Leading a Series of Lectures on the Architectural Registration (ARE)

This was the background image! It happens to illustrate the AIA SF space before the renovation, circa 2021.

Invited to provide additional lectures for the Architectural Registration Examination (ARE) with the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco, Dan Hogman, AIA, provided three sessions, with a renewed emphasis on technical depth and systems-level thinking. The three advanced sessions address areas where candidates often struggle: construction documentation, building systems, and sustainable performance. These lectures were not remedial. They assumed architectural fluency and focused instead on interpretation—how technical knowledge is assembled, tested, and deployed under exam conditions.

Across these sessions, a persistent tension emerged. Participants were encouraged to understand why a “correct” answer works, where it might fail, and how multiple apparently similar answers might look correct, although only one choice is “the most appropriate” for the situation.

Tuesday, August 6, 2024 – Project Development & Documentation (PDD2)
Topic: Construction Documentation, Project Manual & Specifications. Link: AIASF

Tuesday, September 17, 2024 – PPD7 + PDD7
Topic: Building Systems, Materials & Assemblies; Foundation, retaining walls & long span structures. Link: AIASF

Tuesday, November 12, 2024 – PPD12 + PDD12
Topic: Building Systems, Materials & Assemblies; Sustainable Systems (Energy & Water Efficiency & Indoor Air Quality). Link: AIASF