Fall/Winter 2016: Table of Contents

Words: Dan Kamys
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FALL/WINTER 2016:
Table of Contents

Features

Technology / Retrofitting & Reinforcement
Saving A Building And A Forgotten Work Of Art
In 2012, the City of Los Angeles and the Getty Conservation Institute funded a plan to restore a forgotten mural on the historic Italian Hall Building. As part of the restoration, the mural wall needed to be strengthened to reduce the likelihood of damage to the historical monument during earthquakes that often occur in the Los Angeles area.
By Chukwuma G. Ekwueme, PhD, PE, SE, LEED AP

Materials / Natural Stone
Express Beauty And Interest With Natural Stone
Natural stone can add unique texture and elegance to a room, building, or outdoor space that can’t be achieved with other materials. Incorporating natural stone into interior or exterior settings can give both residential and commercial spaces a little something special. Whether you’re designing a residential space or a grand foyer in a public building, using natural stone is a guaranteed way to make a statement.
By Kleber & Associates

Design Trends / Green Building
Onsite Masonry Production from Diverted Excavation
Watershed Materials is exploring a solution to a problem that real estate developers often face—excavation that has to be moved off a construction site to make way for new buildings. Rather than haul off the excavation spoils and then import thousands of CMUs for use at a pilot project, the developers and Watershed Materials are repurposing native excavation material to create the structural masonry blocks used in the development.
By David Easton

Design Trends / Green Building
Iredale Mineral Cosmetics International Headquarters
Croxton Collaborative Architects recently completed the 21,000-square-foot international headquarters for Iredale Mineral Cosmetics in Great Barrington, Mass. Adding to the company’s smaller home base nearby, the new structure represents the rehabilitation of the abandoned 1886 William Cullen Bryant School building (and its early 1900s addition), a Massachusetts Cultural Resource, as a 21st century center of operations.
By Randolph R. Croxton, FAIA, LEED AP

Columns & Departments

From the Editor
Estimation
Supplies

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Contractor Tip of the Month: Get Used to the Pain
April 2026

Pain isn’t just negative; it’s a natural part of growing and improving. Instead of seeing pain as a reason to quit, recognize it as a sign you’re making progress. What sets successful people apart is their ability to stay calm and keep going when things g

Damian Lang
Contractor Tip of the Month
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Fechino Files: Diesels Below 32 Degrees
April 2026

I am guessing that if you are reading this, then you experienced the cold, late-January spell that took over most of the country. The cold weather has many effects on the operations of a masonry contractor, from job shutdowns to equipment starting issues,

Steven Fechino
Fechino Files
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Outreach Outlook: Building Momentum Across the Southern Region
April 2026

As April arrives, the pace of our outreach and workforce efforts across the Southern Region reaches a new level of intensity. This is the time of year when our programs, partners, and state collaborators all accelerate at once. SkillsUSA competitions are

Conner Birdsong
Outreach Outlook
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Marvelous Masonry: Elbphilharmonie
April 2026

Most people know the Elbphilharmonie for its glass façade and dramatic roofline. From a distance, that’s what defines the skyline in Hamburg’s HafenCity district. But for masonry contractors and suppliers, the real story starts at the base.

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
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