With Data on our side, The Sky’s the Limit

Words: Bronzella Cleveland

Bronzella Cleveland, Editor - bcleveland@masonrymagazine.com

Happy June! Who can believe it is summer now? I know I go on and on about how fast time flies, but it does fly! Here we are in our very first special edition of MASONRY x DESIGN. Combining the best of MASONRY and MASONRY DESIGN for our readers. As Dan mentioned in his note, we wanted to provide both sides of our publications for you to get insight into the construction from the design stage through to the build.   But I’m sure you already know all of this after reading Dan’s message. In this special edition of MASONRY, you’ll find detailed articles to read, from a molded brick case study to David Biggs’ Q&A column from MASONRY DESIGN. Be sure to check out pieces that relate both to architects and the design community as well as the ones that relate more to you, the mason contractor.   In addition to the articles, Dan and I have mentioned, you will find a detailed whitepaper that focuses on the data from our first survey. As Dan said in the May issue, our new data-mining project for the MCAA and MASONRY is to help the masonry industry continue to grow in numbers and revenue. This whitepaper covers our findings from our initial survey.  The first survey focused on creating a general baseline for everyone who associates with the MCAA. It led the participants to a series of specific questions based on the answers they provided from the first set of initial questions. The results were sorted into three distinct groups, owner/managers, career masons, and suppliers.    This whitepaper outlines in detail the demographics of those who have participated in the survey, providing insight into the age, income, company size and revenue, equipment used, and much more. It gives the state of the masonry industry as of June of this year.    Following our initial survey, there will be five more throughout the year that will have an array of focuses and topics. They will take a few minutes of your time and will help strengthen the position of the industry, MASONRY, and the MCAA.   So, please be sure to take a few minutes and answer our future surveys that come your way. We hope you enjoy this special edition of the magazine and as always, feel free to reach out to Dan or me with any ideas, questions, and comments for the magazine. We’d love to hear from you.   Don’t let the year pass you by, get out there and enjoy it!  
The Behind-the-Wall Secrets Every Mason Already Knows (But Some Ignore)
March 2026

You’ve been around long enough to know this already: stone doesn’t fail on the face; it fails behind the wall. You can lay the prettiest veneer in the county, but if the prep is junk, that wall’s gonna start telling on you after a couple of winters. Manu

From the Mound to the Mortar: Jon Rauch’s Tall Order in the Masonry Industry
March 2026

In the record books of Major League Baseball, Jon Rauch is a literal giant. At 6 feet, 11 inches, he remains the tallest player to ever step onto a Big League mound. But today, the Olympic Gold Medalist and 11-season MLB veteran isn’t looking for a strike

Case Study: The Scoop
March 2026

Leading UK architecture firm, Corstorphine & Wright, has announced the completion of ‘The Scoop’, a unique concave office building in Southwark, London. The innovative design reuses an existing building and integrates a conical cut-out façade in white gla

Executing Color-Driven Designs Without Compromising Craftsmanship
March 2026

On today’s jobsites, masonry contractors are being asked to do more than install manufactured stone veneer (MSV). They’re being asked to interpret design trends and execute them with precision. Homeowners arrive with curated Pinterest boards. Designers r