2013 BIA Award Winners Honored for Best in Brick Design

The Brick Industry Association has honored stunning architecture that incorporates fired clay brick. With new categories this year, including Renovation/Restoration, the 2013 Brick in Architecture Awards span almost half the country in 21 states, including green building practices that have earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ratings.

"Fired clay brick offers unmatched style and substance," says BIA President and CEO Gregg Borchelt, P.E. "It offers the aesthetic flexibility to match the architect's imagination and desires, along with sustainable design, unmatched durability and many benefits from its physical properties."

The 2013 Brick in Architecture Award winners include Best in Class, Gold, Silver and Bronze categories. Best in Class winners include:

BEST IN CLASS
Commercial
Farm Credit Services of America Corporate Office Building 2  Omaha, Nebraska
Architect: The Clark Enersen Partners
Landscape Architect: The Clark Enersen Partners
Builder: Sampson Construction
Mason Contractor: D C Masonry Inc.
Photographer: Scholzimages

Educational (Higher Education)
University of Pennsylvania Law School
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Architect: Kennedy & Violich Architecture, Ltd
Landscape Architect: Richard Burck Associates, Inc
Builder: Hunter Roberts Construction Group
Manufacturer: The Belden Brick Company
Manufacturer 2: Glen-Gery Corporation
Distributor: Diener Brick Company
Mason Contractor: Dan LePore and Sons
Photographer: Halkin Architectural Photography

Educational (K-12)
New Settlement Community Campus
Bronx, New York
Architect: Dattner Architects
Landscape Architect: MKW + Associates
Associate Architect: Edelman Sultan Knox Wood / Architects
Builder: Turner Construction Company
Manufacturer: The Belden Brick Company
Mason Contractor: Mastercraft Masonry I, Inc
Photographer: David Sundberg
 
Health Care
Hendricks Regional Health YMCA  Avon, Indiana
Architect: American Structurepoint, Inc.
Landscape Architect: Context, LLC
Builder: Skillman Corporation
Distributor: Edgewood Building Supply
Mason Contractor: Purdy Masonry, Inc.
Photographer: Susan Fleck Photography
Photographer 2: Tony Frederick Photography
Owner: Hendricks Regional Health and YMCA of Greater Indianapolis
MEP Engineer: Korda Nemeth

Houses of Worship
Kent R. Hance Chapel  Lubbock, Texas
Architect: McKinney York Architects
Manufacturer: Acme Brick
Mason Contractor: Western Builders
Photographer: Dror Baldinger
 
Municipal / Government
Fountaindale Public Library District  Bolingbrook, Illinois
Architect: Nagle Hartray Architecture
Landscape Architect: Wolff Landscape Architecture Inc.
Builder: Power Construction
Manufacturer: The Belden Brick Company
Distributor: Illinois Brick Company
Mason Contractor: Ramcorp
Photographer: Ballogg Photography
Photographer 2: Richard Lanenga Photography (aerial photo)

Paving & Landscape Architecture
Pierce's Park Baltimore, Maryland
Architect: Mahan Rykiel Associates, Inc.
Builder: P. Flanigan & Sons, Inc.
Manufacturer: Whitacre Greer Co.
Mason Contractor: Priority Construction Corp.
Photographer: Mahan Rykiel

Renovation/Restoration
Warren Cultural Center  Greenfield, Iowa 
Architect: INVISION Planning Architecture Interiors
Builder: Lang Construction Group, Inc.
Manufacturer: Glen-Gery Corporation
Mason Contractor: Seedorf Masonry

Residential – Multi-Family
Gables 12 Twenty One  Arlington, Virginia
Architect: The Preston Partnership
Builder: Gables Residential
Manufacturer: Glen-Gery Corporation
Distributor: Capital Brick & Tile, Inc.
Mason Contractor: Diverse Masonry
Photographer: Donna H Chiarelli Studio

Residential – Single Family
French Normandy Guest House  Greenwich, Connecticut
Architect: Charles Hilton Architects
Builder: Home Construction, LLC
Mason Contractor: Mauro Fidaleo Construction, LLC
Photographer: Nicholas Rotondi Photography
Photographer 2: Woodruff-Brown Photography
Photographer 3: Scott Francis, LTD

Projects were submitted by architectural and design firms around the country, and judged by a jury of their peers. Photos and project details for all winners: www.gobrick.com/architectureawards
 
Founded in 1934, the Brick Industry Association (BIA) is the nationally recognized authority on clay brick construction representing the nation's distributors and manufacturers of clay brick and suppliers of related products. Website: www.gobrick.com/703-620-0010.

Restoring With Compatible Materials

By Rhonda Maas

Using the right materials is critical for successfully renovating historic buildings, but finding them can be a big challenge. When selecting materials for an old building, stronger is not necessarily better – but matching is. All the characteristics of the original masonry – chemistry, porosity, appearance, strength and moisture absorption – must be understood and respected.

Of course, the properties of natural stone have not changed, but bricks have evolved over the last century. Differences in size, moisture absorption and compressive strength make it impractical to mix new bricks with old.

Mortar also has evolved during the last century. Modern mortars are much stronger and stiffer than historic mortars. New joint sealing materials wreak havoc with old masonry buildings if they are stronger than the surrounding bricks. When the masonry moves and the mortar doesn’t, it is the masonry that breaks. Historic mortars contain rounded natural aggregates like river sand, instead of today’s sharper manufactured aggregates. They typically contain more lime and less cement, so they are softer and stickier. Bottom line, historic mortars have more movement capacity and put less stress on the masonry.

So where does one find stone, bricks or mortar suitable for repairing or restoring an old building?

For stone, the place to start is the building. Sometimes, the weathered faces of exterior stones can be turned inside and a fresh face exposed. For small repairs, a piece can be removed from a stone in a hidden place and used as a Dutchman patch to repair more visible damage. 

Next, try to find the quarry from where the original stone came. If the quarry can be identified and is still operating, it is simple to get a match. And keep in mind, a closed quarry is not the end of the road; it’s sometimes possible to salvage remnant stones left behind when quarry operations ceased.

Salvage yards are another source for historic stone. Knowing local construction history is useful. For example, many stone buildings built in Denver in the late-1800s used orange sandstone quarried in Manitou Springs, Colo. When one of these buildings is demolished, the valuable stone is salvaged. Even stones that are too small for building blocks can be carved to replace small details or to make grafts.

If this fails, a region- or nation-wide search may be required. Samples and lab test results can be sent to quarries for matching. If an exact match is unavailable, err on the side of a denser stone, especially for an individual unit like a windowsill.

Reclaiming bricks can be a similar process. The first place to look is the building. Original bricks can be moved from areas out of sight – often higher up – and installed where they will be seen.

A salvage yard that specializes in demolitions and reclaimed bricks may be a source for materials of the right vintage. It is likely that two different types of bricks were used in any given multi-wythe structure – hard-fired durable “face” bricks for the exterior and more common, softer bricks for the bulk of the structure. Making the wrong selection can mean the difference between a façade that lasts another 100 years and one that gives out after only 20.

If there are not enough historic bricks available to finish a project, segregate new bricks from old, with the new bricks in less visible areas if possible. This results in a more harmonious appearance and reduces the risk of damage caused by an expansion mismatch.

As for mortar, a materials lab can come up with the right formulation to match the look, strength and mix design of an historic mortar. One need not travel far to find the same ingredients the original masons used. Lacking today’s transportation, they likely used whatever was closest, so check local quarries or even nearby riverbanks to find sand the right color and size.

Carefully selected and tested modern materials can help improve the performance of an historic building. For example, a pre-finished (not galvanized) steel cap installed over a brick cap can improve drainage and protect the underlying brick. Some patch materials, joint sealants and coatings may be compatible. Testing for adhesion and water vapor transmission will identify an appropriate material.

Rhonda Maas is the co-founder and president of Building Restoration Specialties Inc. (BRS), which specializes in masonry restoration, preservation and conservation of historic buildings. Founded in 1986, BRS has a bonding capacity of about $7 million, and is positioned to handle projects ranging from $2,000 to more than $2 million. Learn more at www.brsrestores.com.

Masonry Construction: Then and Now

By Rhonda Maas

Masonry construction technology has advanced so much over recent decades, that today’s techniques and materials would appear almost magical to a time-traveling mason from 100 years ago. By the same token, when contractors “travel” back in time to restore a building from that era, we confront techniques that may be very different from today’s practices.

Working with an old building requires an understanding of construction technology at the time it was built. After all, the building has survived until now, because it was properly constructed for its time. Modern advances have brought many improvements, but trying to apply these new techniques to an old building often results in failure. So, a contractor charged with restoring a masonry building needs to understand the differences between construction then and now, to avoid applying modern “fixes” that make things worse. Here are a few examples.

Masonry buildings built 100 years ago commonly were constructed with multi-wythe, load-bearing walls, unlike modern, curtain-wall construction based on a structural steel frame. Instead of an air space between the exterior masonry and the interior finish wall, a hundred-year-old building could have interlocking brick, stone or even rubble. The inside and outside walls are inextricably tied together. Understanding how these walls bear loads, flex with thermal movement and transmit moisture is critical to successful restoration. 

For example, trying to shore up an old masonry building by tying it to a steel structure is likely to hasten its demise by making it too rigid. Old masonry walls need to be able to flex with vibration or thermal expansion and contraction, or else they will crack.

Another important difference between new and old construction is insulating capacity. Modern insulation is available with very high R-values, so new buildings can be made practically airtight to minimize the expense of heating and cooling. In contrast, thick masonry walls have a low R-value, but high heat-retention capacity. They even out variations in daily temperatures, so masonry buildings don’t need as much insulation as modern, light-weight buildings. Super-insulating a historic masonry building actually can cause damage, because it keeps the outside wall colder and wetter, increasing the chance of freeze-thaw damage.

Moisture transmission is another significant difference between old and new construction. Old bricks and stone actually absorb moisture, but they also allow vapor to transpire. In effect, the building breathes. Introducing a moisture barrier, like a waterproof coating, actually can trap moisture in the masonry, accelerating deterioration.

Even though masonry buildings breathe, they can’t withstand a steady onslaught of liquid water or ice. The biggest threat to old buildings is water damage. Here is where modern advances bring benefits to historic preservation. Adding flashings at parapets or windowsills to direct water away from the masonry will prevent water damage. And a sheet metal cap is one modern (and inexpensive) way to protect the integrity of parapets, cornices and brick rowlocks that keep water off the masonry face.

Note that interior flashings commonly used in modern curtain walls cannot be used in multi-wythe construction.

Proper drainage also is critical. Keep in mind that gutters and downspouts often were much larger 100 years ago than modern standard sizes. An incorrectly sized downspout will not carry the amount of water intended in the original design. It may be necessary to fabricate custom spouts and gutters.

Foundations spotlight another difference between historic and modern buildings. Sandstone, brick or rubble-fill foundations absorb more water than modern concrete, and, because they are below grade, they can’t dry out the way masonry above grade does. It is vitally important to keep water away as much as possible by proper grading, landscaping and drainage. No downspout should empty next to a foundation. If a vapor barrier is desired, it should be applied to the outside of the foundation, leaving the inside open to allow moisture vapor to transpire out of the masonry.

In summary, construction techniques continue to evolve and improve. We wouldn’t build a new building today the same way we built 100 years ago. But we should be equally cautious about applying modern techniques to preserving an old building. Replicating the original construction is the best way to ensure a successful historic renovation.

               

Rhonda Maas is the co-founder and president of Building Restoration Specialties Inc. (BRS), which specializes in masonry restoration, preservation and conservation of historic buildings. Founded in 1986, BRS has a bonding capacity of about $7 million, and is positioned to handle projects ranging from $2,000 to over $2 million. Learn more at www.brsrestores.com.

Entries Open for BIA 2013 Brick in Architecture Awards

The Brick Industry Association (BIA) has opened entry submissions for its 2013 Brick In Architecture Awards, with a new Renovation/Restoration category and new category divisions this year. BIA’s annual awards honor architectural excellence and sustainable design nationwide that incorporates clay brick products as the predominant exterior building or paving material. 

Entries are due by April 30. To enter and for details, go to:
http://www.gobrick.com/EventsEducation/BrickInArchitectureAwards/tabid/7661/Default.aspx.
The 2013 awards competition will be conducted entirely online. Architectural and design firms from around the country can enter their best material to be judged by a jury of their peers.
          
“As a versatile building material made in America made from abundant natural resources, there is no substitute for genuine clay brick,” says BIA President and CEO Gregg Borchelt, P.E. “In addition to its unmatched durability and many benefits from its physical properties, brick offers aesthetic flexibility to match the architect’s imagination and desires, and is a main element in sustainable design."
          
As the largest and most prestigious juried competition of its kind, entries can be submitted in one or more of the below categories: 

Commercial (Under $10 Million) – New
Commercial (Over $10 Million) – New
Education – K-12
Education – Colleges & Universities (Higher Education)* – New
Health Care Facilities
Municipal/Government
Houses of Worship
Residential – Single Family
Residential – Multi-Family
Renovation (Additions)**/Restoration (Restoring) – New
Paving & Landscape Projects

*Includes residence halls & academic/administrative buildings
**Additions must use at least 50 percent new clay brick products on the building. Restoration construction must include at least 50% clay brick products, which can either be new or salvaged.

For complete information on eligibility, submission requirements, and judging, visit
http://www.gobrick.com/EventsEducation/BrickInArchitectureAwards/tabid/7661/Default.aspx.