The Best of MASONRY

Words: Greg Brown


Cost Savings & Availability Make Concrete Masonry Ideal for Demanding Building Applications
Echelon Masonry provides us with a research-based article on the cost analysis and benefits of masonry for building applications. Discover more on the topic.



Granite Plays Key Role in Challenging Gardens Upgrade
Large pieces and specific color requirements helped to create beautiful new spaces at Michigan’s Frederik Meijer Gardens. Discover the efforts of JK Masonry and Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects of New York for this natural stone project.  




Overcoming Seasonal Affective Disorder: Beating The Winter Blues

Earlier nights, colder temperatures, and the absence of the sun can be some of the things that cause the winter blues. Get some of the best ways to overcome seasonal affective disorder with this informative article. 



Making Art With Masonry

 Brick and natural stone are not only resilient but beautiful. In this article, MASONRY Magazine speaks with Steve Borman, President of Keystone Masonry, Inc. in Yelm, Washington about the creative process surrounding the construction of a stunning stone sphere and all it entails.


Embarking on the Masonry Career Path

The world of masonry is a significant component that makes up the construction process. Much like other specialty trades, the work of a mason is very much an art form that has been passed down from one generation to the next. Read more on getting started in the masonry industry. 


University of Kansas Medical Center Health Education Building

Schooling doesn’t always take place in traditional classrooms, especially considering the future of healthcare. So, when planning the Health Education Building at the University of Kansas Medical Center, designers looked at the whole student and planned accordingly. Checkhttps://www.masonrymagazine.com/blog/2022/01/19/university-of-kansas-medical-center-health-education-building/ out this interesting case study! 



Return on Investment: Improving Efficiency on the Jobsite

How do you work smarter but not harder? In this article MASONRY Magazine speaks with masonry companies SPEC MIX and Quick Headers about the best ways to identify and improve inefficiencies on the job site to speed up work processes. 



Causes of Efflorescence and Efflorescence Test Method Summary

Efflorescence is a topic we have often explored in MASONRY Magazine over the years, allowing many of us to become quite knowledgeable on the subject. Are you aware, however, that there are tests that can help pinpoint the source of efflorescence in masonry? Learn more about the tests that can be done and more. 


Canopy Austin Downtown Hotel Celebrates Masonry and Concrete Décor
Like the majority of prominent cities across the United States, the city of Austin, TX harnesses its own exceptional demeanor with ties rich in culture and art. Giving way to this same theme, the architecture found throughout the city exemplifies this very school of thought. Discover more about this creative case study. 


Wall of Fame: Phil Cote
MASONRY Magazine sat down with Phil Cote for this year's first Wall of Fame interview. Phil is a sixth-generation mason continuing the legacy created by his family members who worked in the industry before him. He runs his company 6th Generation Masonry and looks forward to teaching masonry to his children in the future. Learn more about Phil in this year's first Wall of Fame article. 
La Maison Franchère: How Masonry Turns Functional Buildings Into Timeless Beauty

La Maison Franchère, or the Franchers’ House, stands as a notable relic of stone architecture in Saint-Mathies, a small Quebec town on the edge of the Richelieu River. Unlike the neighboring homes, this towering, two-and-a-half-story mansion immediately c

MASONRY STRONG Podcast Episode 5 Recap: Zach Everett

Welcome back to another insightful episode of the Masonry Strong podcast! Today, we have a very special guest, Zach Everett, sharing his journey and experiences in the world of safety within the masonry industry. From humble beginnings to becoming a vital

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What Is Crisis Management?

Crisis management is a process that employers use to respond to, and recover from, unplanned events. The best time to develop a crisis management plan is before a crisis occurs. A crisis management plan can help companies maintain business continuity, pro

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Cost Management and Efficiency in Masonry Projects

With masonry being a piece count trade, the more units that are laid in the field that surpass the quantity figured in the estimate, the more profit that is made. Masonry crews in the field need a good foreman that is capable of organizing the crew, posit

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