Organizations collaborate for resilient communities

Words: Randi HertzbergAcross America, communities are facing unprecedented environmental, social and economic challenges. Climate change is making cities more vulnerable to heat waves, rising sea levels, dangerous flooding, prolonged droughts and other extreme weather events.

The National Institute of Building Sciences and the International Code Council are collaborating with several other organizations under the Alliance for National & Community Resilience (ANCR). ANCR will collect data and research communities that have experienced extreme events and develop a strategy that will prepare and ultimately protect the community and the resident/occupants of those communities if an extreme event should occur. The goal is to have community owners and developers select building materials and systems that will withstand these uncontrollable events.

Learn more at www.resilientalliance.org.
Helical Beaming: Strengthening Masonry from the Inside Out
February 2026

In the world of masonry restoration and retrofit, the goal is always the same: preserve the character and craftsmanship of historic structures while ensuring their long-term stability. But anyone who has worked on century-old brick or stone buildings know

A Practical Guide to Modern Masonry Restoration
February 2026

THE MYTH: Masonry Lasts Forever It’s strong, yes, but movement, moisture, and time still take their toll. Common Causes Why Masonry Fails: - Differential movement - Thermal expansion & contraction - Moisture intrusion & freeze–thaw - Corrosion of steel

The 2026 MCAA Annual Online Auction
February 2026

The Mason Contractors Association of America is thrilled to announce the 2026 Annual Online Auction, the masonry industry’s premier event for scoring the best equipment at a fraction of costs. Whether you are looking to expand your equipment stockpile or

CMU Partitions: How Much Reinforcement Is Actually Required?
February 2026

Walk onto almost any job site and you’ll find masons laying out interior partitions much the same way they did decades ago. The work looks straightforward: stack the units, strike clean joints, and keep the wall plumb. And the function of these partitions