| The decisions we make today are the legacy of our generation and reality for future generations.
The process of school design is one of those few times a community will make significant physical decisions to
expose their core values. Furthermore, the school you are designing today will speak volumes about your care
and commitment to your children. Below are 17 reasons why you should use the building materials your father
ard grandfather preferred. Choose wisely, someone's life and reputation may depend on it. |
- Abuse Resistant - School buildings are being asked to serve as community buildings day and night -
all year long. Even elementary school walls snould be able to handle the daily grind ol kids, evening
community functions, and maintenance equipment and solutions.
- Acoustical Properties - Forthcoming government guidliness and/or codes will direct higher STS
raitings for our school's exterior and interior walls. Masonry already meets these challenges.
Other systems may have to add a layer or two
- Aesthetics - Masonry is still, and always has been, the number one choice for school exterior and interior walls.
Communities identify with masonry and are more willing to support a solid investment.
- Cost - When masonry is used as a load bearing wall system (as it typically is), masonry
can complete and/or beat any other wall systems - period.
- Design Flexibility - Because masonry are hand maid modular unnis, designers are free to
express themselves with form, texture and color. And if your design changes mid-way through the project,
i.e. to add an exit door during
the construction phase, masonry will adapt better than preformed wall systems.
- Energy Savings - masonry buildings not only achieve high R-values,
but their greatest advantage is the ability to retain heat (thermal mass).
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- Environmentally Friendly - Masonry is a natural material extracted from the earth.
Our grandchildren or great grandchildren will thank you for having ine foresight of how
easy masonry recycles.
- Fire Resistance - Our children need a safe place lo learn. Furthermore if a school burns, our
children and their dreams will be dispersed until the school can be repaired or replaced.
- Flexibility - Contrary to popular belief, masonry walls are easy to take down - especially
if you plan for it. Also, with adequate floor preparation you can locate masonry walls anywhere.
Remember, moving any wall system is a big job that includes re-doing the flooring
material, ceiling tile, electrical, etc. In the scheme of things the "wall" is of minimal concern.
- High Indoor Air Quality - Masonry is a non-cellulose building material.
Mold will grow fast on cellulose (wood or wood fiber) buildincg products, such as gypsum additives.
Mold can shut down your school and destroy
teacher morale! Not to mention the high price of replacing interior finishes, including
wallboard, ceiling tiles ana carpet.
- Image - A solid, functional, long lasting school building represents community values.
- Local Labor Force - When you choose masonry, you also choose to use your dollars
to support local labor. Many times, non-masonry wall systems are shipped in from other
regions of states, thus creating a void in local tax revenue.
- Low Insurance Cost - Ask your risk management experts how many thousands of dollars
can be saved in lower insurance premiums with solid and safe masonry buildings.
- Low Maintenance - Ask any school district's buildings & grounds supervisor how many
thousands of dollars per year can be saved by not having to patch, repair, replace and/or paint
non-masonry interior partitions.
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- Refuge - In times of community danger or distress, a masonry building will provide
a sale place for shelter and protection.
- Security - School buildings today have a respond to many different attacks
including: tornadoes, straight-line winds, graffiti,vandalism, mold, explosives and gunfire.
- Speed of Construction. Masonry erection is fast and efficient . 0ften the pace of masonry
is determined by the speed of other trades. You should feel empowered to
challenge opinions to the contrary.
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| These masonry attributes have been listed in alphabetical order for you convenience.
We suggest you reorganize this list to reflect your values. If you would like further assistance with your
wall selection process, we would be delighted to share delailed wall selection matrices with you and
your design team. |
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