’s a lot of bad information out there about how to study for the architect exam. Most of it is costing people time, money, and years of their career. Get-rich-quick promises from exam prep companies,...
OFCI (owner furnished, contractor installed) is one of the most misunderstood procurement methods in construction. The OFCI meaning is straightforward on the surface, but it often delivers coordination headaches and liability questions that catch...
Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art explains why you keep sabotaging your architect exam prep and how to stop. This war of art summary breaks down Pressfield’s concept of Resistance, the invisible force behind...
Learn the difference between owner’s consultants and architect’s consultants, including where the liability falls, what coordination actually requires, and how to protect yourself on the ARE and in practice. This podcast is also available...
The visual learner myth has convinced thousands of ARE candidates that watching videos is enough to pass the architect exam. It’s not. This post breaks down the learning pyramid, explains the difference between active...