Argo Community High School is located in Summit, Illinois, just southwest of Chicago’s Midway Airport. In 2016, the Argo Community High School Board of Education and the school’s administration undertook the construction of a new performing

One of masonry's greatest strengths is its ability to create visually striking architecture. From arches and deep reveals to decorative brick detailing, masonry provides texture, depth, and character that continue to inspire architects today. As buildin

When I first set out to become a historic preservation and restoration mason, I imagined that most of my trade would involve repairing the effects of old age. Instead, 99 percent of my work is attempting to stabilize and reverse damage caused by recent an

For generations, masonry has been built on a simple but powerful principle: knowledge passed from one set of hands to the next. In Arizona, the Arizona Masonry Council (AMC) is working to ensure that tradition continues by investing in one of the industr

Most mason contractors can tell you exactly what a job should cost before it starts. Bid labor hours, material takeoffs, and crew rates per square foot. The numbers are on paper, and they look right. What most can't tell you is whether those numbers held

Homeowners today are coming into projects with a lot more opinions than they used to have. Between social media, home shows and contractor sites, most customers already have a look in mind before you even quote the job. For masonry contractors, having a

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

With technology advancing and manufacturing methods improving, many construction tools have been redesigned or revamped. But in masonry, one tool has remained constant, not because it hasn’t evolved, but because its purpose and performance have always wor

When the final school bell rings and students head out for summer break, the classrooms and masonry shops may go quiet, but the work of workforce development kicks into high gear. Last month, MCAA Regional Director Jason McCoy wrote about the undeniable p

When Everyone Says Quit, But Your Gut Says Push I have been in business long enough to know it humbles even the most confident entrepreneur. It can test your nerves and make you question every decision, especially when you’re surrounded by mentors and a

The Tate Modern’s industrial past is still visible from across the Thames. Long before the building became one of the world’s best-known museums, it operated as the Bankside Power Station, a coal-fired facility designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and con

In golf, players who artificially inflate their handicaps to gain an unfair advantage during competitions are known as "sandbaggers." The term comes from the concept of filling your golf bag with some sand so it’s heavier than normal, causing you to get t

Yes, summer is hot; that is just how it is. Summer heat can have effects on many things, and as I get older, I realize there is usually something I can do to tolerate the hot days. We all know the obvious, and I am sure every one of us has that person who

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

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.

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