Masonry 2018 Symposium Call for Papers

Words: Dan KamysThe objective of Masonry 2018 Symposium is to gather and disseminate the latest information on all aspects of the innovations in masonry materials, design, specification, construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation. It will emphasize the application of ASTM standards to those areas, and their coordination with building codes, project specifications, and international standards. ASTM has released its call for papers for the Symposium, to be held on Tuesday, June 26, 2018. The Symposium will be held at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, San Diego, Calif., in conjunction with the standards development meetings of Committees C01, C07, C12 and C15. Papers are sought on the following topics:
  • Anchors and Ties
  • Materials Testing
  • ASTM Standards
  • Moisture Management
  • Building Codes
  • Mortars: Cement: Lime, Masonry Cement, Mortar Cement
  • Cements: Portland, Blended, Hydraulic, Masonry, Plastic
  • Performance-Based Design and Specification
  • Grout
  • Specifications
  • Inspection
  • Structural Masonry and Testing
  • Joints
  • Sustainability
  • Thermal Performance
  • Maintenance
  • Thin Brick Facades and Veneers
  • Water Penetration and Resistance 

    ... and much more.

To participate in the symposium, presenters/authors must submit online the Abstract Submittal Form and attach a 250- to 300-word preliminary abstract no later than April 21, 2017. Complete details are available here.
Contractor Tip of the Month: A Contractor’s Amazon Adventure: Heat, Teamwork, and Thrills in the Rainforest
January 2026

Pressure has a way of exposing your habits. It shows how you respond when comfort fades away, and the work starts fighting back. For contractors, those moments come on jobs that test your energy or force decisions when the margin for error disappears. The

Fechino Files: Something Good!
January 2026

Mortar Net Solutions and Keene, Inc. have delivered the 2025 Masonry Apprentice Scholarships, and teachers across the country are presenting them as they change the lives of the recipients. This year, we were fortunate enough to have four National Masonry

GEN NXT: Austin Cataldi
January 2026

This month, the MCAA had a conversation with 19-year-old Austin Cataldi, a dedicated young professional whose path to masonry was shaped by family ties and a hands-on spirit. His journey is one of finding artistic expression in the same materials he works

Outreach Outlook: Launching Into 2026 With Purpose, Innovation, and National Momentum
January 2026

Happy New Year! As classrooms reopen and a new semester begins across the country, the MCAA Outreach & Education Division is entering 2026 with renewed purpose and a clear focus. There is a unique energy that comes with the start of a new year. It is a ti