# Book on Structures Concepts and Key Calculations

**URL:** <https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/book-on-structures-concepts-and-key-calculations/2322>\
**Category:** Project Planning & Design\
**Tags:** community-basics\
**Created:** [January 3, 2021, 1:20pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/book-on-structures-concepts-and-key-calculations/2322 "2021-01-03T13:20:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ayeboah](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/22.png) [@ayeboah](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/ayeboah)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 1:20pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/book-on-structures-concepts-and-key-calculations/2322/1 "2021-01-03T13:20:18Z")

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Hi Community,  
Has any of you come across a Structures book, fundamentally **geared towards architects and the ARE** and hence addresses or breaks down most of the key calculation and concepts of loads, foundations and support systems. What are your best recommendations for something close to a one stop book source? Is there any?

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**Author:** ![monicafitzpatrick](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/1.png) [@monicafitzpatrick](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/monicafitzpatrick)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 6:14pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/book-on-structures-concepts-and-key-calculations/2322/2 "2021-01-06T18:14:51Z")

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Hi @ayeboah and welcome to the ARE Community! That’s a great question. @coachdarionziegler do you mind recommending a go to book?

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**Author:** ![coachdarionziegler](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/community.blackspectacles.com/coachdarionziegler/32/1272_2.png) [@coachdarionziegler](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/coachdarionziegler)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 10:20pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/book-on-structures-concepts-and-key-calculations/2322/3 "2021-01-07T22:20:10Z")

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Hi @ayeboah,

I’d first check out the updated ARE 5.0 Handbook:

> **[ARE5-Handbook.pdf](https://www.ncarb.org/sites/default/files/ARE5-Handbook.pdf)**
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> 5.52 MB

They’ve broken out and expanded on “Structural Resources” starting on page 157. Then, I would check out “reference matrix” at the end of the handbook. If you’re really looking for streamlined information, some sort of study aid such as the PPD & PDD of the Brightwood or Kaplan books or the Black Spectacle’s PPD&PDD lectures are going to be your best bet. Personally, I used only Black Spectacle’s lectures and quizes to study for PPD & PDD after an initial failure and was able to learn enough structures from them to pass 🙂 . That was my personal experience though, you have to find what works for you!

I’m seeing one book at the back of the reference matrix called, " Structural Design: A Practical Guide for Architects". I haven’t personally read this book myself, but based on the description it might be what you are looking for!

> **[Structural Design](https://books.google.com/books/about/Structural_Design.html?id=bNVRAAAAMAAJ&source=kp_book_description)**

Does anyone else have any resources they’ve used?

Hope this helps!

-Darion

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**Author:** ![ayeboah](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/22.png) [@ayeboah](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/ayeboah)\
**Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 3:08am UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/book-on-structures-concepts-and-key-calculations/2322/4 "2021-01-12T03:08:44Z")

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@ Coachdarionziegler, Thank you for your response. Very helpful. I did check on the book and found the updated section within the handbook as very instructive.