"First and foremost they wanted something that was going to be timeless - a classic design. And they wanted something that was going to be secure for the students. Part of that is durability - the wear and tear on middle schools is pretty tough, so concrete block was a 'no-brainer' option."
 
When architect Calvin Durham and his team at Lambert Ezell Durham Architecture in northern Alabama were tasked with designing the new middle school in their hometown of Florence, they knew right away that they could draw upon structures of the past.

The 180,000 square-foot space is a partial Tuscan ode — design-wise — to the former Appleby School, which opened in 1917 and was eventually replaced in 1951.

“We used some of that detailing and some of that ‘feel.’ We didn’t copy it so much as we used that same vernacular of elements to kind of draw back on,” Durham noted.
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What he and none of his associates on the project expected however, was for one of the most renowned voices in the world on the subject of school safety to proclaim their new structure one of the most secure schools he’s ever encountered.

“I was blown away,” said Durham.

Read more> How CMU allowed an architect to design one of the five safest schools in America

An area’s average climate determines, in part, the types of materials used in residential and commercial construction. Hot and humid climates include parts of North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Mexico according to Herbertson’s Thermal Regions (a modified version of the Koppen Classification scale).

Herbertson defines a hot and humid climate as a place that receives more than 20 inches of rain annually and exhibits one or both of these conditions:

• A wet bulb temperature (thermometer covered in a water-soaked cloth) higher than 67 degrees Fahrenheit for 3,000 or more hours during the warmest 6 months of the year.
• A wet bulb temperature higher than 73 degrees Fahrenheit for 1,500 or more hours during the warmest 6 months of the year.

Hot air and water vapor must be managed through the use of building materials and techniques adapted to the climate. For instance, heat always moves toward cold – which means that, in sunny, humid areas, hot air will gradually replace air-conditioned indoor air unless builders take steps to keep moisture out of the building.

In high precipitation areas, moisture can threaten the integrity of the structure and its materials. To keep standing pools of water, wind-driven rain and leaks from weakening the building over time, contractors need to incorporate construction technology that keeps moisture out and allows it to dry if it finds a way in. Among some of the most effective materials used are weather resistant barriers and vapor-transmitting insulation.

Read the entire article here. 

Fi-Foil and Masonry Semi-Permeable Insulation

Fi-Foil Company’s VR Plus Shield™ Reflective Insulation for Masonry Walls is constructed of three layers of reflective insulation designed to reduce radiant heat transfer through walls and increase a home’s overall R-value. VR Plus Shield Perforated version is recommended for masonry wall applications in hot-humid climates, adds R-7.0 and can be used alone or as part of a system. Perforations along the premium aluminum sheets allow moisture to pass through the insulation layers.
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For more information on Fi-Foil’s VR Plus Shield™ or any of Fi-Foil’s other products and services, such as Silver Shield™, HY-Fi®, Retroshield® and accessories, visit the website or call 888-513-4972.

The MAF held it's 3rd Annual Block-toberfest Event at the Preferred Materials Plant in Bonita Springs on Friday, October 18, 2019.  The event was very well-received with approximately 30 architects and engineers in attendance. 

Thank you to our Sponsors:

• Preferred Materials
• David Nelson Masonry
• Jerry Painter Masonry Consulting
• Florida Concrete Masonry Education Council
•  Oldcastle
  

Interested in attending the next Block-toberfest Event?  Click here to register for the November 21, 2019 "Block-vember" Event at Oldcastle in Zephyrhills, FL!

​"Why are municipal leaders in the Triangle [Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill] working with developers to cover our cities with dangerous, hastily constructed condos and apartment homes made out of sticks?"
 
A concerned Durham, North Carolina resident and journalist confronts the building solution he believes is putting his fellow citizens in grave danger. To read the full story, click here.

The MAF held its 2nd Annual Cornhole Tournament on Friday, September 27, 2019 at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The annual tournament, which is quickly becoming a member favorite, had 16 teams this year competing for trophies and cash prizes.

The winners are:

• 1st Place - Coastal Masonry's Blocktossers - Richard Smith & Steven Pietragall - $500
• 2nd Place - Maschmeyer's Undigestables - Steve Bishop & Bryan Fulcher - $250
• 3rd Place - Oldcastle's Corn Dawgs - Lisa Pelham & Brad Kibbe (FMAEF)​ - $150
•  Best Team Name - Oldcastle's Corn Doggie Style - Chris Bettinger & Patrick Knapik - $150

The event also featured a DJ and karaoke and a beachside barbeque!

The MAF plans to hold the 3rd Annual Cornhole Tournament at the Rosen Shingle Resort in September 2020.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2019 MAF Annual Convention!