Broader Sustainability of CMU: Sourcing, Manufacturing and Circular Economy
Exploring sustainability in concrete masonry design through resiliency, energy efficiency, and low embodied carbon
Sponsored by Concrete Masonry Checkoff | Presented by Chuck Rotondo and Jason Thompson
Live Webinar Airing on May 21, 2026 at 02:00 PM ET
This course uses resiliency, energy efficiency, and low embodied carbon as a brief jumping-off point to frame a broader discussion of sustainability considerations in concrete masonry design. Participants will explore life-cycle environmental impacts beyond embodied carbon and review CMU manufacturing process choices that can reduce overall impacts.
The course also addresses CMU sourcing, extraction, and supply-chain considerations, including how availability, transportation, and procurement pathways can affect project outcomes.
Finally, it introduces assembly efficiency and circularity strategies that reduce resource extraction and jobsite waste while enabling higher-value reuse at end of life.
Photo courtesy of o2 Architecture, Photographer Lance Gerber
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Chuck Rotondo is the technical director of the Northeast Region for the Concrete Masonry Checkoff’s Block Design Collective. In his role, he leads a team of design experts dedicated to supporting architects and engineers with tailored solutions. |
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Jason Thompson is the President of Coltivomae, LLC, a multidisciplinary firm located in Northern Virginia. Prior to founding Coltivomae, LLC, Jason worked for the National Concrete Masonry Association for over 25 years after previously working at a private engineering consulting firm in Washington State. Jason’s duties and responsibilities over his career have spanned an array of activities including design, construction management, research and development, codes and standards advocacy, development of design tools and resources, and delivering seminars and lectures covering these subjects. Jason has served in several leadership and executive capacities including: Chair of the Masonry Alliance for Codes and Standards, Board of Directors and Executive Committee for The Masonry Society, technical advisor to the Code Resource Support Committee, the Technical Coordinating Committee of the International Code Council, and numerous other forums within the construction industry. |
Today's architects have the tall task of designing structures that check all the boxes: safe, stylish, sustainable, and all within budget. Concrete masonry shines in that it takes compromise entirely out of the equation. With CMU, there's no need to choose between looks and longevity, or sacrifice strength for stewardship. Block can enhance any vision as it’s safe, stunning, and a model of efficiency. Block doubles as both a structural system and a finish material, sparing you the headache of managing multiple trades and timelines. And while you may not always see block at work, its benefits can be felt everyday while still standing the test of time, year over year, decade after decade. That's the Beauty of Block.
Through the Beauty of Block program, architects gain free access to valuable resources including training, design tools, and ongoing support & making it easier than ever to design more efficient, cost-effective concrete masonry structures.
Originally published in Architectural Record
Originally published in March 2026
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Identify and review the three primary sustainability drivers - resiliency, energy efficiency, and low embodied carbon – while demonstrating how concrete masonry’s inherent qualities can be leveraged to support performance goals across all three drivers.
- Analyze environmental impacts beyond embodied carbon and discuss CMU manufacturing processes that can reduce overall impacts.
- Evaluate CMU sourcing, extraction, and supply-chain considerations, including how availability, transportation, and procurement pathways can affect project outcomes.
- Apply assembly efficiency and circularity strategies for CMU by understanding design approaches that reduce resource extraction and jobsite waste while identifying end-of-life pathways that enable higher-value reuse.
