The third edition of The Deans List:  featured Jack Davis of Virginia Tech.

Topics ranged from Virginia Tech’s founding in a pedagogy of "experimental laboratories", the International Archive of Women in Architecture (IAWA), a Center in the School of Architecture + Design which brings together research in multiple design and construction disciplines and the winning 2010 Solar Decathlon LumenHAUS design.

Plus, for the latest from the In Focus: series Archinect talked to Greece-based architect and photographer, Pygmalion Karatzas. Before focusing on photography he studied architecture in Budapest, urban design in Edinburgh, and ecovillage design education in Findhorn.

News
We discussed whether a Geoff Manaugh post at Gizmodo on whether Gehry was the worst living architect was Reasonable critique or typical Gizmodo link bait?

to get things started sevensixfive rehashed some reactions he posted on Twitter "The tone is really shocking on the first read, then on the second run through, you realize, 'oh wait, maybe he's trying to be funny', but that impression doesn't hold". Steven Ward agreed "it feels like a hit-piece - and out of character for gm. having been to a few of gehry's buildings, and having had a very particular and rich experience at each, i'd say that gehry-haters should do the same. there are things to criticize, sure, but also some unique and rare experiences to be had".

Geoff Manaugh joined in to offer a rebuttal "The slot machine of the internet means you never know how many people will read something you've written...It's actually depressing to think that one of the most tossed-off things I've ever written about architecture is now one of the third or fourth most widely read things I've published. But I don't take it back. Frank Gehry is the Guy Fieri of architecture".

b3tadine[sutures] also wanted it on the record "Geoff...I liked the piece, I laughed heartily at the references, but then again I like Howard Stern".

Bustler.net announced the historic Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington D.C. is one step closer to finding the architectural team for its major renovation project now that the three remaining finalist teams have submitted their proposals. There will be one final presentation to persuade the review panel and the public this Saturday, Feb. 15 at 10 a.m. HotelSphinx  couldn’t believe it "So...the clowns at the library eliminated REX, OMA, etc from the first shortlist to save room for these three? Yikes. Poor Mies"... thisisnotmyname added "These all look pretty horrible.  None of the schemes are very sympathetic to the ideas of the original building".

Places Journal, published an essay by architect Pedro Levi Bismarck examining the plan as a reflection of a larger democratic crisis, following Siegfried Kracauer. Orhan Ayyüce also recommended a "great music video about gezi parki" by Turkish band The Ringo Jets.

Amelia Taylor-Hochberg Editorial Manager for Archinect, provided a report of last week’s interview/discussion between Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles Times architecture critic, Christopher Hawthorne, about the state of L.A. urbanism.

"Garcetti was adamant, in parts poetic, about L.A.becoming a place one could, and would want to, "get lost in", where the mega-region is dignified by accessible and pervasive public transportation, and greenspace isn't delegated to the front or back yard. Hawthorne reciprocated, having noticed since he moved to L.A".
 

Firms/Blogs/Work Updates
Commix started a blog promising to explore "the interstitial space between the professional and academic realms". The first post examines an architect’s toolkit of software; for GIS, BIM and touches on "vector and raster use".

18.13 The Kitchen of the Theater in Como, Italy by Arkham Project 

and a Socio-Cultural Center in Mulhouse, France by Paul Le Quernec were just two of the projects highlighted in the post Ten Top Images on Archinect's "Color" Pinterest Board.

Recently Sai Wentum worked on Qianhai Bay City School while Adam Mahardy worked on a Dwelling Unit First Pass for MARS.

Joann Lui shared a sneakpeak of her personal website. She also provided a list of some designers' websites that she has been looking to for inspiration.
 

School/Blogs

Over at the Knowlton School at The Ohio State University blog, RMartz put up a post summarizing a lecture by artist/faculty member Ann Hamilton’s titled ‘Proactive, prolific, and influential’.

BenC currently documenting Carleton University's semester-long Directed Studio Abroad to Helsinki, wrote about Genius Loci.

He reflected "It has become very apparent that there is a common ethos within the attitudes of Scandinavian architecture that transcends boarders between the various countries... I am pleasantly surprised to see that they carry overarching themes in design between all of them, yet each have their own elements of a genius loci to give identity within their surroundings".

Clemson University School of Architecture and AIA South Carolina were awarded a 2014 national AIA Component Excellence Award for "Kids in Architecture Workshops.

For those looking to stay in academia, applications for the Peter Reyner Banham Fellowship at University at Buffalo must be received, for the 2014 - 2015 academic year, by March 17th, 2014.
 

Discussions
wurdan freo had some questions regarding Sumps, Bleeders and Drainage. 

gruen replied "What's a bleeder?...A sump can catch whatever you want it to...But beware that you cannot stop groundwater". Miles Jaffe wondered "If it's wet below the slab it stands to reason that it's wet outside the footing as well. ..Could this have something to do with deep frost conditions"? mightyaa suggested "I also avoid sumps like the plague if you can daylight somewhere.  Sumps have a notorious life span of about 5 years".

myDownfall1 is an engineer looking for advice on constructing a Basket ball court under the garage.

Non Sequitur started things off on the right foot "I trust you're not much of a structural P.eng because supporting a garage full of cars above a (I assume) column free basketball court is not an easy thing". Then gwharton wrote "I've put an indoor basketball court (well...half court) above a four-car garage for a residence before...The excavation and parking deck structure for putting the court underground seems like a really expensive way to go".

cg_8 felt like an ass saying it but is "working in 2 separate houses with what is proposed. Both have walk out conditions...When ‘money ain't a thang’ you can do it...Like I said, I feel like an ass for saying ‘I'm doing it now...’ when everyone had already established how dumb and ridiculous the idea is"...

Finally, in a thread started to discuss; modern buildings, the wonders of caulking and face-sealed assemblies. Donna Sink to the opportunity to ask a related question

"have a 1970's Modern building with large (3'x5') limestone panel cladding.  Panels are 4" deep.  They are caulked between panels, a +/-1" joint. Set within the wall are cast stone window surrounds that are mortared at joints with adjacent limestone panels...we're having water infiltration in the wall, and you can see where the caulk has (over 40 years) deteriorated, cracking and pulling away from the panels edge. In addition, we're severely under-insulated, with only a 1" cavity space. Do I call in a masonry contractor, or an envelope specialist"?

gruen responded "Today's goos are much better Donna. Call a sealant specialist and a Dow tech guy to reseal w the right Dow silicone. PM me and I'll see if I can remember the name of the sealant specialist...Look at dows movement recs. I also have a calculator to share w you".