Masonry Magazine November 2006 Page. 57
Ribbon cutting celebration marking the expansion of surface parking at the Masonry Centre in Richmond Heights. From left: Darrell McMillan, P.E., executive director, Masonry Institute of St. Louis; David Gillick, executive director, Mason Contractors Association St. Louis, Jeffrey Schmidt, JDS Masonry, Tom McDonnell, George McDonnell & Sons Tuckpointing: Brian Grant, Grant Masonry and president of the Mason Contractors Association St. Louis; Carl Heumann, MCA-St. Louis Building Committee chairman, John Jahnsen, Jahnsen Masonry Contracting: Mike Caswell, Caswell Brickwork; and Fred Daves, Masonry & Glass Systems.
"We are pleased to be able to work with both organizations to add to the array of functions we sponsor," said Darrell McMillian, P.E., MISL executive director. "The contractors need more on-site parking for their various training programs, and attendees at Institute events will certainly appreciate the added convenience of on-site parking, especially in inclement weather."
MISL is a promotional organization that serves as an educational and informational resource on masonry design and construction in behalf of the MCA-St. Louis and Bricklayers' Union Local #1 of Missouri.
Chartered in 1896, MCA-St. Louis is one of St. Louis' oldest trade organizations. Through model training programs and a comprehensive certification program, the association promotes and maintains the highest standards of masonry construction among its members. For more information on either organization, visit www.masonrystl.org.
Texas
The Texas Masonry Council (TMC) recently relocated its office to New Braunfels, which is 20 miles north of San Antonio, into a nice, two-story masonry home built in 1913, which houses offices for several different businesses.
The new TMC address is: 447 S. Seguin Ave., New Braunfels, Texas 78130. The phone numbers are (888) 374-9922 and (830) 625-4677.
For more information, visit TMC's website at www.texasmasonrycouncil.org.
Virginia
On Sept. 23, 25 apprentices came to compete in The Masonry Institute's Seventh Annual Masonry Skills Challenge at The Voice of the Mason Contractor
Betco-Supreme Old Castle Company in Manassas, Va. The company's generous support of manpower, materials and the facility made this event possible. They even catered lunch for all the participants, as well as the fans that came to support them.
The breakdown of the classes was 15 contestants in the first-year, eight contestants in the second-year and four contestants in the third-year categories.
The finalists are:
# Third Year
First Place Jason Thrift. KaRon Masonry
Second Place - Ever Castillo, Baltimore Masonry
Third Place - Juan Conteras, JD Long Masonry
# Second Year
First Place - Elizabeth Cleckley, Baltimore Masonry
Second Place Felipe Morales, Kakon Masonry
Third Place Rudy Alvero, JD Long Masonry
# First Year
First Place - Jason Walker, Advanced Masonry
Second Place - Jason Shultz, ID Long Masonry
Third Place - Eric Martinez, Kakon Masonry
First-place contestants received a $500 prize, second place received $250 and third place received $100. All contestants received tools, hard hats and bags, so no one went away empty handed.
In February 2007, the first-place finishers travel to Orlando to participate in the MCAA International Masonry Skills Challenge. At the nationals finals last year, Jason Thrift finished first in the second-year category and Elizabeth Cleckley finished second in the first-year category. It looks like our region has another good chance to bring home more gold!
For more information, visit www.masonryinstitute.us.
The New BAC/IMI National Training Center
The International Masonry Institute (IMI) has an extensive network of training centers and programs serving members of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) and signatory contractors. In early 2007, IMI will unveil the network's crown jewel, the BAC/IMI National Training Center in Bowie, Md. The architect on the project is Stanley Tigerman, FAIA, of Tigerman-McCurry Architects in Chicago, with J. Vinton Schafer of Abingdon, Md., as the construction manager.
Situated on a 25-acre campus between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, the two-building complex includes a 61,000-square-foot training center and a 45,500-square-foot, three-story dormitory building with recreation facilities, cafeteria, meeting rooms and dorm rooms for 108 students. The two-story training center, which features an open bay to allow for flexible class setups, also has classrooms and design studios.
Not surprisingly, the showcase campus is being constructed of high-quality masonry materials, primarily brick, stone and concrete masonry units. The structural system is reinforced masonry walls with concrete slabs on grade and pre-cast concrete floors.
The completed facility will accommodate over 2,000 students annually, and the site is approved for an additional dormitory wing. The center's design will allow IMI to expand the craft training programs offered to all levels of craftworkers, from pre-job apprentices to journeymen and instructors, plus educational programs for the design and building professions, and the popular November 2006
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