Author Archives: Colby

RESTON, Va., July 2, 2014 — The Brick Industry Association (BIA) has honored the best in brick design across North America. Selected by an independent panel of judges, the 2014 Brick in Architecture Awards spiked this year with more than 150 entries. Established in 1989, the 40 winners in this 25th anniversary year span 22 states and Canada.

“Fired clay brick offers the aesthetic flexibility to match the architect’s imagination and desires, along with sustainable design, unsurpassed durability and many benefits from its physical properties,” said Ray Leonhard, BIA’s president and CEO.

The 2014 winners in all categories include:

 

BEST IN CLASS

 

Commercial

 

Sundance Square

Fort Worth, Texas

Architect: David M. Schwarz Architect

Associate Architect: Bennett Benner Partners

Landscape Architect: Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, Ltd.

Builder: The Beck Group

Manufacturer: Acme Brick

Mason Contractor: DMG Masonry

Photographer: Hedrich Blessing Photographers

Photographer: Craig Kuhner Photography

Photographer: Brian Luenser Photography

 

Educational (Higher Education)

 

Tozzer Anthropology Building

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Architect: Kennedy & Violich Architecture

Landscape Architect: Richard Burck Associates

Builder: Consigli Construction

Distributor: Spaulding Brick Company, Inc.

Mason Contractor: Empire Masonry Corporation

Photographer: John Horner Photography

Photographer: Kennedy & Violich Architecture

 

Educational (K-12)

 

Back of the Yards Prep College Preparatory High School

Chicago, Illinois

Architect: STL Architects, Inc.

Landscape Architect: Jacobs Ryan Associates

Builder: The George Sollitt Construction Co.

Manufacturer: Taylor Clay Products Company

Distributor: Metropolitan Architectural Brick, Inc.

Mason Contractor: Mastership Construction Co.

Photographer: Ignacio Espigares Enriquez

 

Health Care Facilities

 

Mercy Health – West Hospital

Cincinnati, Ohio

Architect: AECOM

Associate Architect: Champlin Architecture

Landscape Architect: Meisner + Associates / Land Vision

Builder: Turner Construction Company

Mason Contractor: High Concrete Group, LLC

Photographer: Dave Burk / Hedrich Blessing Photographers

 

Municipal / Government

 

Shelbyville Fire Station #2

Shelbyville, Indiana

Architect: Axis Architecture + Interiors

Builder: Runnebohm Construction

Manufacturer: Pine Hall Brick Company, Inc.

Mason Contractor: Joe Miller Masonry

Photographer: Susan Fleck Photography

 

Paving & Landscape Architecture

 

One Loudoun Plaza

Ashburn, Virginia

Architect: The Eisen Group

Landscape Architect: The Eisen Group

Builder: EE Reed Construction L.P.

Manufacturer: Pine Hall Brick Company, Inc.

Distributor: Capital Brick & Tile, Inc.

Mason Contractor: B & R Construction Inc.

Photographer: The Eisen Group

 

Renovation / Restoration

 

Thurston Wine House

Paradise Valley, Arizona

Architect: Jones Studio Inc.

Mason Contractor: Randy Gregory Masonry, Inc.

Photographer: Ed Taube

 

Residential – Multi-Family

 

Millennium Place

Boston, Massachusetts

Architect: Handel Architects

Landscape Architect: Richard Burck Associates

Manufacturer: Taylor Clay Products Company

Distributor: Brick Tech Architectural

Mason Contractor: Suffolk Construction

Photographer: Prudente Photography

 

Residential – Single Family

 

Indigo House

Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada

Architect: Cindy Rendely Architexture

Distributor: Thames Valley Brick and Tile

Mason Contractor: Cecchini Masonry, Ltd.

Photographer: Tom Arban

 

GOLD

 

Commercial

 

St. John and Associates

Cullman, Alabama

Architect: Cohen Carnaggio Reynolds

Manufacturer: Acme Brick

Manufacturer: Cherokee Brick & Tile Company

Mason Contractor: Chad Bentley Masonry Contractors, LLC

Photographer: Cohen Carnaggio Reynold

 

Educational (Higher Education)

 

Health and Social Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Lowell, Massachusetts

Architect: Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc.

Landscape Architect: Mikyoung Kim Design

Builder: Gilbane Building Company

Manufacturer: Hanson Brick

Mason Contractor: Empire Masonry Corporation

Photographer: Peter Vanderwarker Photographer

Photographer: Kwesi Budu-Arthur

 

Health Care Facilities

 

University of Iowa Healthcare, Iowa River Landing

Coralville, Iowa

Architect: Neumann Monson Architects

Builder: J.E. Dunn

Manufacturer: Glen-Gery Corporation

Mason Contractor: Moyle Masonry, LLC

Photographer: Donna Chiarelli Studio

 

Municipal / Government

 

Lake County Government Center Expansion

Tavares, Florida

Architect: Heery Design

Builder: Charles Perry Partners, Inc.

Manufacturer: Taylor Clay Products Company

Mason Contractor: Beeler Barney & Associates Masonry Contractors, Inc.

Photographer: Chroma Inc.

Photographer: Robert Egleston, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

 

W. E. Hunt Recreation Center

Holly Springs, North Carolina

Architect: KlingStubbins

Builder: John S. Clark Company

Manufacturer: Endicott Clay Products Company

Manufacturer: Lee Brick & Tile Company, Inc.

Distributor: Custom Brick Company, Inc.

Distributor: General Shale, Inc.

Mason Contractor: John S. Clark Co., LLC

Photographer: JWest Productions

 

Paving & Landscape Architecture

 

Triangle Park Lexington KY

Lexington, Kentucky

Architect: Reese Reinhold design

Manufacturer: Pine Hall Brick Company, Inc.

Mason Contractor: Tramontin and Associates

Photographer: Dale Paden

 

Renovation / Restoration

 

St. Paul Catholic Church

Chicago, Illinois

Architect: Jaeger Nickola Kuhlman & Associates, Ltd.

Builder: Zera Construction

Manufacturer: Glen-Gery Corporation

Distributor: Illinois Brick Company

Mason Contractor: Ward Contracting & Building Restoration

Photographer: Monika E Benitez/JNKA Architects

Residential – Multi-Family

 

2201 North Pershing Drive

Arlington, Virginia

Architect: SK+I Architecture

Landscape Architect: Parker Rodriguez

Builder: Harkins Builders

Manufacturer: The Belden Brick Company

Manufacturer: Endicott Clay Products Company

Distributor: Potomac Valley Brick & Supply Company

Mason Contractor: C.A.I Builders

Photographer: Maxwell Mackenzie

 

Residential – Single Family

 

California Ranch House

Cloverdale, California

Architect: Styles Design

Builder: Joseph Styles Construction

Mason Contractor: Ricky Mac Masonry

Photographer: Kate Revell

 

 

SILVER

 

Commercial

 

77H

Washington, District of Columbia

Architect: MV+A Architects

Landscape Architect: Parker Rodriguez, Inc.

Builder: Clark Builders Group, LLC

Manufacturer: Redland Brick Inc.

Mason Contractor: Telligent Masonry, LLC

Photographer: Carlos Guerra

Photographer: Anthony Dihle / MV+A Architects

 

The Fresh Market Pittsburgh

Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Architect: api(+)

Manufacturer: The Belden Brick Company

Mason Contractor: Harris Masonry Inc.

Photographer: Massery Photography, Inc.

 

Educational (Higher Education)

 

Life Science Laboratories

Amherst, Massachusetts

Architect: Wilson Architects, Inc.

Landscape Architect: Towers | Golde

Builder: Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

Manufacturer: Morin Brick Company

Distributor: Spaulding Brick Company, Inc.

Mason Contractor: Chabot & Burnett Construction

Photographer: Anton Grassl | Esto Photographics

 

Municipal / Government / Civic

 

Roy Kelly Intermodal Terminal and Parking Garage

Bryan, Texas

Architect: Powers Brown Architecture

Manufacturer: Acme Brick

Mason Contractor: D&H Masonry

Photographer: Dror Baldinger

 

Paving & Landscape Architecture

 

River Street Streetscape

Batavia, Illinois

Architect: Altamanu, Inc.

Landscape Architect: Altamanu, Inc.

Manufacturer: Whitacre Greer Co.

Mason Contractor: LPS Pavement Company

Photographer: Altamanu

Photographer: Christopher B Burke Engineering Ltd

 

Renovation / Restoration

 

Capitol Broadcasting Co. Headquarters Addition and Renovation

Raleigh, North Carolina

Architect: Szostak Design, Inc.

Builder: LeChase Construction Services, LLC

Manufacturer: Endicott Clay Products Company

Distributor: General Shale, Inc.

Mason Contractor: Chapin Masonry

Photographer: Jim Sink Photography

Photographer: Wyatt Blackwell

 

The Temple-Pittman House

Knoxville, Tennessee

Architect: Brian Pittman

Builder: Justin Smith

Manufacturer: Glen-Gery Corporation

Distributor: General Shale, Inc.

Mason Contractor: Kenny Jordan

Photographer: Greg Seaver

 

University of Richmond – Queally Hall

Richmond, Virginia

Architect: Worley Associates Architects

Builder: Worley Associates Architects

Manufacturer: Glen-Gery Corporation

Distributor: Shade & Wise Brick Co., Inc.

Mason Contractor: Capital Masonry Corporation

Photographer: James Adcock Photography

 

Residential – Multi-Family

 

Chelsea Park

New York, New York

Architect: GF55 Partners

Builder: Artimus Construction, Inc.

Manufacturer: Glen-Gery Corporation

Mason Contractor: Artimus Construction, Inc.

Photographer: Elliott Kaufman

 

Residential – Single Family

 

Stowers Residence

Knoxville, Tennessee

Architect: William Andrews Architecture

Builder: Hickory Construction

Manufacturer: General Shale, Inc.

Distributor: General Shale, Inc.

Mason Contractor: Hickory Construction

Photographer: Peter Monsanti

 

BRONZE

 

Commercial

 

F & H Building

Bozeman, Montana

Architect: Locati Architects

Builder: Martel Construction

Mason Contractor: Marks & Hanson, Inc.

Photographer: Karl Neumann

 

One Fulton Square

Flushing, New York

Architect: Margulies Hoelzli Architecture

Manufacturer: The Belden Brick Company

Manufacturer: Endicott Clay Products Company

Mason Contractor: Top 8 Construction

Photographer: Architectural Photographers

 

Educational (Higher Education)

 

University of Arkansas Student Services Center

Little Rock, Arkansas

Architect: Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects

Landscape Architect: Landscape Architecture, Inc.

Builder: CDI Contractors

Manufacturer: Acme Brick

Distributor: Acme Brick

Mason Contractor: C B Masonry, Inc.

Photographer: Timothy Hursley

 

Municipal / Government / Civic

 

Village of Tinley Park – 80th Avenue Train Station

Tinley Park, Illinois

Architect: Legat Architects, Inc.

Landscape Architect: site design group

Manufacturer: Taylor Clay Products Company

Distributor: Metropolitan Architectural Brick, Inc.

Mason Contractor: Mike Cachey Construction Company

Photographer: Steinkamp Photography

 

Paving & Landscape Architecture

 

Mechanic Street

Haddonfield, New Jersey

Architect: Remington & Vernick Engineers and Affiliates

Landscape Architect: Remington & Vernick Engineers and Affiliates

Manufacturer: Pine Hall Brick Company, Inc.

Distributor: Church Brick Company

Mason Contractor: Asphalt Paving Systems

Photographer: Remington & Vernick Engineers

 

Renovation / Rnestoration

 

Buist Academy for Advanced Studies

Charleston, South Carolina

Architect: Stubbs Muldrow Herin architects

Builder: MB Kahn

Mason Contractor: Tryco Masonry, LLC

Photographer: Mike Donahue

 

CITTA 50

Washington, District of Columbia

Architect: Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS LLP

Builder: Camden Builders

Manufacturer: The Belden Brick Company

Manufacturer: Endicott Clay Products Company

Distributor: Potomac Valley Brick & Supply Company

Mason Contractor: Manganaro Midatlantic, LLC

Photographer: Maxwell MacKenzie Photography

 

The Pomeroy Apartments

Chicago, Illinois

Architect: Pappageorge Haymes Partners

Associate Architect: Architrave, Ltd.

Landscape Architect: Terra Engineering, Ltd.

Builder: McHugh Construction

Manufacturer: Bowerston Shale Company

Distributor: Illinois Brick Company

Mason Contractor: MBB Enterprises

Photographer: Pappageorge Haymes Partners

 

Residential – Multi-Family

 

61 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York

Architect: Alta Indelman

Builder: PAV-LAK

Distributor: Belden Tri-State Building Materials

Mason Contractor: L and G Masonry Corp.

Photographer: Sarah Muehlbauer

 

Camden South Capitol

Washington, District of Columbia

Architect: WDG Architecture

Landscape Architect: Lewis Scully Gionet

Builder: Donohoe Construction Company

Manufacturer: Taylor Clay Products Company

Manufacturer: Endicott Clay Products Company

Mason Contractor: Genco Masonry

Photographer: Maxwell MacKenzie

 

Post Carlyle Square – Block O

Alexandria, Virginia

Architect: SK+I Architecture

Landscape Architect: Parker Rodriguez

Builder: Clark Builders Group, LLC

Manufacturer: Glen-Gery Corporation

Distributor: Potomac Valley Brick & Supply Company

Mason Contractor: United Masonry

Photographer: IRIS22 Productions

 

 

Residential – Single Family

 

Classic Brick Georgian

Greenwich, Connecticut

Architect: Douglas VanderHorn Architects

Builder: Significant Homes, LLC

Manufacturer: Glen-Gery Corporation

Mason Contractor: V & Y Construction LLC

Photographer: Douglas VanderHorn Architects

 

The 2014 judges include Beth Greenberg, Dattner Architects; Evan Gunn, The Clark Enersen Partners; Charles Hilton, Charles Hilton Architects; Imran Kifayat, The Preston Partnership; Marlan Laurenzi, Franck + Lohsen Architects; Jeffrey Lee, Clark Nexen / Pearce Brinkley Cease + Lee; Dominic LoGalbo, Harding Partners; Jon Moore, Moore2Design, LLC; Hamid Noughani, Assemblage Architects; Paul Urbanek, SmithGroupJJR; Tim Wise, American Structurepoint and Al York, McKinney York Architects.

 

All of the winners will be featured in the December issue of Brick in Architecture, which will be included as an insert in a forthcoming issue of Architect Magazine.

 

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The Brick Industry Association (BIA) is the nationally recognized authority on clay brick construction representing the nation’s distributors and manufacturers of clay brick and suppliers of related products. Website: http://www.gobrick.com / Twitter: @BrickIndustry https://twitter.com/BrickIndustry / YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BrickIndustry

 

Check out this project!  We don’t often have the opportunity to supply brick for vertical applications so we’re excited about this one.  Jeff Patterson at Whitacre Greer’s Iowa distributor, Glen Gery worked on this project.  His efforts resulted in the selection and specification of a Whitacre Greer dry-pressed modular solid brick for the construction of this market in Bondurant, Iowa.  Its a great looking project and a testament to the versatility of dry-pressed brick.  The three-color blend mingled at the plant according to the architect’s specification includes shades 30 Clear Red, 32 Antique and 33 Dark Antique.  33 Dark Antique was used as an accent.

The project also features interior thin brick cut by Whitacre Greer.  The interior brick work matches the exterior.

Dry-pressed brick are produced with clays and shales having a moisture content of approximately 6%.  The nearly-dry material is pressed into steel molds under high pressure. Vacuum is sometimes used to extract air from the molds making the brick more dense.  With less moisture, dry-pressed bricks will shrink less thus giving these products good dimensional stability.  The firing process is similar to that of extruded and molded bricks. The mixing process is generally done in batches that allows for easier mixing of different clays to produce color varieties.

Dry-pressed bricks have sharp edges and a clean, smooth face.

 

Visit Whitacre Greer in Denver, November 21-24, 2014, at the ASLA Annual Meeting & Expo.  Sales personnel, Mic McAfee, Andy Karas, Rob Rollins and Michael Tyson will be on hand to answer questions regarding clay paver specification, product selection and installation.  See new Whitacre Greer products and colors including:  Old Chicago Cobble Boardwalk, 6 x 12 x 2 1/4 Straight Edge Cobble, Embossed Pavers and Desert Gray.  Whitacre Greer will be at booth 770.  Click here to register for the ASLA Annual Meeting & Expo.

March 27th Alfred State College School of Applied Technology – Masonry Building Trades, Wellsville, NY, hosted a permeable pavement/stormwater management training workshop for masonry and heavy equipment students, design professionals and municipal officials.  Associate Professor Stephen Richard organized the event.  Andy Karas, Whitacre Greer Regional Sales Manager and Unilock’s Steve Simon provided permeable pavement design and construction best practices and outlined the benefits of permeable pavement systems.

Following the classroom sessions, the approximately 70 students in attendance constructed and tested a permeable pavement, demonstrating the pavements ability to capture a considerable volume of water.

In 2012 students from Alfred State College constructed a permeable paver driveway at a ‘green’ home, also constructed by Alfred students.

Thanks Stephen for a successful day.

Permeable clay pavements may:

• Reduce runoff volume and relieve flooding in storm sewers and can re­duce sewer overflows and stream bank erosion.
• Reduce the need for continuous expansion of drainage infrastruc­ture.
• Be cooler than conventional pave­ments.
• Be designed to be ADA compliant.
• Not require unsightly patches or weak­ened pavements from utility cuts.
• Water quality improvement.
• Enhance property value.
• Reduced winter maintenance.

Click here for additional information on permeable clay pavements.

John Miller, Environmental, Health and Safety Engineering Manager at Whitacre Greer was recognized Wednesday, January 29^th as the Brick Industry Association’s Volunteer of the Year. John’s commitment to the industry group’s activities promoting responsible emission and silica limits for the brick industry is second to none.  The award was  presented to John at the industry’s annual Forum for Brick Distributors in Greensboro, NC.  Thanks John for your tireless work! We’re proud of your achievement.

Congratulations to Altamanu |Landscape Architecture + urban design + planning! The Congress for New Urbanism Illinois Charter Awards Jury awarded the company’s entry, “River Street Shared Street,” Best Street. The formal presentation will occur at the CNU Illinois Holiday Event on December 11 at the Cliff Dwellers Club, 200 S. Michigan Avenue.

 

Installation of Air Cannons in old storage hoppers

Whitacre Greer is a century old, family owned manufacturer of dry pressed clay pavers and firebrick.  Currently we have one plant in Alliance Ohio which operates on a 24/7 schedule.  In May 2011 we had a lost time accident involving our largest clay storage bin – Bin D.  This accident occurred after we had gone over 1300 days and 500,000 hours since our last lost time accident, a record we were all disappointed to see broken.  As a result, we were determined to do “something” to keep this from happening again.

Our processed clay and shale is stored in 2 large bins (C&D), 3 smaller bins, and two bunkers.    The configuration of the bins, with their converging sides, depth, and live bottom belt, make them confined spaces with an engulfment and fall hazard.  The opening at the top is approximately 10 feet and converges together to an opening at the belt of about a foot.  The depth of the bins is 20 feet. Two situations occur that result in personnel going into the bins to manually knock down the clay. One is when the product tunnels out from the bottom leaving a gap between the belt and the remaining product or tunnels straight down causing a rat hole affect.  The other is when the material drops down unevenly leaving material attached to the walls and not dropping to the belt.

The solution of both conditions requires two employees.  One employee puts on a safety harness, equipped with a self-retracting line (SRL), and gets into the bin with a shovel.  The second employee is a safety person who remains outside.  The operator in the bins must go down the ladder and proceed to shovel thru the material attempting to break the bridging at the bottom or on the sides allowing the material to fall thru to the live belt.  Depending on the moisture content, time of year and production rate this can happen half-dozen times per shift.

On the day of the accident an employee had been digging thru the material for some time and was hot and fatigued. Before making the climb out of the bin, the live belt being inactive, he removed the safety harness.  As he made his climb out he “got dizzy and fell” into the bin landing on his feet.  This resulted in a closed fracture of metatarsal in his right foot, closed dislocation tarsometata, ankle sprain and contusions which required surgery to repair.  The total compensation loss was over $17,000 not including the salary continuation, or pain and suffering.

We considered redesigning the bottoms of the bins allowing for more flow but the cost and downtime required was prohibitive.  Instead, our intervention involved the placement of air cannons along the sides of C and D bins.  Video cameras were also installed to aid the supervisor in determining where a problem exists and as a safety measure to be sure the bins are not occupied when the cannons are discharged.

After determining the number of cannons required and their size and placement, they were mounted on the backside and through the wall of the bins, protruding toward the bottom of the bin at a depth where the problems generally occur. It was determined that 7 cannons would be required, 3 in C and 4 in D.

The programming for the activation of the cannons was incorporated into our existing mixing/blending control center.  A TV Monitor, connected to the video cameras, was installed on the wall beside the control center allowing easy access on the production floor.  When a low or no flow situation has been detected the supervisor must determine where the problem exists.  Normally this can be determined from the monitor.  If it is necessary for the supervisor to enter the storage area, not the bins themselves, the safety procedure is to push the E-stop before entering the area to deactivate the air cannons.

Once the problem area has been determined the supervisor decides which cannons to fire and in what sequence.  When the cannons are engaged, a 15 second pulsing alarm is activated in the bin area.  Within 10 seconds of the end of the alarm a cannon can be fired.  A second cannon can then be fired within 10 seconds of the first.  This sequence continues until all necessary cannons have been discharged.  If more than 10 seconds elapses, the system shuts down and must be restarted.  Each discharge of 34 cubic feet is complete in .22 seconds.

Testing and training of the cannons has just been completed in November and they worked as planned during testing.  They have not, however, been needed for an actual event.  The only problem encountered so far is that we found it necessary to reinforce the bin walls to eliminate the vibration caused during cannon discharge.

As we were in the planning stages for this project, we came across an additional benefit.  The Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation, Division of Safety, currently has a program to pay up to $40,000 for safety intervention projects at a funding rate of 3 dollars for each company dollar spent.  We applied for and received the maximum funding available.

Visit the Whitacre Greer sales team; Andy, Mic, Mike and Colby at booth number 617 to learn about exciting new developments at Whitacre Greer.  Click on the photo above for more information about the ASLA Meeting & Expo.

We are pleased to announce that Michael Tyson has joined the Whitacre Greer sales team as Southeast Regional Sales Manager.  Mike has a long history of promoting and selling Whitacre Greer products in the Atlanta area as a distributor sales representative.  He will be managing sales of pavers and firebrick in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.  Mike began his career in the brick industry at Palmer Brick and subsequently worked at Franklin Brick and Boral Building Products.  Mike’s experience with the landscape architecture community and with Whitacre Greer products make him the perfect candidate for this recently created position.  He may be reached via email at mtyson@wgpaver.com or at (404)538-9990.

Longtime Whitacre Greer sales representative Robert Rollins has added additional territory to his sales region.  Since the early 1990s Rob has promoted and sold Whitacre Greer pavers in the greater Chicago area and Wisconsin.  Today he is promoting both pavers and firebrick and supporting distributors throughout Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.  Rob may be reached at rrollins@wgpaver.com or (630)514-0052.

If you have the occasion to talk with Mike or Rob, please congratulate them on their new responsibilities.

Northeast Regional Sales Manager Andy Karas joined Whitacre Greer in 2004.  Andy promotes Whitacre Greer products and supports local distributors in New England and the North Atlantic states.  Prior to joining Whitacre Greer he was a senior estimator for a nationally recognized hardscape installation contractor.  Andy is active in the BIA Landscape Architecture Committee and in the ICPI.  He is extremely well versed in the specification and installation of segmental paving systems.  He may be reached at akaras@wgpaver.com or (330)206-7689.

Mic McAfee, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, coordinates all Whitacre Greer sales and works closely with distributors in the region surrounding the plant.  He supports distributors in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia.  Contact Mic at mmcafee@wgpaver.com or (330)936-3220.