The national Brick Industry Association (BIA) recently announced the winning projects entered into its 2020 Brick in Architecture Awards — the country’s most prestigious architectural awards competition focusing on genuine clay brick. You can check out all the winning designs from brick manufacturers all over the U.S. (and world) on the BIA website, but we’d like to use this blog post to highlight those brick companies who are members of BIA’s Heartland Region.

The Brick Industry Association (BIA) provides a wealth of technical advice and training to architects, designers, and builders on the nitty gritty details of applying fired clay brick to structures. Despite also offering albums full of beautiful photos of brick buildings and plenty of information about construction market trends, BIA’s Technical Notes have long been the most popular content on its website.

Let’s just acknowledge this right up front: This is not sexy stuff. The proper placement of flashing relative to a window opening, though important, is not exactly inspiring. But the consistent popularity of BIA’s Technical Notes tells us that today’s design and construction pros recognize both the aesthetic and functional benefits of brick, and they want to do it right.

Below are a few of the most referenced Technical Notes by architects, designers, and builders. You’ll want to check them out, too.

Nowhere in the pages of this blog will you find the claim that clay brick can deliver the same look as a glass curtain wall. Brick is extremely versatile and can’t be beat when it comes to design flexibility, but the aesthetics of brick and glass are at opposite ends of the spectrum. However, as opposites tend to attract, so brick and glass can be combined for fantastic results. Here’s why incorporating brick into your largely-glass designs is a great idea.

Despite brick’s proven history as a pavement material, clay brick pavers somehow suffer from the misperception that they can’t be used to create surfaces that are accessible for those with disabilities. People point to the potential for non-uniform elevations to develop between the individual units, or that the gaps between the pavers generate vibration for wheelchairs, or that the surface of clay pavers is simply too slippery.

It’s unfortunate that these myths persist. In truth, brick pavements are no different from other surfaces in that careful design, installation, and maintenance can allow them to meet accessibility standards. The only real difference is that brick looks better and lasts longer. Here are some common myths about brick paving with regard to accessibility:

A single, fired clay brick is a humble block. And yet, in the hands of excellent designers and masons it can be made to do amazing things. That’s never more true than in the case of brick sculpture.