November 2008: BIA 2008 Awards

Words: Dan KamysNovember 2008

BIA's 2008 Brick in Architecture Awards

The Brick Industry Association (BIA) announced the recipients of its 2008 Brick in Architecture Awards, which honor innovative use of clay brick in six categories: commercial, educational, health care facilities, houses of worship, municipal/government and paving/landscape architecture applications. Five renowned architects from around the country independently reviewed and scored each entry.

A common theme among the winning projects was the need to utilize environmentally friendly materials to create durable and sustainable structures. Brick's inherent durability and sustainability not only made it the leading material choice, but also it enabled many entries to receive or register for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.

The 2009 Brick In Architecture Awards are slated to begin in January. A change to next year's program will be the addition of a category for multi-family residential projects.


Commercial

award1 Architect: Gideon Toal Inc.

Educational

award2 Architect: Payette Associates

Health Care Facilities

awards3 Architect: TRO Jung|Brannen

Houses of Worship

award4 Architect: Cyntergy AEC

Municipal/Government

award5 Architect: The Freelon Group

Paving and Landscape Architecture

award6 Landscape Architect: Landscape Architecture Bureau      
Elevating Masonry: Old Habits, Familiar Tools, and the Real Reason Masonry Contractors Aren’t Making the Switch
May 2026

Ask a masonry contractor how they run their jobsite, and the answer probably sounds familiar: paper logs, a flurry of texts, maybe a shared email thread. It works until it doesn’t. And yet, even as purpose-built field management software has become more a

The Cornerstone of Craftsmanship: Nurturing Masonry Talent Through Competition
May 2026

In the evolving landscape of skilled trades, masonry stands as a testament to enduring craftsmanship and dedication. Yet, the question of how to cultivate and showcase this vital expertise remains paramount. While the bright lights of national competition

There’s the Typical Way to Brace a Wall. And Then There’s a Better Way.
May 2026

Wall bracing is one of the most important safety considerations on any masonry jobsite, yet it is often treated as a task that happens after the wall is built. Crews return, equipment is brought in, and time is set aside to secure walls that have already

Remembering Harry McGraw
May 2026

The masonry industry has lost one of its great teachers and craftsmen with the passing of Harry Edward McGraw, who died April 26, 2026, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 93.