International Sustainability Design Competition

Words: Dan Kamys

International Sustainability Design Competition

Potomac Valley Brick (PVB) announced a call for entries for a new international architectural green design competition. In Brick-stainable: Re-thinking Brick, entrants will be asked to design a hypothetical net-zero energy building using clay masonry as a primary material.

Brick-stainable: Re-thinking Brick hopes to attract interest from a broad pool of entrants, including architects and engineers as well as non-traditional candidates, such as environmental engineers, product designers and material scientists. The competition even includes a category for materials studies or assemblies, in addition to its building design element.

PVB has named a $10,000 grand prize. An award ceremony will be held at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C, on Jan. 27, 2009. Entrants will have a first-hand introduction to the competition during DesignDC 2009: Architects Leading Change, held July 14 – 16 at the Walter Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., where Potomac Valley Brick will unveil the PVB/Brick-stainable information center, offering detailed information on the competition and insight to their product range.??For more information, email ericka@spinLLC.com.

The Important Issues with Masonry Barrier Systems
July 2026

A barrier is an element, device, or material that is intended to stop something from passing through. Road barriers stop traffic, for instance. Sun lotion with a high SPF rating will stop UV rays (for a limited time) from damaging the skin. In masonry, ba

Four Home Design Trends Driving Masonry Demand in 2026
July 2026

As design trends continue to evolve, one theme remains consistent throughout 2026: homeowners want spaces that feel intentional, comfortable and enduring. According to Westlake Royal Building Products’ TrendLine platform, today's most influential trends e

The Modern Masonry Saw: Safety, Efficiency, and Smarter Cutting
July 2026

Masonry is a craft built on precision, strength, and durability. At the heart of every successful masonry project is one essential tool: the masonry saw. As technology evolves, so does the role of the saw on the jobsite. Today’s contractors are not just l

Getting the Finish Right on Burnished CMU
July 2026

The wall is complete. The lines are crisp. The coursing is tight, and the burnished CMU delivers exactly the refined appearance the design team envisioned. After weeks of coordination and careful installation, the project is final