Fourth International Holcim Awards

Entries are open in Holcim's $2 million sustainable construction competition. The regional phase of the International Holcim Awards is open for entries. It seeks leading projects from industry professionals and spirited ideas from the “Next Generation” that contribute to sustainability within architecture, building, civil engineering, landscape and urban design, as well as construction materials and technologies. This fourth cycle of the competition offers prize money of $2 million. Online registration is possible until March 24, 2014, at www.holcimawards.org.

Independent jury panels of renowned architects and academics evaluate qualified entries against the five “target issues” for sustainable construction which cover economic, social and environmental performance as well as contextual/aesthetic impact, and innovation/transferability. The juries are headed by Jean-Philippe Vassal (for competition region Europe), Toshiko Mori (North America), Bruno Stagno (Latin America), Howayda Al-Harithy (Africa Middle East) and Rahul Mehrotra (Asia Pacific). Full list of jury members at www.holcimawards.org/juries.

The Near - and Far - Future of Masonry

By Jennifer Morrell, Editor

As 2012 leaves the building, here’s what I know: We have an industry full of people just as strong as masonry itself. No one can be certain of what the next four years will hold. But I do know that most of our industry weathered a hell of a storm during the last four. 

Next year, whether we continue to bounce back or flatten somewhat, we still are far from where we stood in 2009 and 2010. Heads no longer hang down in despair and gloom when our staff attends trade shows, meetings and events. Companies are able to do what they do again, including looking to the future and what positive growth it holds. 

The near future looks a lot greener than it once did. Sustainability is a real component to how we do business, and that will only strengthen, year after year.

The near future also looks more technical and digital than ever. From iPads on the jobsite to contractor software back at the office, we are working more efficiently. Social media gives companies unique identities and exposure. Building Information Modeling and the design-build concepts create maps and records for the life of large construction projects. Every project can have a pedigree, if the contractors so desire.

The far future is a little trickier, but it is in our hands. We need to promote masonry. Masonry needs to be everywhere. I have had big players – suppliers – in our industry ask me why masonry still is relevant. We need to use our passion about our industry to educate others at every turn.

The far future also will depend on our ability to keep skilled workers. High school and technical school programs are strong and commendable, but we need to increase this in all areas of the country. Skilled labor is a good thing, and we need it if masonry is to thrive.

Our industry isn’t without worry, but we are solid. Masonry is solid. Masonry isn’t going anywhere, and neither are we.

Papers Invited for ASTM International Symposium on Masonry

Papers are invited for the symposium Masonry 2014, to be held June 24, 2014, at the Sheraton Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The symposium is being co-sponsored by ASTM International Committees C01 on Cement, C07 on Lime, C12 on Mortars and Grouts for Unit Masonry, and C15 on Manufactured Masonry Units, and will be held in conjunction with the standards development meetings of the committees.

The objective of Masonry 2014 is to gather and disseminate the latest information on all aspects of the innovations in masonry materials, design, specification, construction, maintenance and rehabilitation. It will emphasize the application of ASTM standards to those areas, and their coordination with building codes, project specifications and international standards.

Papers are sought on the following topics: anchors and ties; building codes; cements (portland, blended, hydraulic, masonry, plastic); flexural bond strength; limes (hydrated, hydraulic, putty); masonry inspection; mortars; plastic/stucco; structural masonry; sustainability; veneers; water penetration and more. See the full list of topics at www.astm.org/C07callforpapers.

To participate in the symposium, presenters/authors must submit a 250-300 word preliminary abstract at www.astm.org/C07callforpapers by April 4, 2013. The abstract must include a clear definition of the objective and approach of the work discussed, pointing out material that is new, and present sufficient details regarding results. The presentation and manuscript must not be of a commercial nature nor can it have been previously published. The symposium chairman will notify you via postal mail by June 1, 2013, of your paper's acceptability for presentation at the symposium.

Symposium presenters are required to submit their papers to the Selected Technical Paper (STP), an online and printed, peer-reviewed publication for the international scientific and engineering community. Manuscripts to be peer reviewed for the STP are due online no later than Sept. 8, 2013.

   

Global Phase of Holcim Awards Shines Light on Solutions

Sustainable construction projects from around the world are set to compete in the global phase of the Holcim Awards in 2012. The projects that received Holcim Awards Gold, Silver or Bronze in each of the five regions of the world are automatically qualified for the Global Holcim Awards 2012. The 15 Global Holcim Awards finalists include projects from Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, Thailand, and the United States, and involve additional project teams from Austria, France, Spain and the United Kingdom. An overview of projects is available at www.holcimawards.org/globalfinalists.

In addition, all prize-winning projects at the regional level (including 38 Acknowledgement and Next Generation winners) will automatically compete for up to three Global Holcim Innovation prizes – which focus upon contributions to innovative building materials and construction technologies in the context of sustainable construction.

Each of the finalist teams is invited to prepare a more extensive submission that will be evaluated by the Global Holcim Awards jury headed by Enrique Norten, Principal and Founder of TEN Arquitectos (Mexico/USA), and the Holcim Innovation prize jury headed by Harry Gugger, Professor of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland.

Winners of the global prizes will share in $500,000 in prize money. Results will be announced in April 2012. In the regional phase of the 3rd International Holcim Awards competition, a total of 53 leading-edge projects from 29 countries shared $1.5 million in prize money in 2011.

Following an evaluation process by independent juries in five regions of the world, the winning projects and their design teams were celebrated by receiving Awards, Acknowledgement and Next Generation prizes at ceremonies in Milan, Washington, Buenos Aires, Casablanca and Singapore.

Suffolk Construction Enrolls in SPI's Green Building Certification Program

Suffolk Construction has enrolled the Sustainable Performance Institute's Certification program for evaluation and recognition of Suffolk's capability to deliver consistent, high-quality sustainability services.

Today's leading design and construction firms are fighting a battle for survival to differentiate their green services and be a part of the climate solution. The McGraw Hill Green Outlook 2011 report says, "Once an emerging trend or a niche sector, green building has become a significant part of today's construction industry and is expected to keep growing."

In addition, the building industry is responsible for nearly half of U.S. CO2 emissions, and this number is only expected to grow.

"At Suffolk, we are proud of our commitment to be a green, environmentally-conscious company that will set a new standard in sustainability for the construction industry," says Mark DiNapoli, president and GM of Suffolk Construction's Northeast region. "We are confident that working with SPI will help ensure we meet our ambitious sustainability goals and demonstrate how we continue to build smart. Once achieved, Suffolk's SPI Certification will raise the visibility of our corporate green initiatives and position Suffolk as leader in instituting environmentally friendly business practices."

SPI Certification provides a road map for continuous improvement to help firms understand, set and monitor their sustainability goals. Certification offers differentiation and metrics to evaluate claims of sustainability. It addresses recognized standards and certifications such as LEED, Living Building Challenge, and Architecture 2030, but goes beyond these specific guidelines to look at overall organizational capacity.

Some firms have completely institutionalized sustainable approaches and simply benefit from third-party validation; others are just beginning their sustainability efforts; most are somewhere between and need to understand and address their gaps. Wherever a firm falls on this spectrum, SPI Certification provides a roadmap to ever-higher levels of quality.

Boral Bricks Announces Cradle to Cradle Certification

Boral Bricks Inc.’s clay facing bricks produced in Salisbury, N.C., are Cradle to Cradle Certified – Silver. Boral says it has become a leader in sustainable manufacturing in the building products industry.

“We like to say brick is the original green building material and certifications like Cradle to Cradle help back that statement up,” says Bob Kepford, president of Boral Bricks. “This landmark certification adds credibility to the important work we’re doing to ensure our brick products are sustainable and have a positive impact on society, economics and the environment.”

The bricks achieved Cradle to Cradle Certification after an audit of all the materials used in their formulation down to 100 parts per million, and the processes used to manufacture them. The certification awarded by McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry is a multi-attribute, eco-label that assesses a product’s safety to humans and the environment and design for future life cycles. Unlike single-attribute, eco-labels, the Cradle to Cradle Certification program takes a comprehensive approach to evaluating the sustainability of a product and the practices employed in manufacturing the product. The materials and manufacturing practices of each product are assessed in five categories: material health, material reutilization, renewable energy use, water stewardship, and social responsibility.

Building projects seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council can use Cradle to Cradle Certified products to earn points for Environmentally Preferable Products in the LEED for Homes rating system or in the “Innovation in Design” category in all rating systems.

Bayer MaterialScience Brings Building Program to Classroom

Bayer MaterialScience LLC is offering a 1.5-hour course designed for architects and contractors through the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System. The course, “Chemicals Do Good Things for Building Products, Too: How to Improve Building Sustainability and Energy Efficiency by Choosing Products that Use Advanced Materials,” examines the careful evaluation and selection of materials that can be used for sustainable commercial building applications.

Course instructors, members of Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s EcoCommercial North America Building Program team, explore a variety of high-performance materials that go into building products and their impacts on sustainability and energy conservation. Sustainable building product solutions including building envelope (insulation), daylighting, illumination, indoor environment quality, intelligent building and renewable energy are discussed in detail. Considering cost and performance metrics for materials like insulation and long-term payback estimates are also examined. Upon completion of the course, attendees will earn 1.5 sustainable design and health, safety and welfare learning units. Visit www.bayermaterialsciencenafta.com.

CSI to Provide 10-Year Warranty

As of Jan. 1, 2011, all Certified Cast Stone Institute (CSI) Producing Members will provide a 10-year Limited Product Warranty for the cast stone they supply on projects. CSI Institute Producer Members are aware of the evolving environment for products in the marketplace that demand sustainability, durability and useable service life, and voted to adopt the language for a 10-year Limited Product Warranty. This warranty demonstrates that CSI Producer Members embrace these principles and produce products that will stand the test of time. For more information log onto www.caststone.org.