The structural clarity
you wished for
in college.
200+ video lessons that teach structures, material, and construction systems the way architects actually think, not just formulas.
Video-first
Every structural concept on video, taught at the whiteboard by Prof. Thaddeus. No textbooks, no rote memorization.
ARE exam–ready
Built around the structural systems topics on the Architect Registration Exam. Prof. Thaddeus leads ARE prep seminars across the US and Canada.
Qualitative teaching
Research-backed visual methods. You will understand why structures behave the way they do — not just learn to plug numbers into formulas.
Architectural lens
Structural concepts taught through the lens of design decision-making — the way architects actually need to understand them.
Full access to every topic — past, present, and future. New content added regularly.
Every category architects encounter — from fundamental forces to lateral systems, material use & construction applications.
In-depth whiteboard teaching — not just short clips. Every topic builds real & lasting understanding.
Over 1,000 terms in our custom glossary and video definition library.
David Thaddeus, FAIA
David Thaddeus is a registered architect and Professor of Structures and Architectural Design. He has been at UNC Charlotte since 1999. Previously he was an Associate Professor at the University of Houston, where he taught architectural structures and design from 1989–1999. Professor Thaddeus earned his Bachelor of Structural Engineering from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon (AUB, 1981) and his Master of Architecture from the University of Houston (UH, 1988).
His research interests focus on the pedagogy of teaching structural concepts and ideas using visual and qualitative methods. In addition, he is interested in exploring structures, materials, and construction methods from the perspective of sustainability and performance.
In addition to teaching structures, architectural design, and sustainable structures at UNC Charlotte, Professor Thaddeus also teaches seminars for the Architect Registration Exam (ARE) all across the USA and Canada.
Professor Thaddeus has received several awards for his teaching and service at UNC Charlotte, UH, and the American Institute of Architects (AIA). He was named to the AIA College of Fellows in 2019.
“At the end of the day, it looks like a Vierendeel truss is an imposter that conceals its true identity by impersonating another. It is a beam. It is a girder. It is a bastard. It is a dishonest truss, but definitely not an honest truss. And it is very important for me in teaching studios, whenever the student wants to span 200 feet, we got to do a Vierendeel truss. And it gives vision because there’s no diagonals. You can see clearly through between the members. The Vierendeel truss is a savior in the studio for all these huge spans the students want to do. but this is just a discussion on structure.”— From Topic 24 · Vierendeel Truss · Transcript
I went through structures twice in school and passed both times without ever really understanding it. Two weekends with these topics and bending moments finally clicked — I can look at a frame now and actually see where the forces go.
Passed Structural Systems on the first try. The exam isn’t testing whether you can plug numbers into a formula — it’s testing whether you understand behavior, and that’s exactly what David teaches.
My program barely touched structures, and I’d been quietly working around that gap for years. This filled it. I bring more to structural coordination meetings now and I’m not bluffing my way through them.
Stop guessing
at structure.
200+ lessons. Taught by one of architecture’s leading structures educators. Get the visual understanding for the ARE & beyond in practice.