The latest sustainable projects in all building sectors are incorporating genuine clay brick for its green benefits that also help meet the highest building criteria. Naturally organic with virtually no waste, maintenance-free brick is a growing component of green building design that helps lower energy costs and offers superior durability, moisture control, termite resistance, proven stability and enduring beauty.
Often incorporating recycled content, brick exteriors, interiors and landscaping options can increase sustainability that also helps earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
“As a versatile building material made from abundant natural resources, brick delivers on all fronts,” said Brick Industry Association (BIA) President and CEO Gregg Borchelt, P.E. “Brick’s flexibility and inherent green benefits help builders and architects achieve maximum sustainability and greater value with reduced environmental impact,” he said.
Six of the eight Best in Class winners in this year's Brick in Architecture Awards achieved LEED Gold or Silver certification—including the first LEED Gold certified project in Tennessee, the Methodist Le Bonheur Women's and Children's Pavilion. Winners’ combined reasons for choosing brick include its quality, long-term durability, environmental friendliness, aesthetics, low maintenance, increased seismic safety, thermal mass and design flexibility through color, texture, rhythm, human scale, pattern and repetition. BD+C
Related Stories
| Feb 7, 2012
Kawneer and Traco combine portfolios
Portfolio includes curtain wall systems, windows, entrances and framing systems.
| Feb 7, 2012
Lubbers promoted to creative director at Wight & Co.
Lubbers has been instrumental in many recent high profile Wight projects, including the College of DuPage Student Resource Center, Seaton Computing Center, The Adler Planetarium Sky Theater transformation and UNO Charter Schools.
| Feb 7, 2012
Shepley Bulfinch opens San Francisco office
This expansion establishes a physical presence that builds on a portfolio of work for institutional clients on the West Coast, dating to the development of the original Stanford University campus in 1891
| Feb 7, 2012
Thornton Tomasetti opens new office in Denver
The firm, which now has 25 offices internationally, opened the new office to better serve current and potential clients in the western Central region and Mountain States.
| Feb 6, 2012
Slight increase in nonres construction spending expected in 2012, growth projected for 2013
Commercial sector expected to lead real estate recovery.
| Feb 6, 2012
FMI releases 2012 Construction Productivity Report
Downsizing has resulted in retaining the most experienced and best-trained personnel who are the most capable of working more efficiently and harder.
| Feb 6, 2012
Kirchhoff-Consigli begins Phase 2 renovations at FDR Presidential Library and Museum
EYP Architecture & Engineering is architect for the $35 million National Archives Administration project.
| Feb 6, 2012
Batson-Cook announces the appointment of Hall as president
Hall will manage and direct all aspects of the firm’s day-to-day operations. He will be based in Batson-Cook’s Atlanta office.
| Feb 6, 2012
Siemens gifts Worcester Polytechnic Institute $100,000 for fire protection lab renovation
Siemens support is earmarked for the school’s Fire Protection Engineering Lab, a facility that has been forwarding engineering and other advanced degrees, graduating fire protection engineers since 1979.