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Concrete Masonry Forum

04. 14. 2026
  • People gather in the gallery, standing in small groups as they look at poster displays mounted on boards.

  • Several people stand in front of poster boards, chatting in small groups while examining displayed designs and images.

  • Two people standing in front of poster boards.

  • Two men stand behind a long, black-covered table at a career fair or exhibition. Behind them, several large posters display architectural drawings and project information. On the table, there are flyers, brochures, and lanyards.

  • A view from the back of a lecture hall showing an audience seated in wooden chairs, facing a presentation. At the front of the room, speakers are seated on a panel next to a large projection screen displaying headshots and names of the presenters.

  • A man in a plaid shirt sits on a stool, gesturing with his hand as he speaks during a presentation.

  • A small group of people sit on chairs or stand near white display boards on the wall, viewing images or presentations together.

On March 16, 2026, the Spitzer School of Architecture became a hub of innovation and collaboration as it hosted the . The event brought together a diverse group of over 80 attendees, including Spitzer faculty, staff, and students, alongside visiting students from the High School for Math, Science and Engineering (HSMSE) located right here on the CCNY campus.

The core mission of the forum was to facilitate a meaningful exchange of perspectives between craft and design. By bringing together seasoned industry professionals and the next generation of designers, the event highlighted the vital relationship between the physical mastery of materials and the creative vision of architectural design.

A major highlight of the day was the student exhibition. Participants showcased their original concrete masonry design work, demonstrating not only technical proficiency but also an experimental approach to a foundational building material. At the end of the day, 5 finalists’ projects were chosen, which will be further developed in a team of all 15 students. Two of the projects will be built on the CCNY campus on May 19th and 20th, with the support of Union Masons at the Design Build Pads south of the Spitzer building.

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to:

SSA Students:
Daniel Berlinsky
Amy Diaz
Jennifer Gao
Alexandra Haderup Ramos
Matthew Le Rouzic
Babisha Manandhar
Adriana Molins I Sirvent
Joaquin Pinto
Anastasia Protsak
Maylin Rosalez Martinez
Ashley Ruilova
Claire Salameh
Ena Sezairi
Ryan Singh
Fatiha Tazrin

Faculty:
Christian Volkmann (Associate Professor)
Steve Preston (Adjunct Associate Professor)

Sponsors:
Concrete Masonry Check-Off program
The Associated Brick Mason Contractors of Greater NY and the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1
NY & Long Island & Labor Management Committee

Exhibitors:
Glenwood Mason Supply
Westbrook Concrete Block
SPEC MIX® Masonry Cement & Sand mortar
Pozzotive/Urban Mining Industries
Wire-Bond

Panelists:
Frank Sciame, Sciame Construction
Jay Gorman, Sciame Construction
Dennis Vermeulen, Marvel Designs
Jeff Hansen, Glenwood Mason Supply
Chuck Rotondo (Moderator), Concrete Masonry Check-Off program

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