NC State wins Unit Design Competition

Words: Randi HertzbergArchitectural students from North Carolina State University, Smith Marks and Paola Gonzalez, took home the top honors in the NCMA Foundation-sponsored Unit Design Competition.

The NC State team presented an innovative block design called "Angle Face Block," which creates a unique wall appearance. NC State was one of three finalists (also including teams from Ball State University and the University of Nebraska) that presented original concrete masonry units during NCMA’s Midyear Meeting in Coeur d’Alene, ID.

Click here to see all the finalists.
Lake Erie Brick Listing Highlights The Long-Term Value Of Well-Maintained Masonry
February 2026

A Cleveland.com “House of the Week” feature spotlights a 1932 brick home near Lake Erie with a $1.59 million asking price. For mason contractors, it is another reminder that brick exteriors can be a premium selling point, but only when the masonry is care

Stone Cladding Panels Forecast Signals More Stone Veneer Work For US Mason Contractors
February 2026

A new IndexBox market update says demand for stone cladding panels is expected to accelerate through 2035, fueled by a broader construction upswing. For US mason contractors who install stone veneer, that points to more opportunity, but also more pressure

New Cavity Fire Barrier Guidance Puts Masonry Wall Safety In The Spotlight
February 2026

A masonry trade group has launched a new Technical Committee and released its first guidance focused on cavity fire barriers. For mason contractors, it is a timely reminder that fire performance details in cavity wall construction deserve the same attenti

The Practicality Behind Cavity Walls
February 2026

The construction industry tends to chase certainty. We want walls that never leak, materials that never move, and systems that behave the same in the field as they do on paper. Every generation pushes for a tighter envelope, a thinner assembly, or a smart