This program will stimulate the market share of concrete masonry construction in Region 4 by generating and disseminating research data that demonstrate the resiliency and market competitiveness of concrete masonry for extreme storm surge events.
This program will stimulate the market share of concrete masonry construction in Region 4 by generating and disseminating research data that demonstrate the resiliency and market competitiveness of concrete masonry for extreme storm surge events.
This program proposes that the Masonry Institute of Southern Illinois (MISI) provide funding to Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville (SIUE) to ensure this course remains a part of the curricula at their campus. Due to budget cuts, the Masonry Design course at SIUE has been eliminated from their normal curricula. This course has been a crucial factor for the local masonry industry by both teaching the design of masonry and building student interest within the masonry industry as a whole.Â
This program works to create opportunities that will target universities in region two aimed to expand CMU offerings in university network system. This will include expansion of CMU research, expanding scholarships, new masonry courses, workshops, regional forum, Blockfest events and grassroot opportunities with a focus on providing quality CMU education to universities throughout the region.
This program includes the development of 5-15 prototypes of concrete block green-wall systems: documentation at CD-level, with course plans, sections elevations, axonometric representations of systems, key details, perspectival representations; sketch models; full scale prototype (finished at event).Â
This program will educate building design professionals, primarily architects and mechanical engineers, on how to use energy modeling to overcome obstacles in building energy code requirements when using single-wythe concrete masonry (CMU) construction. We expect this education will result in an increase in both the number of single-wythe concrete masonry buildings designed and the sales of concrete masonry in the U.S.Â
The Fresno State Construction Management is embarking on a new Construction Entrepreneurship Program for our students, led by faculty advisor Christi Banks (a small business owner and DBE/SBE/WBE in California). This program would provide our culturally diverse, often first-generation college students with the technical skills, business development knowledge, and support to launch an entrepreneurial business from idea to launch. The program would teach students how to obtain contractor licensing, small business and disadvantage business certifications through Caltrans and the Federal government. We would like to specifically attract students interested in starting new businesses ventures in the area of concrete masonry and other construction trades. Due to the tremendous need in the industry to encourage small businesses development, our department would like to equip our students with the skills to launch these needed small businesses in the AEC Industry. Our department depends on the industry for financial support due to our diverse, often immigrant population.
The vision of the COMPASS (Concrete and Masonry Professional Developments and Supports for Students) Program is to increase the awareness and representation of students in the Concrete Masonry construction industry. The COMPASS Program will focus on recruiting activities, including outreach (local high schools, community colleges, and four-year universities), field trips or pre-arranged summer internships for students with the Concrete Masonry Association of California and Nevada (CMACN) member companies, research experience in areas pertaining to the concrete and masonry industry, and career fairs. The COMPASS Program will also focus on retainage activities, including continuing education programs for CMACN members and workshop sessions. The program will significantly contribute to academically talented construction/civil engineering students’ career development in the concrete masonry industry through interaction with the organization and its members.
Natural hazards like wind, flood, and fire cause billions in damages annually, yet current tools like FEMA’s HAZUS fail to show the resilience benefits of CMU construction over light wood construction. MIT CSHub will work with CMHA stakeholders to develop accurate CMU construction fragility estimates and use modeling tools to simulate building behavior against hurricanes. The research will quantify the economic, environmental, and social benefits of CMU construction to drive market share growth and improve its net promoter score.
This program supports University of Louisville research to evaluate the early age strength of lap splices at the base of concrete masonry walls during construction. The goal of this program is to update the Standard Practice for Bracing Masonry Walls, developed by the Mason Contractors Association of America. The MCAA Standard Practice requires walls to be braced during construction in compliance with OSHA requirements, and it allows for walls to be braced either internally or externally. Internal wall bracing is prevalent and is a simple and effective way to improve site safety. The lap splice lengths required by the MCAA Standard Practice were based on testing conducted in the 1990s using direct tension, and this new research will test lap splices under flexural tension which is expected to improve the internal wall bracing provisions, reduce conservatism in design and decrease compliance costs and increase worker safety.
This program will test the claims of lightweight back-assist exosuits by outfitting a masonry contractor crew with them. This research will measure crew members’ hourly efficiency with and without the suits and create a basic model to show the difference between business-as-usual and various efficiency strategies (e.g., lightweight block). Ultimately, reducing the effective weight the mason has to lift should make the mason more efficient. It will also extend careers by reducing wear and tear on the body, which also makes masonry a more attractive career for contractors.
7900 East Union Ave, Suite 1100 Denver, CO 80237
The Concrete Masonry Checkoff (CMC) is an industry funded initiative to support education, research and promotion of manufactured concrete masonry units in the United States.
Payments and Assessment Report
Forms should be sent to:
Concrete Masonry Checkoff Board
P.O. Box 306540
Nashville, TN 37230-6540
Media inquiries? Contact media@concretemasonrycheckoff.org
Assessment questions? Contact hailee.swantek@aoeteam.com
