JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A four-story apartment building under construction on Jacksonville’s Southside burned to the ground before dawn Sunday morning in a fire that kept the eastbound lanes of Baymeadows Road blocked at Interstate 295 all morning.
Flames from the Fusion Apartment at Baymeadows being built along Baymeadows Road East spread to woods but the fire was stopped before it could spread into the neighboring Hampton Park neighborhood.

Masonry's Greatest Strength
Long time South Florida residents who have weathered a severe hurricane often express a heartfelt thankfulness that they were in a concrete masonry structure. Structures built of many lesser products have weathered hurricanes but block homes provide the secure comfort of rock solid construction. This is not just antidotal – its common sense. After reading this article perhaps you will have a better understanding of concrete masonry’s built in strength.

It’s all about the “safety factor”. Simply stated the “safety factor” is the difference between what engineers expect will be the largest wind load a structure will ever be exposed to --- and the wind load that they calculate would rip the structure apart. Structural engineers always like a good safety factor – usually around 3 times or 300%. Poor construction and material deficiencies erode safety factors but if you have sufficient safety factor there is some room for error.

Understanding Wood Frame Connection Problems
Wood frame residential structures have performed poorly in every wind event I have had the opportunity to do wind damage assessment on. The problem is not in the wood itself but in the connectors. A tree branch can be very strong – but if you saw it off you will have a real problem on your hands to nail it back on to its original strength.
The lumber industry is extremely sophisticated in their design procedures. Nails and connections are assigned industry accepted load carrying capacities and safety factors based on extensive testing. All of this is proper engineering. There is, however, a number of factors which explain why Hurricane Irma left dozens of modern wood structures in ruins and zero concrete masonry structures in ruins.

These are:

• Product Weight and Stability
• Natural Safety Factors in Design
• Complexity in Design
• Complexity in Connections

Read More: "Brick, Block & Beers" Volume I, Issue IV (December 2017)
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The categories for the 2017 Masonry Excellence Awards Program will follow the same format as last year, as part of our partnership with the AIA of Florida, we are awarding honors in three main categories:

• Brick
• Block and Stucco
• Architectural Units

Each category is represented well in the construction industry in Florida, from traditional Mediterranean stucco and block, exposed ground face and split face architectural units to traditional brick and block cavity wall construction. 

An overall winner from each of the main categories, as well as one Project of the Year will be featured in a supplemental publication going to all 4400 AIA Florida member architects in the state.
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Deadline for entries is July 1, 2017.  Please submit your entry online at: www.masonryawards.com
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If you have questions, please contact Masonry Excellence Awards Chairman Chris Bettinger [email protected]  or MAF Marketing Director, Deb Bartolucci [email protected].

Duck Key, FL | June 25, 2015:   Art, Innovation and Endurance: the projects submitted for the 2015 MAF Masonry Excellence Awards are the embodiments of all of these qualities.  The Masonry Excellence Awards are the celebration of the art and craftsmanship of the mason, the innovation of the contractor and architect and the endurance of masonry materials produced here in Florida. 

Projects submitted were reviewed and judged anonymously by a distinguished jury of masonry and design professionals.  Consideration was given to the overall design and use of masonry, as well as the technical aspects of each project.  The winning projects listed showed superiority in technical design and craftsmanship.

2015 Masonry Excellence Award Winners:

Commercial 1st Place: Plant Street Market – Chris Bettinger Oldcastle
Merit:                   Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center – Bill Parsons, Pyramid Masonry

Residential 1st Place:               Private Residence 1 (Gordon) -- David Nelson Masonry
Merit:                   Private Residence 2 (Sheetz) – David Nelson Masonry

Hardscapes 1st Place:               Tequesta Residence – Lisa Pelham A1 Block
Merit:                   Ocean Avenue – Greg Strickland Titan Block
Merit:                   Eatonville Gateway – Chris Bettinger Oldcastle

Multi-family 1st Place:               Palladio – Joel Blackmon Oldcastle
Merit:                   Steelhouse – Steve Bischke Oldcastle

Institutional 1st Place:               Heavener Hall – Steve Bischke Oldcastle
Merit:                   Zephyrhills Public Library – Doug McCall Oldcastle

Creative Use of Masonry & Special Features 1st Place: Firemen’s Statue – Jerry Painter, Painter Masonry
Merit:                   Santa Fe College – Kem Butler – Argos US

Project of the Year (Tie):
Plant Street Market – Chris Bettinger Oldcastle
Private Residence 1 (Gordon)– David Nelson – David Nelson Masonry

Winners were honored at the MAF Awards Reception being held on June 25, 2015 at the Hawks Cay Resort in Duck Key, Florida.  Additionally, winning projects will be featured in the MAF Masonry Excellence Awards publication.  

The Masonry Association of Florida, Inc. (MAF) is a not-for-profit corporation established in 1987.  Our mission is to promote masonry construction and support the mason contractors in Florida.  Additional information is available on our website: www.floridamasonryawards.com  or by contacting, Deb Bartolucci, 954-295-9926 or [email protected].