University of Wisconsin School of Architecture- Masonry Studio Final Report

To take a quote from Professor Shields, “ Masonry Studio was one of the most enjoyable teaching experiences I have had in years. The studio maintained a level of excitement in learning for both students and faculty that was very high. Making piles of brick and block masonry available to students to “play” with and experiment with different coursings was a new thing for our school, and students loved it. For me personally, being able to bring in expert masonry architects as speakers was the most educational thing. While some of the material might have been a bit too advanced for the undergraduate students, for me it was a real learning experience.”

For each of the 5 Course Objectives we had required lectures attended by all of the students and their faculty. At each of these lectures there would be case studies of great buildings that had achieved these objectives, and then students were asked to return to their studios and design buildings that could demonstrate the principals we had just discussed. This also got all the faculty reading on the same page to help with across the board communications.

Students heard a great deal from guest speakers about masonry buildings that can last for centuries and be of enormous value for the generations of people who use them. This is not likely to be the case with vinyl on steel studs with batt insulation, and students got a sense that masonry can be for the ages when well designed and built.

In many schools of architecture today, masonry is sadly considered to be old fashioned and not stylish enough for students to use on their projects. At these schools students are doing buildings of glass, synthetic panels, metal mesh, or perhaps materials made attractive by being rare and exotic (translucent concrete, for example). These students get out of school, go to work in a firm, and are immediately asked by their firm to work on a masonry building. Frequently such students have no idea whatsoever what to do. Our goal was to alter this situation, and produce a generation of students coming out of UWM Architecture who know a lot about masonry, and have a real appreciation for what it can accomplish as well. These are the architects of the future who will know what to do when their University client asks for a brick and block building built to last 200 years. Professor Shields as so stated, “I think that it is critical for experienced senior architects, who in general have great appreciation for masonry, need to somehow share their enthusiasm and expertise with the younger generations, who generally do not share this view. The profession of architecture has already lost a great deal of knowledge concerning masonry that will continue to

erode unless we can make younger generations appreciate its great durability and beauty. I think experienced architects everywhere need to find a way to interact with their local schools of architecture, and try and share their experience and expertise and experience by teaching or mentoring. It would be great to hear about multiple masonry studios popping up at schools around the country in the next few years, and see a surge of great masonry buildings again being built in our American cities as they were in the past.” I would like the Foundation to know this is now a mandatory course at UWM School of Architecture for undergraduates. The program became so recognized that the graduate architectural students are now requesting masonry materials to work with. We have a developer who is giving a section of high profile land for the graduate students to create a Masonry structure to be displayed. All this came about not by a contest but by nourishing the future young architects about all the opportunities masonry has to offer. If we could get a course like this at every architectural university (like Professor Shields stated), we would again see Masonry as the system of choice in the construction industry. Thank you for your support! Wisconsin Masonry Alliance

Mark Kemp President

410 Masonry Studio UW-Milwaukee School of Architecture & Urban Planning

Fall Semester 2013

Wisconsin Masons LMCC

Masonry Studio Introduction to Students

Wisconsin Masons LMCC

“This studio is made possible by the generous financial

support of Wisconsin Masonry Industry Partners, the

craftworkers, mason contractors and manufacturers

who install and make brick, concrete block, stone, tile

and a wide variety of other structural and architectural

products and systems.

This group is providing funding for special lectures,

construction of masonry mock-ups, expert critics and

advisors in the studio, support for students to attend a

masonry camp, publication of results in a national

journal and a range of other events and activities.”

Masonry Studio Organization

• 2 year experiment

• $20,000/year

• 1 semester (16 weeks)

• 1 lead professor

• 6 adjunct professors

• 112 undergraduate students

Course Coordinator:

Associate Professor Jim Shields, FAIA

Wisconsin Masons LMCC

Masonry Studio Organization

• brick, block, stone, tile

• hardscaping material

• 2 major design projects – set up as competitions

• 4 guest lecturers – local

– regional

– national

– IMI

Wisconsin Masons LMCC

Masonry Industry Participation

Wisconsin Masons LMCC

Lectures

Mock Up Building / Hands-on

Material Donations Studio Crits

Guest Jurors

Tours

Student Support (email)

Design Resources

Poetic Tectonics of Masonry (1)

“To be able to design and detail

elegant and long lasting buildings in

masonry with an understanding of the

intrinsic qualities of the material.”

(1) from Masonry Studio course syllabus

Masonry Studio Funding

IMI Competition Grand Prize Trip

BAC-WI $6,666

WMA $6,666

MCAM $6,666

=

=

=

=

(NCMA Grant (1) + LMCC)

$20,000 + expenses (per year)

Management & Misc. Expenses

(1) NCMA Education & Research Foundation

Design Project #1 Winners (1)

(1) The Brady Street Public Market – South Milwaukee

Mock Up Building of Design Project #1Winners

Design Project #2 Winners (1)

• Spring Break trip to IMI

National Training Center in

Maryland

• Masonry Demonstrations

• Hands-On Experience

• Washington DC Tour

To Be Announced

(1) A Residence Hall for UWM

Masonry Studio T-Shirt

It seems to have been quite a hit.”

Jim Shields, FAIA Masonry Studio Coordinator UWM Professor HGA – Milwaukee Office

Masonry Studio Feedback

We had students telling us that this was the best thing they have ever experienced at the University.

“The Masonry Studio is widely viewed as a rocking success (if you will excuse the pun).

The experience enriches their education and forms a powerful bond of learning between industry and academia.”

Bob Greenstreet Dean UWM – School of Architecture & Urban Planning

The School of Architecture and Urban Planning defines its program by creative partnerships with industry and the profession.

“Masonry Studio is a wonderful and valuable addition to our curriculum.

The new working relationship with International Masonry Institute and Wisconsin Masonry Industry Partners provides a glorious opportunity for our students to develop unique insight into the value of masonry in architecture and to work with talented craftworkers, contractors and faculty.

“Sharing skills and passion of highly trained

union masons with the students is rewarding

for both groups. Masonry Studio is a great

opportunity for design students to learn

more about the masonry construction

practice and the masons to learn about

the design process. As the students are

designing masonry buildings, we feel like we

are building bridges.”

Jeff Leckwee Director, Wisconsin District Council, International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers

410 Masonry Studio UW-Milwaukee School of Architecture & Urban Planning

Fall Semester 2013

Wisconsin Masons LMCC