Brick Southeast and N.C. State University Host Masonry Workshops

As part of the continuing education program provided by Brick SouthEast, students partnered with a brick manufacturer to gain firsthand knowledge and industry insight of masonry craftsmanship. Lee Brick & Tile Co. in Sanford, N.C., was chosen as the host manufacturer for the 2005 program.

The tour was organized and led by Eric N. Johnson, P.E., Director of Engineering for Brick SouthEast, as well as Bryan Light, Masonry Education Manager. Jim Fryer, former "Masonry Instructor of the Year" for the state of South Carolina, conducted the bricklaying workshop, and Brad Spencer, brick sculptor, guided the students through the brick-sculpting workshop.

Throughout the workshops, students tried their hand at sculpting green brick, and even laid the brick themselves. Lee Brick fired the student's creations and delivered them to the school for the students to keep.

"We are always excited to expose new students to the art of masonry. This is an educational opportunity that we have been offering to architectural schools in the region for years," says Johnson. "It's a very popular program that allows students to use their own creativity in designing brick and is directly tied to enhancing their educational studies. Plus, they can keep the brick for many years to come."

For years, these masonry education programs have been offered to various architecture schools, including N.C. State, North Carolina A&T University, Clemson University and University of North Carolina-Charlotte. The next college masonry education program will be held at Clemson in the fall.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., with a second office in Atlanta, Brick SouthEast is dedicated to the advancement of brick products in the Southeastern United States, providing support for consumer marketing, professional educational programs and industry development.

For more information, visit www.gobricksoutheast.com.