Nominations for the Outstanding Masters and Ph.D. Theses on Masonry being Accepted

Words: Phillip SamblanetThe Masonry Society (TMS) is soliciting nominations for the best Masters and Ph.D. theses on a masonry topic. Masters theses will be considered that were submitted for degree requirements between July 1, 2000 and June 30, 2001. Ph.D. theses will be considered that were submitted between July 1, 1998 and June 30, 2001. Ph.D. theses submitted in past years are still eligible and will be automatically considered without the need for resubmission. Three copies of each theses should be submitted to the TMS office (3970 Broadway, Suite 201-D, Boulder, CO 80304-1135) no later than July 1, 2001. Awards will be presented at the TMS Annual Meeting in October of 2001 in St. Louis, MO.

In 2000, student thesis award winners were:

Francisco Javier Crisafulli, Ph.D.
"Seismic Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Structures with Masonry Infills" at University of Canterbury under direction of Professors Athol J. Carr and Robert Park.

Master's Thesis: Ben Roberts
"Transverse Behavior of Masonry Arch Bridges" at Pennsylvania State University under the direction of Professor Thomas Boothby.

Congratulations to both winners.

Masonry Restoration: Why Walls Fail and How We Fix Them
February 2026

Masonry doesn’t crack. Old brick never has issues. Every masonry wall lasts 100 years or more… right? If only that were true. Masonry is one of the most durable building materials ever used, but like all construction, it responds to time, movement, mo

MCAA President Jeff Buczkiewicz Testifies To Congress On AI In Masonry
February 2026

On February 11, 2026, Jeff Buczkiewicz, President and CEO of the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA), testified before the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. He spoke during a hearing titled “Building an AI-Ready America: Safer Workp

Safe Driving, Safe Job: A Masonry Crew's Guide to Vehicle Safety
February 2026

Every day, we load up our trucks and head out to the next job. Our vehicles are more than just a ride; they're our mobile workshops, carrying the tools and materials we need to build our proj

MCAA President and CEO Jeff Buczkiewicz To Testify To Congress On AI
February 2026

On February 11, 2026, Jeff Buczkiewicz, President and CEO of the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA), will testify before the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. Representing a $41 billion industry, Buczkiewicz plans to showcase GEORG