Fantasy Into Reality

Words: Bronzella Cleveland

SeptemberOctober 2008
Industry News

Fantasy Into Reality
Small Project Award Winner Brings Fantasy Into Reality

Masonry Design Magazine

West Chester, Pa.-based Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd., has won a 2008 Small Project Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The firm was one of just 14 recipients this year out of 158 competing projects.

Archer & Buchanan’s “Butterfly Window” project won in the Small Project Objects category. The ‘butterfly’ window was conceived, for a private museum, from some of J.R.R. Tolkien’s sketches and verbal descriptions of the Hobbit’s propensity to design windows that frame beautiful views while blending the materials and forms of wall, window and roof into a balanced composition: A marriage of form and function, according to the firm.

The tile roof and the supporting stone wall visually envelop the circular window that dictates their form. The window is crafted of solid mahogany with forged iron hardware. The semicircular, operable sashes are center hinged. Like butterfly wings, Archer & Buchanan says, they are delicate yet strong, beautiful yet functional. MD

Monadnock Building
August 2026

Chicago’s Monadnock Building doesn’t dominate the skyline the way it once did. Surrounded by steel-and-glass towers, the dark brick structure can seem almost understated. But for anyone in the masonry industry, it remains one of the most important buildin

Cass Stern
American Treasure
Brick Clay Brick
Read More
Britt Stokes, Acme Brick’s Director of Marketing, Retires.
August 2026

Fort Worth, Texas – After faithfully serving Acme Brick Company for 40 years, Britt has chosen to retire – although he will still be involved with Acme on various projects. Britt began his career with Acme as staff photographer and through dedicati

Industry News
Read More
Why SkillsUSA is the Keystone to MCAA’s Outreach
August 2026

When I stepped into the role of the MCAA’s first Director of Youth Outreach and Education, I knew we had a massive job ahead of us. I am a fourth-generation brick mason, and I have spent over two decades teaching the trade, from working with apprentices a

Robert Melgaard
Outreach Outlook
Read More
The First Paycheck
August 2026

Several years ago, Huntley Brothers hired a young apprentice. It was his first real job, and he had never had a paycheck before. Friday rolled around, and he got paid just like everyone else. Later that day, one of the guys told me something I have never

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
Read More
Interested in working with us? Learn about and join the Masonry Alliance Program →