NYS Concrete Masonry Association Donates to Alfred State Masonry Program

Words: Dan Kamys

NYS Concrete Masonry Association Donates to Alfred State Masonry Program

Alfred State College student masons and instructor Stephen Richard were busy late last semester, unloading and unpacking two truckloads of paver bricks, fire bricks, fireplace and pizza oven parts, refractory mortars, blocks, bricks and cavity wall flashing components. All of these masonry materials will be used as students build mock ups of masonry wall systems, fireplaces and working pizza ovens. All of the donated masonry products are green and recyclable. When used in building projects, they add to the LEED credits, which many builders and owners strive to achieve for more efficient energy use and low maintenance over the building’s life. The materials were donated by: Southern Tier Concrete Products of Alfred; CMS Industries, Superior Clay Corp., Whitacre Greer, Brick Corp., (Alliance, Ohio); Glen Gery Brick, (Reading, Pa.); Sandell Inc., (Schenectady, N.Y.); and Hohmann & Barnard Inc., (Hauppauge, N.Y.).

The Thirty-Year Mason: Ergonomics as a Retention Strategy
June 2026

In most industry circles, the conversation around the labor shortage follows a predictable script: How do we find the next generation of masons? While recruitment is vital, we often overlook the most valuable asset already on the job site: the experienced

Acme Brick Company Releases 2026 Pocket Guide to Brick Construction
June 2026

For more than four decades, all the basics of building with brick have come in a guide small enough to fit into a pocket. Acme Brick has just released a 2026 version of its Pocket Guide to Brick Construction. And yes, it’s still printed on paper just like

Masonry in the Media: Casa Azul, Chapultepec Castle, & More
June 2026

A film’s settings can take viewers to new locations, all from the comfort of their own home. It immerses them in the scenes, whether they take place in an opera house in Brazil or a grand mansion in Mexico City. Explore how these Latin American masonry ma

Chairman’s Message: When Things Don’t Go as Planned
June 2026

Not every day in this business goes the way we planned. Some days, everything lines up. The crew is moving well. Materials are on time. The job is flowing the way you hoped it would. And then there are the other days. The ones where something breaks. T