As a conscientious follower of TMS 402 Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures, you probably know that anchored brick facades over wood framing are limited to 30’ in height. End of story, right? Not so.

The Moody Center for the Arts at Rice University makes one wonder. Eschewing conventional masonry design themes where materials with physical or implied weightiness are concentrated at the base of the structure, the design for the Moody Center by Michael Maltzan Architecture lifts brick upward and even cantilevers it horizontally, making the brick appear to float.

The design and construction landscape is in a constant state of change, and as architects, designers, and builders, you want to know how the materials you’ve relied on in the past are relevant to today’s design trends, building standards, and economic realities.