2025 MII Masonry Seminar

Click here to download the seminar brochure & registration form.
Click here to register online.

Date: Thursday, April 3

Location
Gerdin Conference Center - North Liberty Recreation Center
(Lower level - basement)  520 Community Drive, North Liberty, Ia 52317

Loftus jobsite, 900 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA  52401  

AIA/HSW Professional Development Programs

8:00 - 8:30am: Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:30 - 9:30am
Community Functional Resilience - Ben Nantasai, PE | Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association
1 Hour of AIA/HSW professional development
An overview of resilient design and how it relates to building codes and standards, and the role it plays in ensuring the safety and sustainability of the built environment. It will examine the role that masonry construction plays in meeting resilient design goals, as well as the inherent properties of masonry that make it resilient, with examples and case studies of resilient design strategies provided.

• Define resilience, its concepts, advantages and its role in protecting people and properties.
• Describe how resilient design goes beyond the minimum building code requirements and contributes to a sustainable built environment
• Discuss above-code standards and rating systems that can be used in resilient design
• Indicate inherent properties of masonry that provide resilience and improve safety.

9:30 - 10:30am
Masonry Repair Design - Donald Harvey, PE | Atkinson-Noland & Associates  
1 Hour of AIA/HSW professional development

Repair of masonry structures begins with understanding the causes of distress. It is difficult to cure a patient without first diagnosing their illness. This presentation will discuss various types of masonry damage and the most common causes. We will also discuss appropriate repair methods for various types of distress in masonry. Additionally, the presentation will discuss the state of the art for strengthening of existing masonry structures for adaptive retrofit, seismic or blast hardening, or other reasons. We will discuss new materials and methods that can help make repairs effective and, often, invisible. Bring your masonry challenges and questions!

• Discuss some of the fundamental concepts basic to masonry repair.
• Investigate why masonry repair is different than repair of other construction materials.
• Review the most common repair methods.
• Discover new repair methods and materials.

10:45 - 11:45am
Architectural Programming Tract: Lessons Learned from Masonry Jobsite Troubleshooting - Pat Conway, AIA | International Masonry Institute
1 Hour of AIA/HSW professional development

“Troubleshooting” can either be proactive or reactive. Learn how qualified contractors and craftworkers address masonry detailing, installation, and performance. We’ll focus on two critical issues for masonry structures: accommodating moisture and movement. You’ll learn from real-world jobsite troubleshooting scenarios to help you better design and detail high-performance masonry structures.

• Understand how masonry issues can be minimized or avoided.
• Review common masonry troubleshooting scenarios and tips to help ensure successful installations.
• Discover how to accommodate moisture and movement on your masonry assemblies.
• Learn best practices for designing and detailing high-performance masonry wall assemblies.

10:45 - 11:45am
Engineering Programming Tract: Concrete Masonry Codes, Standards, & Specs - Ben Nantasai, PE | Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association
1 Hour of AIA/HSW professional pevelopment

This presentation introduces the various codes, standards, and specifications that govern concrete masonry units, materials, design, and construction. Specific topics include ASTM standards for materials, Building Code Requirements and Specifications for Masonry Structures, and the relationship between these documents and the International Building Code. Typical specification formats and resources are also discussed.

• Understand the various reference standards used for concrete masonry materials and structures
• Understand the requirements for products and materials used in concrete masonry construction
• Review and understand the basic code requirements for design and construction of concrete masonry
• Understand the commonly used guide specifications for concrete masonry construction and resources available for preparing specifications for concrete masonry

12:15 - 1:15pm
Architectural Programming Tract: Lintels in Masonry Walls & Veneers - Pat Conway, AIA | International Masonry Institute
1 Hour of AIA/HSW professional development

Spanning openings in masonry walls and veneer can and should involve simple solutions. However, sometimes, engineering and architectural details for these solutions can be overly complicated or simply not appropriate to comprehensive issues of function, thermal efficiency, aesthetics, or longevity. Join us to learn best practices for designing and constructing masonry lintels on your next project.

• Review simple solutions to span openings in block walls.
• Understand the unintentional consequences of poor lintel design.
• Explore how opening head details can be designed best to address moisture, movement, and thermal control.
• Discover how masonry lintel design can impact project cost and schedule.

12:15 - 1:15pm
Engineering Programming Tract: Assessment of Existing Masonry Structures
Donald Harvey, PE | Atkinson-Noland & Associates  
1 Hour of AIA/HSW professional development

 "There's a crack in my masonry!" This is perhaps one of the most common phrases I hear at the beginning of an existing masonry structure evaluation. But, of course, all masonry cracks are not created equal, and the causes range from differential foundation movement to deflection to restraint and well beyond the typical "structural" realm. Volumetric movement, corrosion, or bed joint reinforcing placement could lead to some mysterious crack patterns. This presentation will discuss not only common crack patterns in masonry and their most common causes, but we we will also evaluate other common distress conditions in masonry walls structures as leaning, bulging, voids, and deterioration. Additionally, we will discuss some of the basic tasks associated with masonry structure investigations such as shear wall conditions, bearing at point loads, and diaphragm connections.

• Understand some of the most common crack patterns in masonry and their most common causes
• Demonstrate common types of masonry distress beyond cracking.
• Discuss priorities for investigation of a masonry structure.
• Emphasize the importance of understanding and verifying load paths when possible

2:00 - 4:00pm  - Jobsite tour will be held in Cedar Rapids
Loftus jobsite tour - Seedorff Masonry, Inc.
2 hours of AIA/HSW professional development credit

Join us for an in-depth masonry jobsite tour of Loftus! The project, a five-story mixed use property, located in the heart of the Newbo neighborhood of Cedar Rapids. Attendees will be divided into small groups that will tour the jobsite to take a comprehensive look at masonry construction utilizing concrete masonry and brick. The tour will include a detailed look at the structural concrete masonry, brick veneer, control joints, flashing, air barrier and more.  The tour will also include conversations with the general contractor and mason contractor about the project and building with masonry.

• Review the use of concrete masonry and brick in commercial construction, and how it is used to create resilient masonry buildings.
• Understand how flashing is properly installed on a masonry wall to insure moisture control.
• Learn about control joints and how this creates less maintenance long term with proper placement.
  
  

* Breakouts sessions will have both an engineer & architectural tract but attendees can attend whichever section they feel best meets their educational goals. All programs are suitable for both architects, engineers and contractors.

Click here to view bios.

Cost
PRICING
Registration includes continental breakfast, two breaks, lunch and up to 6 hours of AIA/HSW learning units.

Early Bird Pricing - on/before March 25
MII Member - $45 first registration; $40 for additional
Non-member Architects/Engineers - $65 per registration

Pricing on/after March 26
MII Member - $65 first registration - $60 for additional

Non-member Architects/Engineers- $85 per registration

SPONSORSHIPS
Thank you to the following MII members for sponsoring the annual meeting & seminar! If you are interesting in sponsoring the annual meeting or seminar, please contact Jenny at jirlmeier@masonryinstituteofiowa.org.

Annual Meeting Sponsors
Oldcastle APG, Seedorff Masonry, Inc., Forrest & Associate, and Iowa LECET

Seminar Sponsors
Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 3 IA, Oldcastle APG, Seedorff Masonry, Inc., Forrest & Associate, Continental Cement, Edwards Cast Stone, TCC Materials, County Materials