IMI, National Geographic and the Great Cathedral Mystery

Words: Bronzella Cleveland

The International Masonry Institute (IMI) National Training Director Robert Arnold, along with other IMI staff, were sponsored by National Geographic to help construct a scaled down version of Brunelleschi's Dome in Florence, Italy for a program on the engineering of the world's largest brick dome. "NOVA's Great Cathedral Mystery," produced by National Geographic Television in association with Camera One Productions, premieres on PBS Feb. 12, 2014. See a preview of the program below.

Installation Starts Before the First Course

August 2026

Some of the most expensive masonry installation problems begin long before crews arrive onsite. By the time a project reaches the field, many coordination decisions have already been made. Dimensional conflicts, congested reinforcement, specialty materia

Technical Talks

Designing for Performance: Key Considerations for Efficient, Durable Masonry Projects

August 2026

A successful masonry project starts well before the first stone is set. The craftsmanship on site matters, of course, but many of the decisions that shape the final result are made much earlier—during design, detailing, and material selection. Those choic

Jeff Tew

MAP Partner

Manufactured Stone MAP Partner Stone (Exterior) Stone (Interior)

Change Orders: Standard Operating Procedure

August 2026

In masonry construction, change orders are not occasional events; they are guaranteed. Drawings do not always match field conditions, specifications can conflict, and real-world construction has a way of exposing gaps in design. At DRP Masonry, we operat

Donnie Williams

Resources

RFIs: Clarity, Communication and... Hierarchy?

August 2026

In construction, any project starts with drawings. Plans. Schedules. Specifications. Whether we're talking about new construction, additions, or restoration, there is a plan, there is design intent, and a way every piece of a project needs to fit together

Kate Vienna

Technical Talks

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