Masonry Magazine September 2005 Page. 50

Words: Marian Marshall, Darrell McMillian, Edgar Jr, Mike Donahue
Masonry Magazine September 2005 Page. 50

Masonry Magazine September 2005 Page. 50
News

# St. Louis

Darrell W McMillian, P.E., has been named Executive Director of the Masonry Institute of St. Louis (MISL). McMillian replaces Edgar F. Glock Jr, AIA, CSI, who held the position since January 1993; Glock will remain at the Institute as the organization's Director of Architecture. McMillian is the first engineer and only the fourth person to hold the position since it was created in 1973. The appointment was effective January 2005.

Prior to the appointment, McMillian served as the Masonry Institute's Director of Engineering, a position he had held since joining the organization in 2001. McMillian holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Missouri - Rolla, and has completed additional graduate work in post-secondary education at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Before joining MISL, McMillian served as an associate professor of civil/construction technology for Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo.

The Masonry Institute of St. Louis is a technological organization that serves as an educational and informational resource for those interested in masonry design and construction. For more information, please visit www.masonrystLorg.

Spencer Brickwork, Inc., the St. Louis-area's largest residential mason contracting firm, has received a prestigious craftsmanship award from the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC). The firm received the organization's 2004 BAC Craft Award for Best Residential Stone Project for its work on the Van Slyke residence in St. Louis County. The award was presented at the BAC Executive Council meeting in St. Louis in June.

The 9,000-square-foot Van Slyke residence is clad in extremely dense Wisconsin Mayfair Blend limestone, a stone that is notably difficult to work. Shaping radii and creating angles in such a dense stone tested both the skill of the masons as well the strength of their equipment. Some of the cut limestone pieces weighed 800 pounds and required special machinery for placement.

The award was accepted by John Spencer, President of Spencer Brickwork. The Ellisville firm is a Certified Mason Contractor, meeting or exceeding existing professional standards.

The Masonry Institute of St. Louis (MISL) drew record crowds to its recently concluded 2004-2005 Seminar Series. In making the announcement, the organization's Executive Director, Darrell W. McMillian, P.E., noted that the popular series drew over 2,300 construction professionals, including a number of standing room only crowds.

Every year since the 1970s, MISL has been presenting seminars on timely issues relating to masonry construction. Last year the Institute presented different series for four key market segments: architects, structural engineers, general contractors and building code officials. The topics ranged from technical issues, such as code requirements for various types of masonry walls, to an assessment of the masonry buildings in the area of the September 11 attacks and how well they withstood the disaster.

In addition to the informational seminars, MISL held its annual New Products Forum highlighting new products and developments in the field of masonry construction, an event that fills the organization's Masonry Centre with interested professionals and craftsmen. News continued on page 50 www.masoncontractors.org

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