Masonry Magazine August 1998 Page. 10
Five thousand years ago, Egypt flourished under a highly advanced civilization where the pharaohs were believed to be gods. To construct a tomb fit for a god, Cheops constructed the Great Pyramid at Giza. This ancient masonry structure inspires awe in today's visitors. To many, masonry still represents strength and longevity.
What key factors, though, influence owners and designers to choose masonry over one of the many other building systems available? Today's building owners are more demanding than ever. They're choosing masonry for any one of a variety of reasons; masonry's versatility allows it to fulfill many different needs.
Masonry is often specified to convey a lasting impression of solidity, reflecting stability and trustworthiness. Architects and landscape architects favor the unparalleled beauty and design versatility. In fact, this design and construction flexibility sets masonry apart from other construction systems. The additional benefits of security, fire resistance, structural strength, energy efficiency, and sound insulation provide inherent "value-added" benefits.
Owners' Perspective
Building owners may favor masonry for a variety of reasons. Banks and other other financial institutions benefit from masonry's solidity and durability, which reflect on the financial security and the trustworthiness of the institution. Many retail establishments and home builders choose masonry to appeal to an upscale market; masonry means quality to consumers. Although many consumers will pay a premium for top-quality construction, economy is always an important consideration. Costco Wholesale, one of the nation's largest wholesale club retailers, uses single wythe concrete masonry for their new stores, helping the chain evolve from warehouses in industrial areas to high profile buildings in upscale neighborhoods. To accomplish this change, Costco began working with Mulvanny Partnership Architects P.S. According to Mitchell Smith, president of Mulvanny Partnership, "Costco Wholesale's intent in choosing its building materials is cost and operational efficiency. Single-wythe construction accomplishes these goals. The primary operational criterion is durability because these warehouses are subject to frequent impacts from carts, pallets, and forklifts. Most other materials just don't stand up to it."
Indeed, the inherent strength and durability of masonry materials is paramount to some decision-makers. "When durability is a factor, concrete masonry is the wall material of choice, providing not only durability and maintainability, but excellent cost effectiveness as well," proclaims Jiriar Yousseffian, AIA, of Vittetta Group Architects, a worldwide architectural firm.
Perhaps nowhere is this strength and durability more important than in areas prone to very high winds and earthquakes. Recent natural disasters have focused attention more than ever on high strength, long-lasting design and construction. According to Jim Zirkle, of Home Design Services, Architects and Planners in Longwood Florida, "Hurricane Andrew reinforced the recognized value of concrete block as a durable construction material." Indeed, structural investigations into recent natural disasters, such as the Northridge, California earthquake and Hurricane Opal, have confirmed that masonry designed and constructed in accordance with the latest building codes has the strength and ductility to withstand these forces and provide safe haven.
Masonry materials are tough, minimising maintenance costs in areas subject to vandalism. If minor chips occur, as a result of misuse or vandalism, they are generally not noticeable since masonry's integral color extends throughout the units.
Unlike many other systems, masonry walls do not require additional finish materials. The completed masonry wall is not only beautiful, but also resists dents, gouges, bumps,