Masonry Magazine January 2009 Page. 26
PAVERS
Manufacturer:
Pine Hall Brick Co.
Landscape Architects:
Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates, Inc.
Paving Contractor:
Valley Crest Landscape Development
For decades, attempts to revitalize the old industrial American Tobacco Historic Campus into a thriving, mixed-use development had proven less than successful. In fact, many in the community thought it would be more cost effective to tear down the old plant, which dates back to 1874, and rebuild. However, in early-2002, a local company chose to follow a vision and invest in its community in order to preserve and reincarnate a significant part of history on which the community was built.
The major aesthetic goal for this project was to create an active exterior environment that turned the campus into an exciting place, while preserving its historic character. Selected for its ability to unify the redevelopment, brick with a modern color blend was used as the primary building material. This blend of colors picked up the subtle color influences of the surrounding individual buildings. Because of its modular size, the design team was able to create classic patterns with bold geometry fitting of an old industrial campus. In addition, brick walls, walks and bridges connect the surfaces and amenities to the vertical rise of the brick buildings.
Functionally, brick provides a durable surface that requires minimal maintenance. Its inherent compressive strength works well with both pedestrian and vehicular applications. Additionally, clay pavers' ability to be installed in a number of different systems gives designers and contractors several options that can all achieve outstanding results.
Green bricks
Clay brick, whether used as a building material for houses and office buildings or as clay pavers in streets, sidewalks, patios and driveways, has been an example of a sustainable building material for centuries, according to industry observers. Clay bricks have an unsurpassed life cycle, are energy efficient, are made of clay (the most abundant raw material on the planet); have minimal waste in manufacture; and have countless recycling options, according to the Brick Industry Association. Clay pavers also don't require pallet packaging. And, the amount of embodied energy required to mine, manufacture and transport one standard brick is about 4,000 British thermal units per pound, which is less per pound than concrete, glass, steel or aluminum, according to the AIA Environmental Resource Guide. IMAS
- Pine Hall Brick
American Tobacco Campus Historic Redevelopment, Durham, N.C.
Today, one company's vision to rejuvenate a community has come to fruition with the successful redevelopment a mixed-use "work, play, and live" campus. The new environment has served as a catalyst for the area, resulting in continued renewal in the surrounding areas. In short, this project is an outstanding example of building re-use and epitomizes New Urbanism. IMAS
The Brick Industry Association (BIA) is the national trade association representing distributors and manufacturers of clay brick and suppliers of related products and services. Visit www.gobrick.com. The association has been the nationally recognized authority on clay brick construction since its founding in 1934, and it represents the industry in all model building code forums and national standards committees. BIA is involved in a broad range of activities that appeal to architects, builders, and consumers, including Technical Notes on Brick Construction, Brick In Architecture, Brick In Home Building, Builder Notes, national awards competitions, educational seminars, and numerous other programs. BIA also advocates the industry's regulatory and legislative interests at the federal and state levels and educates municipal and planning officials about the benefits of brick at the local level. Along with the headquarters office that covers the entire country, BIA is comprised of regions that manage programs in the Midwest/Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest
American Tobacco Campus Historic Redevelopment, Durham, NC.
24 Masonry
January 2009 www.masoncontractors.org
The Voice of the Masonry Industry