Masonry Magazine October 1965 Page. 23
INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATES CENTENNIAL
# Hartford, Urbana, Fresno Win Citations
Three cities have been added to the growing list of communities awarded a "Citation for Excellence in Community Architecture" by The American Institute of Architects.
Constitution Plaza, the winning nominee of the AIA's New England Regions, received a national citation on October 2. It was awarded to the citizens of Hartford, Conn., and their mayor William E. Glynn, by Willis N. Mills, FAIA, of Stamford, Conn., an AIA regional director during the region's annual conference at Providence, R.I.
Lincoln Square, a downtown core redevelopment in Urbana, III., won the citation for the Illinois Region. It was presented October 2 in Chicago during the region's annual conference by Ambrose Richardson, of Champaign, 11, AIA director of the region.
The Illinois citation recognizes "the significant professional contributions of Victor Gruen Associates, Inc.," architects of the project.
Victor Gruen Associates, Inc., also worked with Eckbo, Dean & Williams, landscape architects, to design and produce the Fulton Mall in Fresno, winner of a citation for The California region.
# WASHINGTON, D.C.
Over 1,700 people joined in honoring the Bricklayers, Masons & Plasterers' International Union of America on the occassion of their 100th Anniversary. The huge audience gathered in the International Ballroom of the new Washington Hilton Hotel on Friday evening, October 8th.
Toastmaster for the affair was Thomas F. Murphy, Secretary, with speakers being John J. Murphy, President: George Meany, President, AFL-CIO; and W. Willard Wirtz, Secretary of Labor.
Attending from MCAA were: President and Mrs. Les Dietrich; Vice President and Mrs. Anthony Perri; Past Président and Mrs. Stephen D. Raimo; Past President and Mrs. Fred Daues; Regional Vice President Donald Bidwell; Mr. and Mrs. William Picco; Mr. and Mrs. Leo Costello; Mrs. William Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. George Miller; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Holme; Mr. and Mrs. Frank LaSalla; Mr. and Mrs. John Keener: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Velardo; Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Frommeyer; Mr. and Mrs. A. Nolfi; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Anastasi: Mr. Jack Cook; Mr. Robert Ebeling, Mr. J. R. Snyder, Mr. Grant Church; Mr. Anthony Izzo, Mr. G. Salvucci.
Also attending were Mr. Les Baron, Mr. S. H. Westby, Mr. Robert Evans, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Underwood; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Otterson, Mr. and Mrs. William Roark.
# Open New Midwest Office
Omark Industries, Inc. dedicated its new Midwest Regional office and distribution center Friday, September 24, 1965, at 11400 West Melrose Street in Franklin Park.
Company officials climaxed brief opening cereminies by using an Omark powder actuated tool to fasten a permanent dedication plaque to a wall in the building.
John D. Gray, Omark Chairman of the Board and President served as the dedicating official. He was joined in the ceremony by William E. Headlee, Midwest Regional Manager, and Benjamin Brzezinski, President of the Village of Franklin Park. More than 100 business and civic leaders attended the program.
Omark products will be distributed from the 12,000 square foot facility to factory branches in St. Louis, St. Paul, Milwaukee, downtown Chicago and to distributors and dealers throughout the Midwest.
# New Booklet On Sand
Sand for mortar is the subject of a short but thorough study available free in the U.S. and Canada from the Portland Cement Association, 33 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, III. 60610, or from any PCA district office.
Titled "Trowel Talk No. 4-Mortar Sand," the new paper discusses gradation, deleterious substances, alkali-aggregate reactivity, bulking, proper handling and stockpiling.
# LOWERY JOINS TARGET
Don Lowery has joined the Robert G. Evans Company as Director of Marketing. He will be responsible for the planning of advertising, merchandising and market studies. The Robert G. Evans Company manufactures Target Masonry and Concrete Saws, Diamond and Safety Abrasive Blades for sawing masonry, concrete, and asphalt. The products are distributed throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, and used in commercial, residential and highway contsruction, and in industrial construction and maintenance. Lowery was previously advertising manager for the Clipper Manufacturing Company and Eveready Briksaw Company, and has had over 18 years experience in the Masonry and Concrete Sawing field.
# Home Building Survey
Home builders expect to start 3 percent more nonfarm units next year than this, according to their response to Fortune's semi-annual survey. If their optimism proves justified as, from other evidence, Fortune economists think it may, the upturn will raise the number of starts from its recent laggard average level of below 1,500,000.
Apartment builders' outlook varies according to geography. The national rate of apartment-unit starts fell below 500,000 early this year and was soft during the summer. Now, however, many builders report some signs of improvement: vacancies aren't climbing so fast, rentals are quicker and require fewer concessions to tenants.
The single-family home builders (who account for two-thirds of the $21-billion market for residential housing) report sales are still hard to make, but they expect a bit of an improvement during the year ahead, with emphasis on bigger and better homes.
Home manufacturers who assemble prefab parts expect an even larger increase in their business than the 5-percent gain they enjoyed last year. By the end of 1965 prefabs and shells should account for 300,000 starts, double the 1959 rate.