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PODCAST

Architect Exam Podcast

Michael Riscica

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.

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All Episodes

22:17

084 - Lighting Calculations: How Many Fixtures Does a...

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/10/05

A lighting calculation is multiplication and division, not engineering math. This episode covers the foot candle chart, the lumen method formula, and the inverse square law. Most candidates skip lighting calculations because the phrase sounds harder than the work actually is. The arithmetic was never the problem. The vocabulary was. Layla walks through recommended foot candle levels by space type, then runs two complete fixture-count calculations with every step showing. You will see what happens to

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30:49

083 - A201 General Conditions in 30 Minutes

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/09/14

A201 general conditions explained in 30 minutes, covering the entire AIA A201 from contractor roles and means and methods to schedule of values, substantial completion, and dispute resolution. The A201 is the operating manual for construction projects. In this episode, Michael flies over all fifteen articles and breaks down how the owner, architect, and contractor work together when things go according to plan and when they don't. The episode covers the means and methods line, the schedule of values

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26:14

082 - Types of Light Bulbs, Color Temperature, and CRI

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/09/07

Every type of light bulb produces different color quality, and two numbers on the spec sheet control everything: color temperature (CCT) measured in Kelvin, and the color rendering index (CRI) measured on a 0 to 100 scale. This episode covers both numbers and every major lamp type from incandescent to LED. Layla walks through the Kelvin scale from warm 2700K residential lighting to cool 5000K daylight, then explains why CRI determines whether colors look natural or washed out under any light source

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26:11

081 - Zoning Fundamentals: Setbacks, Easements, FAR...

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/08/31

Zoning controls what you build, how tall, and how close to the property line before you draw a single line. This episode breaks down every zoning term candidates confuse. We cover setbacks, encroachment, easements, right-of-way, and how to figure out your actual buildable area. Then we get into the density controls: floor area ratio, lot coverage, impervious surface, and building height limits. You'll see how the same FAR produces three completely different buildings on the same lot. The second half

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22:25

080 - ADA Bathroom Layout: Designing for Real Bodies

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/08/24

ADA bathroom layout dimensions all exist to make one physical action possible: the toilet transfer. This episode breaks down every restroom requirement and the human experience behind it. Emily spent an entire day in a wheelchair during college. The restroom was the hardest part. Maneuvering around the door swing, backing into the stall, twisting to lock the door, then using nothing but upper body strength to drag herself onto the toilet. That experience changed how she designs every restroom. In

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18:59

079 - Galvanic Corrosion: How Dissimilar Metals Cause...

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/08/17

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

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24:31

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

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/08/10

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

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28:44

077 - Study Motivation When the Exam Feels Impossible

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/08/03

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

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22:04

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

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/07/27

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

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09:54

075.5 - Free CDT and CSI Certifications Presentation...

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/07/21

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

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22:42

075 - Historic Preservation: From Rehabilitation to...

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/07/20

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

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28:15

074 - Architecture Firm Finances: From Salary to Profit

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/07/13

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

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31:09

073 - Vapor Barriers Explained: Water, Air, and...

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/07/06

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

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34:38

072 - B101 in 35 Minutes: The Owner-Architect Agreement

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/06/29

AIA B101 is the most important contract in architecture, and most people working under it have never actually read it. This episode breaks down the entire B101 owner-architect agreement in 30 minutes, covering all 13 articles in plain English. You'll learn the four lenses framework for reading any AIA contract: scope of services, standard of care, responsibility and authority, and the money question. Every article in B101 maps to one of these four ideas, and once you see the pattern, the contract

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39:49

071 - ADA Door Clearance: Why These Dimensions Exist

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/06/22

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

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20:45

070 - Seismic Irregularities: Soft Story to Shear Walls

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/06/08

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,

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26:17

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

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/06/01

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

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39:05

068 - Project Delivery Methods: DBB, Design-Build,...

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/05/26

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

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28:18

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

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/05/22

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

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20:12

066 - Types of HVAC Systems and How to Choose

Architect Exam Podcast ·

2026/05/18

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

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91 results

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