The Art + Innovation of Masonry

Commitment to Craftsmanship

Masonry has long been a cornerstone of architectural excellence, offering durability, beauty, and timeless character to buildings. At Neumann/Smith Architecture, we recognize that mastering this craft requires historical knowledge, an openness to new techniques, and partnership with skilled trades. That’s why we continue to invest in learning and innovation, ensuring our designs not only honor the traditions of masonry but also push its boundaries in modern architecture.

Masonry Camp at the International Masonry Institute

Recently, Neumann/Smith Architectural Professional, Megan Kaminski, had the opportunity to attend Masonry Camp, a week-long immersive experience hosted by the International Masonry Institute in Washington, D.C. This unique program brings together architects, engineers, and skilled tradespeople to collaborate, share knowledge, and refine their understanding of masonry materials and techniques.

Through hands-on workshops and expert-led discussions, Megan gained deeper insights into brick, stone, and concrete block construction, as well as emerging trends in sustainable masonry. The camp underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration—showing how design intent and craftsmanship come together to create lasting architectural statements.

Our Masonry Experience

Neumann/Smith has a rich portfolio of masonry-driven projects, where material selection and detailing play a crucial role in the final design. To shed light on how our team approaches this craft, we spoke with several team members about their experience working with masonry across a range of project types. Their insights reflect the thoughtful problem-solving, technical expertise, and respect for materials that define our approach.

Share a project where masonry played a key role in the design and functionality:

“One of the first projects I had the pleasure of working on as a full-time employee at Neumann/Smith nearly 15 years ago was the Dearborn Intermodal Station, now known as the John D. Dingell Transit Center. The building is designed as a contemporary interpretation of the small-town rail stations of yesteryear. The masonry and glass exterior design incorporates stylistic elements from historic architectural forms including metal hipped roofs with clerestory monitors, Romanesque barrel-vaulted entrances, and limestone detailing to pull this contemporary use within the purview of the historic National Landmark district of The Henry Ford. The design also does an exemplary job showing the versatility of masonry as a building material- being used as an exterior veneer, interior wall finish, and structural component within the transit center.“

–Michael Cascio, AIA, LEED Green Associate, Project Architect, Associate

John D. Dingell Transit Center

Adaptive Reuse + Historic Preservation

View Project

What key design considerations should architects keep in mind when working with masonry?

“I believe it is important to recognize that masonry is a broad term covering many different materials. In using masonry, it is necessary to recognize that the different types have different requirements that make them more or less compatible with each other. Clay masonry like a traditional brick expands over time as it absorbs water and you must allow for this expansion. While Concrete masonry products shrink over time, again you must account for this movement. All materials expand and contract to varying degrees with thermal changes.  This is important to remember when combining materials in the same façade and to take precautions to allow for these differing movements or change the materials to eliminate the difference in movement.

For instance, on a recent project, the client desired a feature location on a clay masonry wall. Originally, they proposed decorative concrete masonry. We worked with them to determine that it was the module change that they were looking for as an aesthetic and proposed changing the decorative concrete masonry feature to an oversized clay masonry feature area to eliminate the differential movement complication and thereby simplifying the wall assembly and thus reducing potential for additional cost.  

It is also important when selecting clay masonry to understand the dimensional tolerances for the three types of facing brick under ASTM C216. If you select a brick with a wider tolerance such as an FBS or FBA, you cannot expect the mortar joints to maintain a consistent 3/8 inch. The variance in the module dimension must be absorbed somewhere, resulting in a correspondingly larger tolerance for variation in the size of the mortar joints.”

— Dawn Peterson, AIA, CSI, CDT, LEED AP, Director of Specifications, Associate

The Future of Masonry in Architecture

Masonry continues to evolve, embracing advancements in prefabrication, sustainability, and energy efficiency. At Neumann/Smith, we are actively exploring these innovations, integrating high-performance masonry systems into our projects to enhance both aesthetics and function.

Additionally, our commitment to continuous learning—such as attending Masonry Camp—ensures we remain at the forefront of material expertise. By engaging with industry leaders and hands-on experiences, we refine our approach, ensuring our clients receive the highest level of service and technical excellence.

As we look ahead, Neumann/Smith remains dedicated to elevating masonry design through thoughtful application and ongoing education. Whether preserving historical structures or pushing the boundaries of modern masonry, we are committed to delivering projects that blend craftsmanship with innovation.

We invite our industry partners, clients, and peers to join us in exploring the future of masonry. Let’s continue to build structures that not only stand strong but also inspire generations to come.

“You say to brick, ‘What do you want, brick?’ Brick says to you, ‘I like an arch.’ if you say to brick, ‘arches are expensive and I can use a concrete lintel over an opening. What do you think of that, brick?’ Brick says: ‘I like an arch.'” -Louis Khan