MASONRY IN BC Masonry Institute of B.C. Improving the product, educating the design industry, and supporting research and skills development Canadian Design and Construction Report special feature The Masonry Institute of British Columbia (MIBC) pro- motes masonry in the province by developing product improve- ments, educating the design industry and supporting research, building code and skills development. Executive director Bill McEwen says masonry is the most proven historic construction method. “The fact that buildings of masonry are still standing hundreds of years later is impres- sive,” he said. “Consider the fact they were built without seis- mic consideration and that bringing them to code often only involves adding that and it’s even more impressive.” McEwen indicates masonry's value perception has been eroded in recent years with the province's Wood First initiative, something the concrete, steel and masonry industries have been collaborating to dispute. McEwen says he understands the pol- icy's relevance for wood exports, but believes that it is unfair to give preference to one material over another in B.C., espe- cially for government projects. “The government is just trading one carpenter job or one lumber mill job for one bricklayer job or one concrete truck driver job,” he said. “The Wood First campaign has impacted a number of in- dustries and it’s time to put it into perspec- tive.” McEwen indicates that in many ways masonry does well under LEED criteria but the environmental rating program doesn't properly consider durability. “What is better than a 100-year old build- ing for sustainability?” He says the masonry's mass helps as well because heavier buildings avoid the temperature peaks and valleys of lighter structures. “It isn’t as easy as talking about R-values but the evidence is there,” he said. Another challenge is educating young archi- tects and engineers about masonry's value and po- tential. The development of new architectural finishes, including ground face blocks, coloured units and design detailing options is just the beginning. 12 – Summer 2014 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report