Making research work for you
For nearly 15 years, CMDC staff has collaborated with universities across Canada to foster masonry research programs on behalf of their masonry contractor member. As these research initiatives grew, a partnership with Concrete Masonry Producers Association (CCMPA) was formed to manage the growing demands associated with current and future research projects.
Our Role in Canadian Research
A strategic responsibility of CMDC staff is their involvement in masonry research throughout Canada. CMDC provides an experienced, knowledgeable industry voice to assist researchers with developing research projects that are state-of-the-art and address the most pressing needs of the Canadian masonry industry. This is achieved through the support, coordination, supervision, dissemination and ultimately the application of industry-relevant research and development.
On behalf of the Canadian Masonry Research Council, CMDC Staff monitor all masonry research being supported by CCMPA and CMDC. As the single point of contact, our goal is to improve the communication between the masonry industry and Canadian researchers to facilitate greater inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration between research programs. CMRC will evaluate current and future research projects and prioritize those that can demonstrate the potential for successful commercialization of their new innovations and discoveries. This is accomplished through changes to the relevant building codes and standards, new products and technologies or construction practices.
Research Network Services through CMDC
- Access to NSERC and Mitacs Industrial Grants
- Link Researchers Together in Network
- Conduct Industrially Relevant Research
- Assists in Commercialization of New Technologies
- Integrate Research with Building Codes and Design Standards
- Coordinate Industrial Cash and In-Kind Funding
- Assistance in Writing Grant Applications
- Financial and Technical Support for Students
- Collaborate with Researchers to Innovate
- Connect Researchers with Designers, Contractors and Manufacturers
- Ensure Research is Impactful and Disseminated
- Maximize National Impact and Benefits of Research
- Provide an Industry Sounding Board for new Ideas
- Facilitate Long-Term Strategic Research Plans
- Help with Navigating the Regulatory Environment
- Planning, Design and Construction of Test Specimens
Partnering through the Canadian Masonry Research Council
The Canadian Masonry Research Council (CMRC) is a partnership between the Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers Association (CCMPA) and the Canada Masonry Design Centre (CMDC) that provides financial sponsorship and in-kind contributions for research programs across Canada.
CMRC primarily targets large-scale, multi-year and grant leveraged projects in priority areas of masonry research as identified by its members through long-term capital investment and provision of in-kind support.
University Research Profiles
Highlighting university research programs across the country through CMDC support.
Supporting Innovation through Research Partnerships Yi Liu Work has been conducted on the following project: Masonry Infill Frames Masonry infills are often used in concrete and steel frame buildings as…
Supporting Innovation through Research Partnerships Carl Haas Eihab Abdel-Rahman Work has been conducted on the following project: Ergonomics and Semi-Automated Systems for Masonry Construction A masonry work system is defined…
Supporting Innovation through Research Partnerships Ehab Zalok Edward G. Sherwood Work has been conducted on the following projects: Fire Resistance of Masonry Masonry materials have been relied upon extensively over…
Supporting Innovation through Research Partnerships Mark Green Work has been conducted on the following projects: Recycled Aggregate for Block Production To produce high quality concrete masonry units, block producers generally…
Supporting Innovation through Research Partnerships Ayan Sadhu Work has been conducted on the following projects: Early Age Strength of Masonry There has been significant development of various advanced materials in…
Supporting Innovation through Research Partnerships Carlos Cruz-Noguez Yong Li Work has been conducted on the following projects: In-Plane Shear Strength of Partially Grouted Walls Reinforced masonry (RM) shear walls are…
Supporting Innovation through Research Partnerships Daniele Malomo Work has been conducted on the following projects: Adapting Masonry Standards to Climate Change Today’s changing climate is demanding more and more from…
Supporting Innovation through Research Partnerships Svetlana Brzev Tony Yang Work has been conducted on the following projects: Flanged Boundary Elements on Reinforced Masonry Shear Walls Reinforced masonry shear walls (RMSWs)…
Supporting Innovation through Research Partnerships Khaled Galal Work has been conducted on the following projects: Shear Walls with Boundary Elements Reinforced masonry shear walls are effective structural elements to resist…
Supporting Innovation through Research Partnerships Lisa Feldman Bruce Sparling Leon Wegner Mohamed Boulfiza Work has been conducted on the following projects: Masonry Unit Geometry Hollow concrete masonry units manufactured according…
Supporting Innovation through Research Partnerships Nigel Shrive Work has been conducted on the following projects: Eco-Friendly Ductile Cementitious Composites (EDCC) A large proportion of the existing building stock in Canada…
Supporting Innovation through Research Partnerships Dan Palermo Usman T. Khan Work has been conducted on the following projects: Adapting Masonry Standards to Climate Change Climate change is bringing with it…
Supporting Innovation through Research Partnerships Wael El-Dakhakhni Mohamed Ezzeldin Lydell Wiebe Work has been conducted on the following projects: Blast Loading of Reinforced Masonry The goal of this research is…
Supporting Innovation through Research Partnerships Sreekanta Das Work has been conducted on the following projects: Stack Pattern Masonry Beams Clause 11 of the Canadian standard, CSA S304-14 currently does not…
Canadian Masonry Symposiums
Every four years, Canada hosts the Canadian Masonry Symposium (CMS), and international recognized masonry research conference. Each CMS attracts state-of-the-art research papers from around the globe dealing with all aspects of masonry design, construction, rehabilitation and restoration. It is CMDC’s pleasure to host the papers from previous CMS’s. Click here to search past symposium papers.
Upcoming Symposium:
Ottawa – 2025
Coinciding with our Canadian Masonry Contractors Association conference, both groups will be meeting in Ottawa and sharing many of the social events. Ask anyone who was in Halifax about what a great time they had (Montreal was still fun, but held virtually) and then sign up once registration opens.
Details to follow.
Looking for details regarding a previous symposium? Click here for all past CMS details and papers
Get in touch with our team
The Canada Masonry Design Centre helps members of the design community across the country by connecting them to the resources and supports they need. Contact us today and get the conversation started!
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