Designing with Stone

Mark Volage from Consolidated Brick led a Lunch and Learn for 5 architecture firms. The Lunch and Learn was held at Putnam House in Bethel which brought back memories for Architects' Guild. The Lunch and Learn was held on the 2nd floor; one more flight up was the office where Architects' Guild began in 1994. Rich Adamski, an original partner now with SOK in Ridgefield also attended this luncheon.

The first focus of the program was Brick 101. Why choose brick?

Architecture starts

when you carefully put

two bricks together.

There it begins.

—Mies van der Rohe

• Brick is one of the oldest materials used in construction
• Brick is virtually maintenance free (won't rot, dent, need to be painted and is termite free)
• Brick is energy efficient
• Brick allows for creative detailing (bond patterns, arches, color, special shapes,etc.)
• Brick does not require a sealer

When using brick 85% of the cost is for labor and only 15% for the material. It's a better decision to go with the higher grade brick. The price of this brick may be a small percentage higher than other materials but when you factor in it's durability and the low upkeep of using brick it much more economical solution.

The second part of the presentation was on a man made sandstone.

• Arriscraft's stone is a new product simulating real stone. Calcium silicate masonry units (CMSU) are lime and silica based sand, pressed into units, then heated under high pressure, a process much like Mother Nature but a lot faster
• CMSU is virtually maintenance free (won't rot, dent, need to be painted and is termite free)
• CMSU is environmentally friendly and contributes to LEED points
• CMSU allows for creative applications, it is easily cut, shaped, chiselled, honed, etc. and uses mineral oxides to create steadfast colors
• CMSU, like brick, does not require a sealer