B L O C K W O R K:

The Concrete Masonry Architecture of the Americas symposium brought architects, educators, and masonry industry professionals together at the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Architecture for two inspiring days of education and connection. Partnered with UT Austin and The Beauty of Block, the event featured an outstanding lineup of speakers who explored concrete masonry’s role in thoughtful design, sustainability, and building performance. Presentations by Tino Kalayil, Matt Thornton and Kirk Dillon of Dake-Wells Architects, and Heidi Jandris offered valuable insights into thermal mass and energy codes, masonry in school construction, and embodied carbon. Larry Speck helped open an engaging program that connected technical knowledge with architectural vision.

 

The architectural presentations brought those possibilities to life through remarkable projects, including the preservation of the Trenton Bathhouse, the Burnette Residence, El Grove, Henry II, Glitch House, and Laboratorio de Vivienda in Hidalgo, Mexico. Speakers Michael Mills, Wendell Burnette, Kevin Kudo-King, Murray Legge, Noah Marciniak, and Hilary Sample shared the ideas, challenges, and creative decisions behind their work, with Francisco “Cisco” Gomes contributing UT Austin’s architectural perspective. Their expertise made the symposium an exceptionally informative and memorable experience. The Texas Masonry Council was proud to participate, and we thank the hosts, speakers, attendees, and supporting partners for helping advance the conversation around concrete masonry.