The Concrete Masonry Checkoff (CMC) officially launched the Block Design Collective (BDC), a virtual destination where architects, engineers and contractors (AECs) can access free CMU project support and design assistance.

“This is a significant development for the design community," said Kim Spahn, CEO, Concrete Masonry Checkoff. "Finding clear, current CMU resources hasn’t always been intuitive. We are committed to designers’ success by setting a new standard for clarity and confidence in CMU design.”

Accessible at blockdesign.org, the BDC is built to address design challenges nationwide across diverse climate conditions. Its team of regional technical directors is supported by a network of experienced consultants, all focused on helping designers determine where and how concrete masonry can advance performance goals while staying within budget.

Through this approach, AECs gain prompt, technical support delivered with maximum efficiency. BDC experts provide general recommendations and best practices, detailed specification reviews, and guidance on codes and modeling.

Industry experts are already seeing the potential. “The Block Design Collective has taken on the important task of creating straightforward tools that help designers improve efficiency, manage costs and lower carbon impacts through concrete masonry,” said Sam Rubenzer, PE, SE, FORSE Consulting. “These resources offer immediate, practical value to the profession.”

With the Block Design Collective, designers can expect a response within one business day. From there, the team helps chart a clear path forward to unlock the full benefits of building with block.