Masonry Magazine September 2005 Page. 56
News
News continued from page 52 locations, are planning various celebrations throughout the summer to commemorate the 125-year milestone. Scheduled events include parties and consumer do-it-yourself workshops.
VERSA-LOK Announces 2005 Landscape Design Contest
VERSA-LOK's Landscape Design Contest is back- and they've sweetened the pot with more prizes. First prize is $5,000, and two additional $500 prizes are being awarded this year.
The contest is open to all professionals involved with retaining wall design, including contractors, landscape architects, architects and engineers. Particular weight will be given to project submissions featuring unique design elements and innovative uses in solving project challenges. All retaining wall products used in entered projects must be exclusively VERSA-LOK. Projects completed in 2004-2005 are eligible, and entries must be postmarked by Jan. 31, 2006.
For further information or entry forms for VERSA-LOK'S 2005 Landscape Design Contest, contact VERSA-LOK at versalok@versa-lok.com, or visit www.versa-lok.com.
RIDGID® Extends Deadline to Sign-up for Lifetime Service Agreement
When RIDGID announced in April that it was offering a Lifetime Service Agreement on all power tools and pneumatic nailers and staplers, it also allowed those who bought their RIDGID tools previous to April 15, 2005, a 120-day window to sign up for the Lifetime Service Agreement.
RIDGID has just announced that they have extended that 120-day window to Sept. 30, 2005.
The Lifetime Service Agreement - the only one of its kind in the power tool industry provides free service and parts on normal wear items, including batteries and O-rings, for life, for the original tool purchaser. In addition to the service agreement, RIDGID professional tools continue to carry a 90-day satisfaction guaran- News continued on page 56 54 Masonry September 2005
IMI Breaks Ground on New National Training Center
A new flagship training center for the International Masonry Institute (IMI) was officially launched during a ground-breaking ceremony at the Bowie, Md.-site in July. The center will offer all levels of training in all masonry crafts for members of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC). It will also be the permanent home of Masonry Camp, the innovative program of collaboration between young architects and apprentice craftworkers.
"This is an important day for the whole masonry industry," declares IMI Co-chair Fred Kinateder, President of Fred Kinateder Masonry, Inc.
IMI President Joan Calambokidis notes that as the demand for both IMI training and Masonry Camp has grown: "We are excited to finally be breaking ground on a permanent place for both. We believe it will allow us to go further than we ever imagined with our designation facilities, a cafeteria, meeting rooms er education program and specialized and dormitory rooms for 108 students. training."
Calambokidis says that the new campus also provides "the perfect setting for masonry product evaluation and testing. In recent years, IMI has worked closely with developers of new products to review installation or application techniques and to devise complementary training programs.
The 15-acre site is part of the Maryland Science and Technology Center in Prince Georges County, which sits halfway between BAC headquarters in Washington, D.C. and IMI headquarters in Annapolis. Construction on the $20 million project will start soon, with estimated completion in fall 2006.
Designed by renowned architect Stanley Tigerman, FAIA, of Chicago's Tigerman-McCurry Architects, the complex will have two buildings totaling 106,000-square feet. The 60,500-square-foot, two-story open bay training center will have offices, classrooms and design studios. The 45,500-square-foot, three-story main building will have offices, recte
The campus buildings will be constructed of high quality masonry materials, primarily brick, stone and concrete masonry units. The structural system is reinforced masonry walls with concrete slabs on grade and pre-cast concrete floors.
The IMI training network includes 12 regional centers plus satellite centers and mobile training units, all of which are anchored by the National Training Center, which is currently operating in Fort Ritchie, Md. Classes are offered for all levels of craftworkers, from pre-job apprentices to journeymen and instructors. In its new home, IMI will be able to offer even more specialized training in all the masonry crafts.
"A handsome, state-of-the art facility in a great location will allow us to offer even more value to BAC members, contractors and to the design and building professions," says Calambokidis.
For more information on Mi, visit www.imiweb.org.
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