Laura Amaya interviewed Giancarlo Mazzanti, founder and principal of El Equipo de Mazzanti. The two discussed "architecture for social inclusion...from a political point of view", play or leisure, and "an architecture made of parts...or open work". 

Meanwhile the latest editions of Deans List: featured Kenneth Schwartz of Tulane School of Architecture and Amale Andraos of Columbia University's GSAPP. vado retro agreed that Tulane is a "great school in a great city. enjoy it while it is still above water."

News
In a collaboration with the Architecture Biennial, Archinect offered up an Chicago installment of Next Up, the live-podcasting event. 

Patrik Schumacher shared some criticism of the event and participants "one still wonders whether these laudable concerns should usurp the space that was presumably meant to be allocated to contemporary architecture."

Herzog & de Meuron released the first look at their design for the new Vancouver Art Gallery, a significant update on the Gallery's old neoclassical building and the firm's first in Canada. Derek Kaplan commented

"A LOT of how this works urbanistically depends on significant changes they are showing on a neighboring property (RIP Media Club). The other question that stands out is -- why so vertical?... maybe the rest of the site is being reserved for something more to be revealed at a later date...?"

Although many commentators weren’t impressed when Apple's next, HOK-designed Silicon Valley spaceship was revealed, midlander found it interesting that "the developer is openly copying the design image of a target customer's HQ (in a somewhat clumsy way), and then snags that customer!"

Architect Christopher Downey visited Miami to present a lecture ‘Building Voice’, as part of a local exhibit called ‘Listen to This Building’.

Firms/Work Updates
Jessica A.S. Letaw reflected on the work of Equity By Design, the role of the AIA in "marketing licensure specifically to women" and ended with a challenge "AIA:your move".

                     Heidi Li worked on BOARD(s) 1-3, Sunny Side Up.

For those looking for employment the San Francisco Planning Department has an opening for a 5291 Planner III, working directly for City and County of San Francisco.

Otherwise, WeWork needs to hire a Building Information Specialist, who will be involved in project(s) from start to finish with Team Leads in Architecture, Interior Design, Construction, Logistics, & Operations.
 

School/Blogs
University of Chicago, "where fun comes to die," will be getting its first ever undergraduate architecture program.

Lian Chikako Chang used a text chat to learn more about the Black in Design conference and the current state of diversity conversations at the GSD, from organizers Courtney Sharpe and Cara Michell.

Parker Ammann started a blog Dreaming Of The Present. As he explains "Five years ago when I entered the Architecture school I never thought of just how big my thinking could be in thinking about society. By no means am I calling myself an anthropologist or anything of that nature, but I am caught in the especially prevalent ideology of the architecture student."
 

Discussions/Threads
TC talked about architectural licensing, NCARB and free market gatekeepers or "Gate Keepers". Later, ivorykeyboard provided a recap of the October 5th debate SETTING THE AGENDA FOR 21ST CENTURY ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN, sponsored by ArchAgenda LLC, a Chicago Architecture Biennial Affiliate Program Partner concluding "there was blood."

EKE started a thread to discuss Rowan Moore's profile of Dame Zaha Mohammad Hadid, DBE, for the Guardian. Olaf Design Ninja_  argued "custom and complex is a challenge. challenges bring headaches and bitching.....you want simple and easy go to mcdonalds...the article wasn't all that great". Nevertheless Miles Jaffe believes “The empty promises of trophy architecture...Epic fail.” Also, situationist couldn’t help wondering “if people wouldn't have as many issues with ZHA's work if Patrik didn't go around saying insane fascist stuff."

Finally Erick Sanchez is planning on applying to graduate school for the upcoming academic school year (Fall 2016) and wonders "if there were any programs out there that specialized only in Architectural Visualization?" ArchiTwn repped University of Kent which apparently "has an Arch Viz programme which is excellent in the UK". No one else could think of specifically visualization focused schools in USA. For her part Stephanie Braconnier advised "Doing 10-12 visuals per month for competitions should hone your rendering skills to a fine art within a year. Costs less than going to school and looks better on the resume too."