By Nigel F. Maynard

An architecture firm, a builder and a product manufacturer have teamed up to launch a new masonry brick collection that reduces carbon emissions by 20 percent.

NEUF architect(e)s, masonry distributor Webster & Sons and Permacon (Canada’s largest concrete product manufacturer) formed the partnership in 2022 to solve the problem of reducing their individual environmental footprints within the construction sector. The groups say designing a new approach to bricks is a tangible outcome of their shared commitment to developing an environmentally and socially sensitive product that is economically competitive with a universal design for everyone.

“In this partnership, our role was to ensure that a product responds to all end-use needs, while aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 20%,” says Hugo Gagnon, a partner Architect and sustainability manager at NEUF. “I played the part of the mason who wants ease of product handling, the developer who must respond to market demands, and the municipalities who demand both quality and heritage conservation. Of course, I also had to take on the role of an architect looking to express their concepts. I believe this approach to close collaboration is essential for innovative practices to emerge.”

After two years of research in a Permacon plant, the DUAL brick product range is market-ready. The bricks reduce the amount of materials used by almost a third compared to traditional concrete, thanks to honeycombing in its design. The companies say product experts have optimized its composition and physical properties to maximize performance and sustainability.

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“It conforms to CSA standards for concrete masonry, and it comes with a certified Environmental Product Declaration indicating a reduction of more than 20% in life-cycle carbon emissions, primarily attributed to including recycled materials in its composition,” the groups say. The companies are already studying ways to further reduce the carbon footprint of the next generation of concrete products.

DUAL bricks come in three natural shades–Zurich (grey), Petra (yellow) and Belfast (red)–and two formats: Metric Norman (57 x 90 x 290 mm) and Metric Jumbo (90 x 90 x 290 mm).

Each of the options comes with two usable faces – one smooth and one grooved – which can be varied and adapted to any project. “The honeycombs’ dimensions and strategic arrangement make construction site handling easy, so installation is faster and more efficient,” the companies say. “With its unique design and ecological benefits, DUAL creates a new benchmark for sustainable construction, combining aesthetics, efficiency, and environmental credentials.”

The lower carbon emission brick is an important development, the groups say, because the construction sector generates almost 40 percent of carbon emissions worldwide. Masonry products are particularly problematic because products and materials such as cement and bricks contribute significantly to carbon emissions due to the energy-intensive production process.

“Working toward solving this enormous challenge of lowering greenhouse gases in buildings requires cooperation across disciplines, where it is rare for architects to work directly with product manufacturers who can develop a sustainable product requiring less energy to create, and which can then be tested by builders to ensure its easy adoption,” the groups say.

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