PDD: Project Development and Documentation

Black and white logo for the Architect Exam Podcast with bold text and a circular emblem in the word “Podcast.”

Find resources on construction documents, building systems, and design requirements. This category covers the Project Development & Documentation section of ARE 5.0. Topics include building system coordination, construction methods, technical drawings, and code rules during design and documentation. Materials focus on choosing materials, detailing, writing specifications, and working with consultants to create clear construction plans.

Cartoon bathroom wall reveals a chaotic maze of pipes behind a toilet and sink, illustrating confusion between a stack vent vs vent stack in plumbing systems.

Vent Stack vs Stack Vent: Clearing the Air for Good

Understanding the difference between vent stacks and stack vents is crucial for ARE success. This guide breaks down these confusing plumbing concepts with clear analogies and practical examples to help you master plumbing system design...

Overwhelmed ARE Candidate surrounded by ARE study guides and coffee cups, while a devil whispers “Take all 6 at once,” promoting an failing study strategy to make him more money.

Create a Realistic ARE Study Schedule That Actually Works

 Creating a realistic ARE study schedule is the difference between passing your architect exams and burning out before you finish. After helping hundreds of candidates since 2013, I’ve learned how to study better for...

Large tape measure wraps around a classical building with flags labeled gross area, net area, usable area, and rentable area, illustrating space measurement types.

Gross, Rentable, Usable, and Net Areas: Simply Explained

Understanding building area measurements is critical for architects, real estate professionals, and ARE candidates. This comprehensive guide explores the differences between gross area, rentable area, usable area, and net area (GRUN), explaining how these measurements...

Overwhelmed architect buried in paperwork, panicking over unclear documents, symbolizing the chaos of poor construction specification writing.

Top 10 Construction Specification Writing Errors & Solutions

Construction specification writing might not be the sexiest part of architecture, but it’s absolutely critical to bringing your designs to life correctly. Despite its importance, most architects repeatedly make common mistakes when writing specifications—often because...

Group of people urgently exiting a burning building through a doorway, illustrating the importance of a clear means of egress during emergencies.

Means of Egress: Making “OMG RUN FOR YOUR LIFE” Successful!

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 of...

Exhausted visual learner falls asleep studying for the ARE exam, surrounded by prep books and a hypnotic TV screen labeled “ARE PREP.”

Visual Learner Myth: Why You Need Multiple Study Methods

Have you ever spent hours watching ARE prep videos, feeling productive and confident, only to completely freeze when facing actual exam questions? You’re not alone—and contrary to popular belief, being a “visual learner” might be...

Architect reviewing a construction submittal in a workshop, surrounded by team members preparing detailed documents and samples.

Construction Submittals: No Exceptions Taken

 Understanding “no exceptions taken” and mastering construction submittals is essential for ARE success and professional practice. This comprehensive guide explains the submittal process, types, and review actions that translate design intent into construction reality....

Diagram-style graphic showing people separated from rising flames by distinct fire wall, fire barrier, and fire partition assemblies in a building.

Fire Wall, Fire Barrier, Fire Partition: Key Differences

This comprehensive guide breaks down the critical differences between fire walls, fire barriers, fire partitions, smoke barriers, and smoke partitions in building construction. Understand the specific fire-resistance ratings, continuity requirements, and applications for each system...

Two ARE Candidates celebrate passing their architect exams on a virtual call, surrounded by study materials, symbolizing the power of ARE Bootcamp.

Unlock The Power of ARE Bootcamp: How to Maximize Your Success

Ready to conquer the Architect Registration Exam? Whether you're just starting your ARE journey or looking to finish what you've started, understanding how to unlock ARE Bootcamp power can make all the difference in your...

Side-by-side comparison of QA vs QC showing one architect reviewing a quality assurance checklist in an office, and another performing quality control checks on-site.

QA vs QC: One Prevents Problems and The Other Finds Them

Mastering the QA vs QC relationship is crucial for architectural project success. Understanding when to apply quality assurance versus quality control can dramatically reduce errors, improve workflow efficiency, and prevent costly mistakes. This comprehensive guide...