Masonry Magazine January 1973 Page.14
The mouse that roared
Load/bearing masonry makes it to the top
Used to be, masonry was a mouse. Weak in tension and shear, fine for the low rise, just not up to high-rise specs. Until somebody started looking for a better way to build a wall, found it in reinforced concrete masonry, and wound up with a better way to build a high-rise. The process is simple.
Start with a little better block... more cement in the mortar... a few bars of steel... and a little grout. The steel adds resilience and toughness to the wall. the masonry block stiffens the steel and protects it from fire. Suddenly, you have a new structural animal.
No columns, no beams, no forming when you finish, the walls, the structural system is complete. Firesafe, maintenance free, virtually indestructible, and inexpensive. High rise construction was never better.
Which goes to show why masonry isn't a mouse any more. When you have all of this going for you, it's worth roaring about. For more information, contact Market Manager, General Portland Inc., P.O. Box 22348, Tampa, Florida 33622.
Florida Cements
Signal Mountain Cements
General Portland Inc.
Sunshine Towers, Clearwater, Fla. J. Whitney Dalzell, Architect; O. E. Olsen & Associates, Engineers; Biltmore Construction Company, Contractors.
masonry • Nov./Dec., 1973