Masonry Magazine March 1979 Page. 8
A beautiful structural system with built-in savings
A first for Hawaii.
On the warm, scalloped beaches of Maui stands one of the first high-rises ever built of loadbearing masonry in Hawaii.
It is the 12-story Kahana Beach Resort near Kaanapali, a graceful, soaring structure that faces the extinct volcanic palisades of Molokai across the Pacific. Architect John R. Mock, AIA, of Hendrick and Mock Architects, San Diego, California, studied the site, the design problems and found there were several reasons to use masonry:
"We priced it for both masonry and poured-in-place concrete and masonry won. Using loadbearing masonry provided considerable savings."
The structural system consisted of loadbearing combed-face concrete block. This meant that the building could rise faster.
It also meant that fire walls would be inherent to the system, and according to Mock: "Fire proofing is absolutely essential in this kind of multi-family structure." Sound proofing between units was another factor and another plus for masonry in this popular family-oriented resort.
But aesthetics played as big a role in Mock's choice as any other consideration.
"Masonry has a much warmer effect than concrete he noted. "In this beautiful environment that's important-the beauty and flexibility of exposed masonry work fine here."
There are other long-term advantages to an engineered masonry building, too. Because of its masonry means energy savings, lower heating costs-which may not be so important in Hawaii-and lower cooling costs, which certainly are. And masonry walls are virtually maintenance free.
If these beautiful loadbearing masonry walls are a first for Hawaii, one thing's certain: They won't be the last.
For more information about the aesthetics and built-in savings of loadbearing masonry, write IMI.
Hendrick and Mock, Architects
F&M Contractors, Inc.
Suda Construction and Mason, Inc.
Local 1, Hawaii, BAC
International
IMI Masonry Institut
823 15th Street, N.W., Suite 1001
Washington. D.C. 20005
(202) 783-3908