Find resources on preliminary design processes for sites and buildings. Topics include building systems integration, site design strategies, and environmental systems. This category covers content tested in the Project Planning & Design division of ARE 5.0. It focuses on schematic design, sustainability principles, universal design requirements, and code compliance. Materials emphasize cost-effective design solutions, building envelope considerations, and structural system selection in early design phases.
Mastering occupancy classifications are essential for ARE success. This guide breaks down IBC's classification system and shows how it affects design, code compliance, and safety. Learn to confidently classify any project and avoid costly compliance...
This guide demystifies all major construction specification types and helps you understand when and how to use each one. These distinctions will make you more effective at writing, interpreting, enforcing, and managing construction documents....
This guide debunks the common misconception about document precedence and explains how drawings vs specifications work together as complementary contract documents. Understanding this drawings vs specifications relationship is crucial for both ARE success and professional...
Have you ever wondered why architectural specifications matter so much? Or maybe you've been avoiding them altogether because they seem intimidating or boring? I get it. Specs aren't exactly the most exciting part of architecture...
In the world of architecture and construction, one truth remains constant: something will always go wrong. No matter how meticulously you plan, how carefully you design, or how thoroughly you prepare your construction documents, the...
This podcast is also available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts One question can determine the entire course of an architecture project: Is the client public or private? This seemingly simple distinction fundamentally transforms every...