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.
The Importance of Instructor Support
April 2026

Whether you are a new or veteran masonry instructor, we all need support throughout our careers. We can never stop learning, and keeping up with ever-changing technology, materials, and installation techniques can be overwhelming alongside the everyday pr

Vibing Masonry #11: Innovative Concrete Masonry Technologies in Healthcare Design
April 2026

In the high-stakes environment of healthcare design, every material choice is a clinical decision. Architects, engineers, and facility administrators are tasked with creating spaces that are not only resilient and code-compliant but also conducive to heal

Why Termination Bars Still Matter: A Practical Look at Long‑Term Flashing Performance
April 2026

In recent discussions across the masonry industry, I have heard termination bars described as “old school.” The implication is that with modern materials, primerless peel-and-stick flashings, advanced sealants, and structural insulated sheathing, mechanic

Building Solutions: The Critical Role of Cavity Space in Masonry Moisture Control
April 2026

Long before “rainscreen” became a popular term in building science, masonry cavity walls were functioning on that very principle. A brick veneer cavity wall is designed with the expectation that water will penetrate the exterior