Inherent Beauty
The Value of Masonry is recognized in this 34th Annual M-Awards Celebration along with its beauty and distinctive articulated design. Architects using Masonry for ALL Its Worth gain a competitive advantage.
Masonry is used for its structural capacity, enhancing schedule and saving money. The well insulated masonry cavity wall greatly increases its R-Value, exceeds ASHRAE requirements and optimizes energy performance over a building’s lifespan, providing the owner a well-executed advantage. Masonry buildings live to an old age, keeping them steps ahead in sustainable and landmarks categories. Durability, minimal maintenance, fire compartmentation and superior fire ratings compound value.
While aesthetics and imagery keep masonry a favorite cladding, designers are setting trends incorporating textural, colorful brick, block, glass block and stone beyond veneer into interiors as a natural backdrop for furnishings and distinction for function. Masonry is recognized for its LEED compliance not only in energy optimization, but also in its regionally harvested and manufactured materials with recycled content, waste management practices and use of salvaged materials. Indoor air quality improves as masonry is VOC free.
All at one low price with so much value added. Unparalleled.
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41B District Court Clinton Township MI Architect French Associates Rochester MI |
Choosing materials consistent with a nearby fire station and to establish a common palette for municipal buildings, 41B District Court artfully marries traditional design with modern elements. A strong base and entry-surround of Prairie Stone produced of natural aggregates, provides the sophistication of limestone with a field of red brick with monochromatic horizontal banding juxtaposing large spans of glass, breaking up the mass of the 46,000 sf building. Prairie Stone is also used around windows, as an accent band and as coping. Special shapes were created and the architect, mason and manufacturer worked to establish the best installation methods for desired results. Matching cast stone bollards line the traffic circle at the entry to mark the paved areas and as a security measure.
Inside, heavily trafficked stairwells are clad in the same brick found on the exterior. Central holding cells are finished in painted concrete masonry units (CMU) for safety and durability. Rapid growth rendered two existing small courthouses insufficient. 41B District Court serves Clinton and Harrison Townships and Mt. Clemens with the space, facilities, design sensibility, low maintenance and sustainability to remain in service for decades. |
 MEEMIC Insurance Headquarters - Modern interpretation of more traditional detailing - Photo courtesy of Scott R Bonney, AIA, Neumann/Smith ArchitectureMEEMIC Insurance Company Auburn Hills MI Architect Neumann/Smith Architecture Southfield MI |
The MEEMIC Insurance headquarters boasts a design modern, yet timeless, with its diverse composition of architectural elements. Large expanses of brick are enlivened using a colorful blend and complemented by cast stone, insulated metal panels and glass. Dramatic cast stone columns and brick pavers at the entrance complete the look. The bold design acts as a buffer between the residential neighborhood to the north and the commercial district to the south. The building is a landmark. Its site and materials convey permanence and security, important for an insurance company. Cast stone modular units provide the base below windows, while large cast lintels on the first-story windows contrast metal panels above second-story windows. Because the structure is built on a hillside, base units emphasize the slope in a stair-step pattern. Textures, patterns and geometry create visual interest. No two sides are the same.
Inside, brick is carried into the reception area where carpet picks up colors of the blend and complementary steel, glass and wood elements. The lower level, tucked into the hillside, is not visible from the front. It has a full-service exercise facility with locker rooms and showers, finished in textural and durable burnished block. The lower-level features cost-saving masonry enclosed records storage, meeting Jury Comments | Brick massing against glass and interior/exterior relationship of brick nicely executed. Lintel and column detail reinforce architecture. |
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Pere Marquette Depot Restoration Bay City MI Architect Quinn Evans|Architects Ann Arbor MI |
Built in 1904 by Pere Marquette Railroad Company, whose trackage covered Michigan and parts of Ohio, Indiana and Ontario. Prior to restoration, the building sat vacant since 1969. Analysis found the original existing brick walls to be in “very good condition, sound and true, and still beautiful.” Solid brick masonry bearing walls support a partial intermediate floor and hip roof. A new brick blend was chosen for its close match to the original iron-spot glazed brick to complete the missing 50’ of the 80’ watch tower reconstruction. Designed in Prairie School style, ornamental sandstone from Ohio adorned the brick. Rock-faced limestone from same Michigan quarry as the original was used to replace broken or missing pieces from building’s base. Original mortar was all lime, but a lime-cement mix more typical for contemporary work was used in reconstruction. Mortar mixed on site from approved materials matched an approved mortar mockup panel.
Many considerations when using Masonry for ALL Its Worth were met by maintaining much of the existing building. Solid brick walls contributed energy mass, tempering temperature change by slow release of heat absorbed by masonry. A full-height, two-story, triple-wythe brick wall provides fire compartmentation by separating a large assembly space from the rest of the office and support paces. This wall also enhanced acoustic separation. Jury Comments | Excellent restoration, addressing exterior and interior. Remarkable brick detailing on tower. The building reads today as originally designed. We believe the original architect would be pleased. |
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District Lofts & Parking Deck for Big Rock Chop House Birmingham MI Architect Victor Saroki & Associates Architects PC Birmingham MI |
The sleek beauty of the District Lofts is apropos of the amenities inside and reflective of lifestyle in the Rail District, minutes from downtown Birmingham. Located on the same site as the Big Rock Chop House and the Reserve Banquet Facility, The District Lofts is adjacent to the Grand Trunk Western Railroad, now a stop on the Amtrak Wolverine line from Pontiac to Chicago. Recalling the mid-rise brick warehouse precedent found in this industrial neighborhood, the four-story building’s base is a continuous buff colored cast stone featuring a bull-nose water table detail with a custom blended, sandface brick body. Cast stone clads the ground-level and artfully balances metal wall panels around the top. Four cast stone columns add drama. Masonry was chosen for its relevance to the setting and to convey permanence.
Site includes a four-story structural brick parking structure accessible to residents and customers from ground-level. Eliminating a steel frame from the parking structure increases usable floor space. Choosing a material that provides both structure and finish, project costs were minimized and visual appeal was maximized with the creation of a complementary cast stone accented structure. Masonry’s low maintenance, sustainable advantages and ability to transcend eras made it the perfect choice for this mixed-use development in a historic, yet increasingly emergent area. |
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Lansing Community College University Center Lansing MI Architect/Engineer SHW Group Berkley MI |
Lansing Community College’s new University Center is 15,000 sf of a 1902 library built with a $35,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie, who donated money to build nearly 2000 libraries throughout the US, and 23,000 sf of new structure. Carnegie libraries were typically of a grand, formal style. This is no exception. Its imposing stone base is replaced by glass block in the new building, which provides lightness of form and the transparency literally allows natural light into main floor offices. Its random patterning of three styles is reminiscent of Above the glass block, a large brick mass with long, narrow windows and copper accents appears to be hovering. The oversize velour black brick is laid in a one-third running bond pattern, accentuating the horizontal mass, while subtle soldier coursing ties the building back to the existing library’s prominent datum lines.
Repair and restoration was necessary on the library exterior. As much reclaimed red-pressed brick was used as possible with new brick filling in the rest. Salvaged sandstone with carved profiles to match were used. Limestone repairs were made as needed. Cast stone, chosen to complement the columns of the neoclassical original building, is used in the entry of the addition. The University Center concept brings six of Michigan’s four-year universities together under one roof for students to attend classes in pursuit of a degree.
Jury Comments | Materials harmonize –especially patina and brick colors. Glass block ground floor lightens building mass, and interesting juxtaposition to neighboring building. Brick establishes modularity which changes as you explore various elevations. |
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U of M, Lurie Nanofabrication Facility Ann Arbor MI Architect/Engineer SmithGroup Detroi |
The Robert H Lurie Nanofabrication Facility (LNF) at the University of Michigan is one of the leading centers worldwide on micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) and microsystems with applications in fields ranging from national security, energy and healthcare. A recent expansion to the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Building (EECS) increased the LNF from 4500 to over 12,500 sf of cleanroom facilities and more than 37,000 sf overall. The three-story, mostly windowless, rectangular building is loadbearing masonry insulated cavity wall. The brick veneer complements existing building. Horizontal recessed brick bands along the surfaces of the EECS continue to new laboratory spaces in a morphed, abstract composition of micro-electrical circuits magnified over 1 million times. These pseudo-etched circuitry patterns not only bring visual interest, but also express the nature of what is done in the laboratory, while distinguishing the eastern edge of the engineering quad. Loadbearing CMU construction allowed the university to take advantage of maximized space in a limited site.
The cleanroom laboratory is a double-wythe masonry 100 'x 100' x40' space providing a durable and low maintenance barrier maintaining separation of the environment from the cleanroom. A Tour Aisle offers a glimpse into the laboratory without compromising the clean space. Weight of masonry wall above the aisle rests on cantilevered beams held by tube steel braces. Jury Comments | Special pattern designed for exterior brick elevations is interesting reflection of facility’s interior functions. Beautiful detailing is masterfully executed by masonry craftsmen. |
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Mt Zion Church | Clarkston MI Architect Integrated Design Solutions Troy MI |
“It all came out of a prayer,” explains Dave Muirhead, mason contractor, who knew he could recommend a more efficient, better performing wall system to save significant dollars by converting Mt Zion Church’s new sanctuary addition from structural steel to structural loadbearing masonry. He had constructed enough loadbearing buildings to know there was a significant savings. “It’s a simpler design, with simpler details, smaller footings and quicker to construct.” He was pleased to know his plan would indeed save $1.25 million, 10% of the entire budget, so the halted project could proceed. Not only did they save structural costs and schedule, but also the project team was able to create a warm, welcoming and cost effective aesthetic with the simple budget staple CMU. Integral colors, beautiful textures and finishes along with exquisite craftsmanship by Muirhead’s bricklayers brought this vision to reality.
– Jim Gendron, MIM President |
