See the Masonry Innovations & Workforce Development Zone at WOC

Words: Brian CarneyEmbedded in the heart of the 100,000 square foot MASONRY MADNESS™ Arena sits the industry’s “Innovations & Workforce Development Zone” located between the battlegrounds of the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® and the MCAA Fastest Trowel on the Block competitions. It’s the latest addition to the WOC Gold Lot that allows spectators to take in the excitement of world-class masonry craftsmanship while gaining exposure to some of the latest technology and developments advancing the masonry industry.

After its wildly successful debut in 2016 that attracted well over 1,000 show attendees, the MCAA and SPEC MIX®, Inc. have reunited with the NCMA, IMI and NCCER, plus several innovative manufacturers, to host daily informative demonstrations showcasing the best resources and equipment on the market. From robotic bricklaying machinery, to 3D Building Modeling, new masonry wall systems, proper cleaning techniques, natural stone installation as well as jobsite safety solutions for respirable dust, the Innovation & WFD Zone proves the masonry industry has evolved significantly over the past 5-10 years.

Want to learn about the careers available in masonry? Come speak with NCCER and MCAA professionals who will be in “The Zone” offering information on the endless occupational opportunities, training and career paths in the industry to Build Your Future! You may start working as a laborer with the strong chance of becoming a top executive or owner of a construction company…It’s all up to you!

So if your heart accelerates at the sight of bricks, blocks, stone and mortar–or if you have a family member or friend ready to join a growing business and start a career full of opportunity -- be sure to visit the Masonry Innovation & Workforce Development Zone in the MASONRY MADNESS® Arena…You’ll love what you see!

It all takes places Tuesday — Thursday, January 17-19 from 9:30 AM — 5:00 PM PT at the World of Concrete Gold Lot in the MASONRY MADNESS® Arena.

Sponsored by:

  • MCAA
  • SPEC MIX®, Inc.
  • Construction Robotics
  • Prosoco
  • International Masonry Institute
  • Natural Stone Veneers International
  • iQ Power Tools
  • Mortar Net
  • BIM-Masonry
  • LIUNA
  • NCMA
  • NCCER
  • Pullman Ermator
  • Cast Stone Institute
GEN NXT: Mason Paolini
May 2026

This month, the MCAA got to talk with Mason Paolini, a mason who has a clear passion and talent for the trade he has such high praise for. Read about Mason’s story and why he sees a future in this industry. Mason Paolini’s career began with a simple desi

Marvelous Masonry: Tianjin Zhongshuge Library
May 2026

It is not unusual today for masonry to be treated as a surface decision rather than a structural one. Too often, brick enters a project late in the process, trimmed back by budgets or reduced to a veneer once the “real” building work is finished. The Tian

Fechino Files: Concrete Pavers around a Pool
May 2026

Many folks over the years have placed concrete pavers around their pool as a nice form of decorative pool deck. Early in the 2000’s, I took a class held by the Interlocking Concrete Paver Institute, then known as the ICPI. At the time I attended the class

Chairman's Message: Staying the Course
May 2026

Spring is one of my favorite times of year. There’s energy in the air. Jobs are picking up. Crews are hitting their rhythm. Schedules are filling up. You can feel momentum building again. And every year around this time, I find myself thinking about con