Recorded live at the California Masonry Council's Design and Expo Day, host Adam Hutchinson sits down with Christian Benoit, first-place winner in the concrete block category — and a student who had never worked with masonry before this project.

Christian walks through how he turned a studio assignment on compressed stabilized earth block and rammed earth into an award-winning CMU design, why masonry might be sequestering more carbon than anyone realized, and why he thinks architecture schools are missing the boat on teaching masonry the way they teach mass timber.

Along the way, they discuss the real cost comparison between wood-frame and CMU walls, how California's climate zones change the insulation game, and why 150 students showing up to one event might be the blueprint for getting the next generation into the trade.

In this episode:

• How Christian adapted an earth-block studio project into a first-place concrete masonry design
• The surprising research on how much CO2 a CMU can permanently sequester over its lifetime
• Why a CMU wall can cost about the same as a wood-frame wall — once you count the trades
• How California's climate zones affect (or eliminate) the need for insulated block
• What it's like entering the masonry industry with zero prior masonry background
• Why Christian thinks masonry deserves its own place in architecture curricula
• The power of getting students physically in the room — CMC bused 150 students to this event
• What mentorship actually looked like on his path to an architecture degree
• Why showing up to a competition is worth it even if you don't win

Learn more about the Northwest Masonry Institute: https://masonryinstitute.com/in-the-mix

In this episode of In The Mix, Evan Hall joins Adam live from the California Masonry Council Design & Expo to discuss Project Chimney, an inspiring initiative preserving historic masonry chimneys that survived the Palisades Fire. Evan shares how House Museum partnered with masonry contractors and industry organizations to carefully salvage these iconic structures, protecting an important piece of Los Angeles' architectural history while creating a lasting memorial to resilience and recovery.

Evan also discusses the vital role masonry plays in historic preservation, why the industry's craftsmanship deserves greater recognition, and how better storytelling, collaboration, and community engagement can help inspire the next generation of builders. This conversation offers a unique perspective on the lasting value of masonry—not only as a building material, but as a way of preserving culture, history, and craftsmanship.

In This Episode:

• The story behind Project Chimney and the preservation of historic Palisades chimneys
• Why masonry remains one of the world's most durable and resilient building materials
• How contractors safely salvage and reconstruct historic masonry structures
• The importance of preserving both architectural history and skilled trade knowledge
• Why branding and storytelling are major opportunities for the masonry industry
• How collaboration between preservationists and masonry professionals is driving innovation
• The importance of inspiring homeowners, architects, and the next generation of masons

Connect with Evan:
Website: https://www.house.museum/mission/leadership
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evan.hall/

Learn more about the Northwest Masonry Institute:
https://masonryinstitute.com/in-the-mix

In this episode of In The Mix, Adam sits down with Emeka Ukaga from the California Masonry Council to discuss the future of masonry and why the industry has an incredible opportunity to lead conversations around resilience, sustainability, and innovative building design. Drawing on his background in architectural engineering and building policy, Emeka shares how organizations like the California Masonry Council are helping bridge the gap between technical expertise, education, and industry advocacy.

Together, they explore how masonry can play a critical role in addressing today's biggest building challenges—from wildfire resilience and energy efficiency to creative architectural design and long-term durability. They also discuss why stronger collaboration, better storytelling, and continued innovation will help position masonry as the material of choice for the next generation of construction.

In This Episode:

• How the California Masonry Council is advancing technical education, advocacy, and industry marketing
• Why masonry is uniquely positioned to meet today's demands for resilient and sustainable construction
• The role building codes and public policy play in shaping the future of the industry
• How architects and engineers can push the creative boundaries of masonry design
• Why wildfire resilience, durability, and long-term performance are becoming more important than ever
• The value of collaboration, mentorship, and knowledge sharing across the masonry community
• Why the industry must do a better job telling masonry's story to designers, owners, and the public

Connect with Emeka:
Website: https://www.californiamasonrycouncil.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckukaga

Learn more about the Northwest Masonry Institute: https://masonryinstitute.com/in-the-mix