BrickStainable Presents at DC Convention, Summer 2010!

This past summer we were privileged enough to be invited back for the second time to present at the annual Washington, DC AIA hosted event, Design DC.

BrickStainable, in its 2nd year, decided an interactive panel discussion would be the best format to communicate our message and engage our supporters. The dynamic group included Potomac Valley Brick president, Alan Richardson, BrickStainable consultants, Peter Doo and Robert Busler (moderator), and a winner from BrickStainable 2009, Eric Haskins. (Eric joined us all the way from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Only a few short months after Alan flew to New Mexico to talk with Eric about his patent-pending idea, involving brick, of course! Check out our previous blog post on this topic.)

The 90 minute, 1.5 AIA/CEU & USGBC/ GBCI certified presentation was attended by a crowd of architects, students, and 2009 BrickStainable sponsors. We captured some of the highlights from this panel discussion for you. Enjoy the video.

Feel free to check out the pictures from Design DC on Flickr.

What a Week at DesignDC!

We were thrilled to meet all the visitors in our booth, as well as the attendees in our presentation – over 50 guests! Our panel discussion included PVB’s president, Alan Richardson, BrickStainable consultants, Peter Doo and Rob Busler (moderator), and 2009 BrickStainable competition winner, Eric Haskins. Eric flew all the way from Albuquerque, NM to Washington, DC to join us.

There was much discussion about the design concepts submitted in last year’s competition, and the new, yet age-old, sustainable applications for brick. Peter and Rob conveyed a clear message about the USGBC LEED rating system, “…design shouldn’t be about trying to achieve LEED points. If you design well, you will achieve a sustainable and durable project. Sustainability is sophisticated. You should be choosing the right products for their performance, not because of the points you can obtain.” (Well said Peter and Rob!)

We also had many winners of various prizes in our booth including a 32 GB i-pad and case, tickets to our Awards Ceremony, free entrance to the BrickStainable Design Competition, and travel to the new Essroc cement plant (a four AIA/CEU opportunity)!

Design DC was the formal launch of the new BrickStainable Concepts in Construction – Sustainable Brick Cards. Hundreds of copies were distributed in our booth and at the presentation. Contact your PVB design partner today to collect your copy!

Sneak Peek: DesignDC Next Week!

Potomac Valley Brick is psyched for this year’s DesignDC Conference next Tuesday-Thursday! We hope you’ll stop by Booth #310 to discuss sustainable design and masonry construction and the 2nd Annual BrickStainable Design Competition with us. We’ll also give you a spin on the prize wheel for your chance at ten different prizes including tickets to the BrickStainable Awards Ceremony at the National Building Museum, free BrickStainable Design Competition registration, a trip to a Cement Plant (AIA/CEU opportunity), and more! Also, collect your set of new BrickStainable Concept Cards. Limited quantity available!

Also, join Alan Richardson, Peter Doo, Eric Haskins (2009 BrickStainable Winner) and Rob Busler in Room 147B for their presentation “BrickStainable, Designing with Brick to Save Energy–Results of the Competition” on Thursday, August 5th, 10:15am–11:45am -1.5 AIA/CEU (HSW/SD) . The panel will review BrickStainable-2009. Why did we do it? What did we learn? What’s new for the 2nd Annual BrickStainable Design Competition? How has this exploration changed the people involved from sponsor to contestant? You’ll gain insight into sustainability and the role masonry plays as well as get inspiration for your entry in this year’s competition.

Make sure you’re there Wednesday, August 4th after lunch for the raffle where you can win our 32GB ipad as a prize!

DesignDC Information:
August 3-5, 2010
Walter Washington Convention Center
Washington, DC

Contact PVB at info@PVBrick.com for your free VIP ticket to the exhibit hall (a $50 value!). Limited quantity available!

It’s going to be a packed week and we’re looking forward to seeing you there!

Competition Launch Just Around the Corner!

We are about to launch the 2nd Annual BrickStainable International Design Competition and the competition team has been busy identifying a site and drafting a design brief for the building challenge. The goal, once again, is net-zero. Discovery and re-discovery are concepts that keep turning up when we talk about the competition because this challenge is partly about integrating brick with other materials and technologies that are of the present and about the future; discovery, and partly about understanding brick’s innate physical characteristics and behaviors; re-discovery. Design integration and innovation are the means by which a 10,000 year old material of the earth finds new expression in an increasingly technologically driven world.

We are very excited about this year’s competition for which we have selected an urban site in the City of Baltimore. We have nearly completed the selection of our jury panel and, once again, we have an intriguing group of thought leaders participating in the selection of this year’s winners. The award ceremony will be at the National Building Museum and prizes include cash and travel to the awards program.

We are preparing for our official launch on or about July 15th with a local launch celebration and talk delivered at DesignDC on August 5th, 2010. The presentation will be available on the BrickStainable website. Keep an eye on our website and this blog. The launch is just around the corner!