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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The New Equation for Masonry Profit: Predictable Hardware and Proven Data
July 2026

The masonry industry is built on tradition, but modern growth requires a shift from guesswork to absolute certainty. When we talk about the philosophy that you cannot improve what you do not measure, we are looking at the literal minutes and manpower lost

Erin Koets Shayne Sanders
Build Smart
MAP Partner
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The Walls We Build
July 2026

As masons, we spend our careers building walls. We build them with brick, block, stone, and mortar, and we take pride in making them straight, strong, and built to last. But over the years, I’ve learned there is another kind of wall we build—the walls we

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
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Owen Heimbach
July 2026

This month, the MCAA had the pleasure of speaking with SkillsUSA First Place Winner Owen Heimbach, a young mason just starting out whose enthusiasm for bricklaying is truly contagious. His passion for the craft was evident throughout our interview.

Justin Stengel
GEN NXT
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Backfill Your Foundation
July 2026

I’ve been noticing an uptick in a very specific kind of application lately, and once you see the pattern, you can’t unsee it. The résumé usually reads like a family photo album. “Started helping my dad when I was 15.” “Worked summers, then full time.” “R

Corey Adams
Building More
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