Brick exterior walls must be properly designed, detailed, and constructed to achieve the intended architectural effects on building facades and to prevent moisture intrusion and cracking. This course will explore common brick masonry elements such as curved walls, corbelling, and arches and how they should be designed and detailed to avoid moisture entry and movement issues. The course will also explore several award-winning projects where brick stands out as the defining architectural feature of the building.


Learning Objectives

  • Review the evolution of brick as a building material and how it has been used for millennia to provide durability, strength, and aesthetics.
  • Examine how to detail and construct architectural features such as curved walls, corbelling, and arches that properly manage water and eliminate stress that can cause cracking.
  • Describe how to accommodate the inevitable moisture intrusion and movement that will occur in a brick building envelope.
  • Explore several award-winning projects where brick stands out as the defining architectural feature of the building.

Pre-requisite: Basic knowledge of brick applications.