Nicholas Korody published the last of his series from a conversation with Denise Scott Brown. Part 3: focused on the pedagogical methods employed in the Learning from Las Vegas studio.

 Plus, Julia Ingalls wrote about Faulders Studio's Wynwood Facade and how it Highlights Street Art in Miami's Dynamic Parking Structure Scene. While Fred Scharmen really loved "the drawing that shows the lines of the city crawling up to compose the facade…" it seemed nonetheless a "Nice idea and a beautiful drawing, but...post-rationalization."

News

The AIA released a statement on 2016 U.S. election results, indicating a willingness to cooperate with Trump to tackle pressing urban issues.

Which caused a huge uproar. null pointer spoke for many "I'm not renewing my AIA membership next year. Fuck both of these assholes."

Responding to the outcry, AIA came out with an apology (of sorts). Then tried again.

Others like Bryan Lee (Place + Civic Design Director for the Arts Council of New Orleans and member of National NOMA board and National AIA Diversity and Inclusion Committee) saw it as an opportunity, to further engage with and challenge the status quo.

"Moving forward, the AIA should elevate investment of resources into the research and initiatives focusing on equity and justice."

For a complete run-down of the debacle and its evolution into the #NotMyAIA hashtag, see the Archinect explainer.

During the month of October, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) saw a modest increase in demand for design services, 50.8, up from the mark of 48.4 in the previous month.

Yale Daily News highlighted the fact that only one student had enrolled in 'Expanding the Canon: Making Room for Other Voices', an optional seminar that would've been taught by visiting professor Kathleen James-Chakraborty "despite students voicing grievances about a lack of female representation". Steven Ward believed

"A real culture change within the school could mean that this course's topics get covered in an integrated way across all other curriculum areas instead of being something a student has to specifically choose *instead* of something else. Topics of equity and the importance of a range of design voices in collaborative practice should be embedded through everything"...

In late October Archinect hosted 'Next Up: The LA River'—a live podcasting interview series with an array of architects, planners, artists, and journalists with varying perspectives on the subject. These conversations have now been put out as eight Mini-Sessions.

R.I.P. landscape architect and innovative urbanist Diana Balmori, who has died at age 84.

Global Construction Review reported that work has started on "the Shed", an arts centre (part of the Hudson Yards development) in NYC that will be able to expand and contract by changing its envelope. Orhan Ayyüce reminded folks "diller scofidio + renfro is very creative at incorporating engineering technology and design into their projects. Their work is best when they introduce some kinetics."

Firms/Work Updates

Recently Deane Madsen released a map with Blue Crow Media: Brutalist Washington available at bit.ly/BrutalistDCMap. Meanwhile Ashwini Dhamankar worked on Urban Negative - A manual for Interstitial Spaces.

Ellen Hancock noted that Carl Turner Architects have "submitted plans for a new private residence in Brighton. Based on a courtyard typology".

Wind Urbanism - Manhattan by James Seung Hwan Kim and Shifting Arctic Boundaries by Nataly Nemkova & Penny Fyta, are just two of the projects to be found on the latest Ten Top Images on Archinect's "Student Work" Pinterest Board.

Everyday Intern isn’t quite sure why it still needs to be said, but for those who still don’t get it here is a reminder Don't work for free!!!

School/Blogs

SCI-Arc announced the launch of four new scholarships for SCI-Arc EDGE, Center for Advanced Studies in Architecture. A scholarship covering the full cost of tuition will be given to exceptional applicants in each of the 3-semester Master degree programs.

AIAS UNM Chapter began an eponymous blog. Their first post Land of Enchantment is written by a 400 level senior and influenced heavily by the "haze of nostalgia". The author also promises

"This semester, our Architect blog series will feature current studio projects, New Mexican culture, new professors, and old traditions"

vado retro popped in to reminisce "my alma mater. although we were in the shoebox next to the Frontier and not in Predock's building."

Discussions/Threads

Due to a last minute move by the contractor shellarchitect was looking for some advice regarding the use of slip track in a wood stud wall.  Both Janosh and mightyaa agreed that the key would be allowing for movement. According to poop876, the last time they spec’d track on wood studs, the trick was not thinking "too much about it as long as the drywalls are lapping".

Reacting to the thread victor.de.smet started citizen felt it was "Nice to see an Archinect thread on the basics." Most thought trusses were the obvious answer, yet Wood Guy also suggested "You'll get the thinnest roof assembly using steel I-beams (technically "W" sections) spaced fairly closely together. That's not very exciting, but it's the most efficient shape of the most efficient framing material." archanonymous also took the opportunity to post some images of great columnless spaces.

Finally, nothing_is_everything opened a thread provocatively titled Women, what are you doing to combat the pay gap. In response to some commenters question(s) regarding data, nothing_is_everything clarified "There is very relevant and timely data just published by the San Francisco AIA's Equity x Design Committee on this exact topic.  I urge you and everyone else who hasn't been exposed to this to check it out: http://eqxdesign.com/"

Further mespellrong argued the data was clear "it's not my flexible schedule, and it's not my child, it's pretty much just the sense that this is still a profession where being openly and aggressively sexist is completely okay." When the discussion turned to salary data and transparency mightyaa disagreed that it could be a "can of worms", "Actually No.  What it does would be to force the employer to set their expectations equally across the board."

Additionally

Readers might be interested in an "Absolutely damning personal account of rationale behind funder of Turner Prize 2015 Granby 4 Streets & Assemble" aka "Pretty fascinating inside baseball here".

h/t @sevensixfive