Masonry Magazine April 2004 Page. 81
Liability, as a handbook for decision-makers in Texas school districts.
The guide focuses on the use of total masonry construction in K-12 publicly funded schools for the purpose of reduced life cycle costs, safety and mold resistance, among other benefits. Contents include a general overview of the problems that building cheaper and faster have caused, the materials and systems used that have not performed well, and a discussion of the total masonry construction system as the solution. Another primary topic of the book is that it dispels the perception that masonry costs more and is not economical.
In Burleson, a high school and elementary school have been built with total masonry construction so far. Mark Jackson, Superintendent of Burleson ISD, echoes other administrators when he says that masonry meets his district's need for durability and savings.
"We were looking for an attractive structure," Jackson explains, "and for something that would withstand the elements."
More testimonials from four other school districts that have specified total masonry construction in their current and future building plans are included in the guide.
The book is written by Christopher Huckabee, AIA, President and CEO of Huckabee and Associates, Inc., a respected architectural and construction management firm specializing in school construction, and Kyle Montgomery, Executive Director of the Texas Masonry Council. Additional review by a diverse Editorial Advisory Committee comprised of industry professionals and academia adds to the credibility and integrity of the publication.
To order copies of the book, log on to www.texasmasonrycouncil.org, or call the Texas Masonry Council toll-free at (888) 374-9922. Special bulk rates are available.
Note: Please send any local, state or regional news to Jennie Farmsworth at jen@lionhrtpub.com or c/o Lionheart Publishing, Inc., 506 Roswell St., Suite 220, Marietta, Ga. 30060.
The Masonry Society (TMS) recently became a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to help provide technical expertise and knowledge related to masonry, its characteristics, and how it is manufactured, designed, constructed and in many cases reused. Associated with TMS joining the USGBC, TMS has also created a Sustainability Subcommittee to help form positions to take to the USGBC for consideration.
The USGBC is a diverse coalition that works to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Recently, the USGBC's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ has caught the attention of numerous designers who hope to provide more sustainable building systems. LEED is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Members of the U.S. Green Building Council representing all segments of the building industry developed LEED and continue to contribute to its evolution.
LEED was created to:
* define "green building" by establishing a common standard of measurement;
* promote integrated, whole-building design practices;
* recognize environmental leadership in the building industry:
* stimulate green competition;
* raise consumer awareness of green building benefits; and
* transform the building market.
LEED is intended to provide a framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. It emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED recognizes achievements and promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive system offering project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources.
Recently however, segments of the masonry industry have become concerned about the LEED rating system as it appears to discount many of masonry advantages including its durability and its reuse of some materials in the manufacturing process. Because of these concerns and the desire to provide sound technical knowledge on masonry on the USGBC, the Masonry Industry Council (MIC) contacted The Masonry Society last year to see if TMS would be interested in serving on the USGBC on behalf of the masonry community. Through recent negotiations, TMS and MIC entered into a contractual agreement whereby MIC will help fund TMS in their efforts to provide masonry representation on the USGBC.
Christine A. Subasic, P.E. of C. Callista Subasic, has been chosen as TMS's representative on the USGBC. Subasic is a consulting architectural engineer, specializing in masonry. Her background as a former member of the Board of Directors for the NIBS Building Environment and Thermal Envelope Council and her work on ther-TMS-USGBC continued on page 80
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