What are the project development & documentation exam sections?
The ARE 5.0 project development & documentation exam is a long exam with five sections. Here’s what you need to know about each section.
Integration of Building Materials & Systems
This first content section focuses on a test-taker’s ability to resolve and detail architectural systems and assemblies, building materials, and engineering systems.
Objective 1.1
The first objective requires you to analyze the integration of architectural systems and technologies to meet project goals. You’ll need to have an understanding of how to resolve and detail roof, curtain wall, cladding, window, floor, and other architectural systems while considering the detail requirements and capabilities of individual building materials.
Objective 1.2
The second objective challenges the test taker to determine the size of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and components to meet project requirements and goals. Using a variety of factors such as programmatic requirements, system requirements, and system type, you’ll need to identify and develop mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. To do well on this objective, you should be able to calculate the size of system components, determine a lighting layout, and incorporate renewable energy systems into the design.
Objective 1.3
The third objective tests your ability to determine the size of structural systems to meet project goals. You should be able to detail connections between standard horizontal and vertical structural components and calculate the size of structural components based on system type, system requirements, programmatic requirements, and other factors.
Objective 1.4
The fourth objective covers integrating specialty systems such as acoustics, lighting, fire suppression, conveying, security, and communications to meet project goals. To do well on this objective, you should be able to identify, develop, and integrate these individual specialty system components based on system type, system requirements, programmatic requirements, and other factors.
Objective 1.5
The next objective focuses on determining how to detail the integration of multiple building systems and technologies. You should be able to detail and resolve the intersection of the following systems as they come together within a building project: roof, curtain wall, cladding, window, floor, structural, interior, and other architectural systems.
Objective 1.6
The last objective in this first content area focuses on the coordination of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural, and specialty systems and technologies. To test well on this objective, you must be able to identify and resolve conflicts between engineering systems and specialty systems as they integrate into the project. You’ll also need to fulfill programmatic, system, and project requirements by coordinating these engineering systems with the architectural design.
Construction Documentation
The second section focuses on the necessary project documentation to assemble a set of drawings and how to update these drawings over the course of the project lifecycle.
Objective 2.1
The first objective focuses on the test-taker’s ability to identify a drawing and documentation approach based on factors such as project complexity, materials and assemblies, delivery method, and other construction or project-related requirements. In project documentation, you must know how to refine, update, and make adjustments to the drawings as necessary to align with new or changing requirements. You must also indicate the final building materials, finishes, and assembly selections.
Objective 2.2
The next objective focuses on the coordination between an architect and civil engineers, landscape architects, and other consultants to verify site drainage, utilities, pedestrian and vehicular circulation paths, parking, grading, and other site features and structures documentation. You should know how site documentation is coordinated with all disciplines.
Objective 2.3
The third objective requires you to resolve, detail, and document individual architectural systems. These systems can include partition types, expansion joints, windows, doors, louvers, stairs, and other systems. You will need to consider constructability, environmental, programmatic, and other building requirements.
Objective 2.4
This objective requires you to understand the project delivery method and determine the necessary drawings to communicate the architectural design. You should be able to assemble these drawings into a clear set of construction documents while ensuring the documentation quality meets the appropriate standard of care.
Objective 2.5
In the last objective of this content area, you’ll need to be able to determine the impact of project changes on documentation requirements and the methods needed to communicate these changes to the owner and design team. You’ll need to take into account changes in scope and owner or project team comments and their effects on the drawing set, project delivery method, and project schedule. To do well on this objective, you will also need to recognize how changes in scope or comments from the owner or project team require an architect to perform additional services.
Project Manual & Specifications
This content area focuses on the development of documentation that goes beyond just construction drawings – the project manual and specifications.
Objective 3.1
In this first objective, you must determine and assemble project manual content. This content includes general conditions, instructions for procurement, bidding and contracting, and project-specific requirements. You’ll also need to consider any additional exhibits or special conditions that are required to execute the project.
Objective 3.2
In this objective, you’ll need to determine the appropriate specification types to be used for a given project. You should also know which divisions are necessary based on project requirements. In addition, you’ll need to analyze, select, and specify materials within a project in order to meet project requirements, testing protocols during construction, and common material and method industry standards.
Objective 3.3
The third objective tests your ability to coordinate the specifications with the information found on construction drawings and consultant documents, including materials, assemblies, hardware, methods, and other identifying information.
Codes & Regulations
The next content area focuses on the codes and regulations and how they pertain to project documentation.
Objective 4.1
The first objective requires the test taker to determine the design and documentation’s adherence to International Building Code (IBC) requirements. These requirements can include means of egress, fire and smoke protection, material and assembly requirements, and the ways changes to occupancy, floor size, and other details may affect code compliance.
Objective 4.2
The second objective requires an architect to apply specialty regulations to the design and documentation of a project. These regulations can include accessibility requirements, energy codes, standards for historic preservation, Fair Housing requirements, environmental regulations, and other local or site-specific requirements.
Construction Cost Estimates
The last content area considers the construction cost of a project by analyzing the estimate. This is the smallest section in the division.
Objective 5.1
The only objective of this section requires you to analyze construction cost estimates and modify them as needed based on the development of a project. You’ll need to consider value engineering, material substitution, and project documentation and requirements alignment. To do well on this objective, you’ll need to utilize the correct estimating techniques based on project type, phase, delivery method, or other project-specific requirements.
How to study for the PDD exam
Now that you know about the subjects covered in this division exam, you’ll need to consider how to study for the PDD exam – and, more broadly, the entire ARE 5.0. The good news is that there is a lot of overlap between division exams, so study materials may help you on more than one division. While this may seem daunting, remember that you should focus on understanding the reference materials broadly instead of memorizing all of the texts. Here are a few ways you can maximize your studying.
Get familiar with the list of reference materials
There are many reference materials that NCARB uses to develop items for each division of the ARE 5.0. Many reference materials overlap between divisions because the exams more closely relate to an actual architecture project. Here are the reference materials that you’ll need to know for the PDD division – straight from the ARE 5.0 Reference Matrix.
2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design U.S. Department of Justice, 2010
The Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice (AHPP) The American Institute of Architects, John Wiley & Sons, 14th edition (2008) and 15th edition (2014)
The Architect's Studio Companion: Rules of Thumb for Preliminary Design Edward Allen and Joseph Iano, John Wiley & Sons, 6th edition, 2017
Architectural Graphic Standards The American Institute of Architects, John Wiley & Sons, 11th edition (2007) and 12th edition (2016)
Building Code Essentials (2018) International Code Council, 2018
Building Codes Illustrated: A Guide to Understanding the 2018 International Building Code Francis D.K. Ching and Steven R. Winkel, FAIA, PE, CASp John Wiley & Sons, 2018
Building Construction Illustrated Francis D.K. Ching, John Wiley & Sons, 6th edition, 2020
Building Structures James Ambrose and Patrick Tripeny, John Wiley & Sons, 3rd edition, 2011
CSI MasterFormat The Construction Specifications Institute, 2018 edition
Dictionary of Architecture and Construction Cyril M. Harris, McGraw-Hill, 4th edition, 2006
Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods Edward Allen and Joseph Iano, John Wiley & Sons, 6th edition (2013) and 7th edition (2019)
Green Building Illustrated Francis D.K. Ching and Ian M. Shapiro, Wiley, 2014
Heating, Cooling, Lighting: Sustainable Design Strategies Towards Net Zero Architecture Norbert Lechner and Patricia Andrasik, John Wiley & Sons, 5th edition, 2021
ICC A117.1-2009 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities International Code Council, 2010
International Building Code (2018) International Code Council, 2017
International Building Code Study Companion (2018) International Code Council, 2018
Mechanical & Electrical Equipment for Buildings Walter T. Grondzik and Alison G. Kwok, John Wiley & Sons, 12th edition (2014) and 13th edition (2019)
Olin’s Construction Principles, Materials, and Methods H. Leslie Simmons, John Wiley & Sons, 9th edition, 2011
The Project Resource Manual: CSI Manual of Practice The Construction Specifications Institute McGraw-Hill, 5th edition, 2005
Simplified Engineering for Architects and Builders James Ambrose and Patrick Tripeny, John Wiley & Sons, 12th edition, 2016
Steel Construction Manual American Institute of Steel Construction, 14th edition, 2011
Structural Design: A Practical Guide for Architects James R. Underwood and Michele Chiuini, John Wiley & Sons, 2nd edition, 2007
Structures Daniel Schodek and Martin Bechthold, Pearson, 7th edition, 2013
A Visual Dictionary of Architecture Francis D.K. Ching, John Wiley & Sons, 2nd edition, 2011
This is an extensive list, and it’s important to remember that the goal is not to memorize each reference material but to focus on a broad understanding of the source materials.
Use Amber Book for your exam prep
The ARE 5.0 is no small feat, and studying for it requires a focus on studying the right material. Whether you’re using study guides, learning to read case studies, reviewing references, or taking mock exams and quizzes. Amber Book is a study tool that helps you maximize your study time.
Amber Book is equivalent to a university-level course focused on helping you pass the ARE 5.0 exams and get licensed. While national pass rates for the PDD division exam are 53%, those who complete at least 75% of the Amber Book course have a pass rate of 73%!
In addition to an online animated course, you’ll also get a 375-page workbook, case study examples, practice questions and practice exams, digital flashcards, last-minute “panic” notes, and more.
Ready to pass the ARE with Amber Book?
Amber Book is a course developed by licensed architect and professor Michael Ermann, AIA. As the first person to pass all six ARE 5.0 divisions, he’s taught over 17,000 people how to better prepare for the ARE. Amber Book covers all six divisions of the ARE 5.0 – Practice Management (PcM), Project Management (PjM), Programming & Analysis (PA), Project Planning & Design (PPD), Project Development & Documentation (PDD), and Construction & Evaluation (CE). Because the ARE is now more comprehensive, there is a lot of study overlap – and the Amber Book course was built to help.
