January 2015 Table of Contents

Words: Dan KamysTable of Contents

Volume 54, Number 1 FEATURES BIM-M Building Information Modeling masonry

Air Barriers and Insulation

Mason contractors can experience long-term energy savings through cavity wall systems.

Education and Certifications

The tough new standards developed by the Natural Stone Council over a five-year period were released in late-June and promise to level the playing field between man’s oldest building material and other building components.

Software: BIM for Masonry

BIM-M will expand the use of masonry within the construction industry by promoting the development of tools that will help architects, engineers, manufacturers, masons, contractors and owners.

Technology: Humanoids and Bio Bricks

With a sharp decline in the number of young people learning the masonry trade, could robot prototypes fill the void?

Mast Climbers, Cranes and Telehanders

The mast climber industry has been working hard to update committee focus and standards development, always mindful of the increased potential for accidents in the period immediately following a recession.

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

From The Editor Chairman’s Message Government Affairs Full Contact PM New Products Classified Advertising News

The Science of a Straight Line: Why Masonry’s Smallest Decisions Make the Biggest Differences
September 2026

There is a unique phenomenon in construction: the human eye can spot an out-of-plumb wall from 50 yards away across a crowded job site. We might not always be able to explain the exact mathematical deviation without a laser level, but our brains instantly

The Utah Masonry Council's Masonry Education Day
September 2026

The 2026 Masonry Education Day at Interstate Brick in West Jordan is bringing together members of Utah’s architecture, engineering, and construction community for a day focused on education, technical understanding, and workforce development. The event r

MCAA Upstate New York: Regaining Market Share Through Education
September 2026

The Upstate New York chapter of the MCAA was established in 2014 by a dedicated group of both union and non-union masonry contractors, producers, and suppliers who shared concerns about the declining use of masonry. T

GEN NXT: Luis Sontay
September 2026

For this month, the MCAA got to sit down with aspiring mason Luis Sontay. From taking an interest in masonry as a kid to placing 1st in a postsecondary competition, Luis’ dedication and passion for the trade is clear. Luis describes his early passion fo