Members of the University of Louisville swimming and diving team now take the plunge in the Ralph R. Wright Natatorium.

Whittenberg Construction Co., of Louisville, oversaw the construction of the $11.6 million dollar facility, which opened in September of 2005 and was designed by Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf Architects of Indianapolis (IN).

The masonry contractor, Central Construction Co, of Louisville, installed multiple masonry products, including:

• Jefferson Blend (modular size face brick) by Hanson
• Elmhurst Splitface & Groundface (Trendstone) units by Trenwyth (4″,8″ & 12″)
• AstraGlaze (Trenwyth) Units in Fire Engine Red (4″ & 8″)
• Natural colored concrete masonry units

The natatorium is another addition to Cardinal Park, which now runs along Floyd Street from Cardinal Boulevard to Central Avenue. Other current projects include a new la crosse field just south of Eastern Parkway and the Trager Center indoor practice facility at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.

The complex is named for U of L’s first swim coach, Ralph R. Wright. Wright died at the age of 45 in 1966, but built a reputation as an incredible swimmer and terrific coach.

The natatorium is a 50-meter pool containing nearly one million gallons of water. There are four spring boards and three platforms for diving. It can accommodate up to 800 spectators and athletes.

The residents of Owensboro (KY) have a new place to take their pets for a little pampering.

The Towne Square Pet Resort was built by Hagan Construction Co. The masonry contractor, L.A. Buford Masonry, used buff colored splitface concrete blocks for the base and accent courses and Charwood face brick for the veneer. The mortar was B10 from Brixment.

All of the masonry materials were supplied by the Owensboro location of Lee Brick and Block.

The photo below gives you a close-up view of the building elements and hopefully they give you some ideas as to how you can use integrally-colored concrete blocks and brick to enhance your next building project.

For more ideas about using integrally-colored concrete blocks and brick as the exterior of your next building project, contact your closest location of Lee Brick and Block today.

“We’re serious about providing the best possible quality of products and service to our customers in the markets we serve,” says Sam Hoehner, manager of the Louisville location of Lee Brick & Block, currently located on Poplar Level Road. Sam shares the company’s feelings that have led to the current investment under way on Old Henry Road in eastern Louisville.

Located just off the Gene Snyder Freeway, a mile north of the Middletown exit, Lee Brick & Block will become neighbors to Rogers Group, a raw material supplier of crushed limestone. A new office and showroom coupled with a state-of-the-art block plant are taking shape and are on track to be occupied and running by early 2007.

The facility upgrade and relocation are one way that Lee Brick & Block is showing the Louisville masonry market that they care about the industry and the quality of product that is being supplied.

“Once everything is underway, we’ll have a brand new plant capable of many new abilities which will include a cutting-edge curing and color system,” Hoehner adds. “We appreciate the customers who have been loyal to us and want them to know that we’re making this investment not only because it’s the right move for Lee Brick & Block, but also because it’s the best thing for our customers and the future of their success.”

Lee Brick & Block has been serving the Kentucky masonry market since 1963, when they operated out of their lone Frankfort office. Since that time, the company has expanded into several other cities including Hopkinsville, Central City, Bowling Green, Owensboro, Lexington, Bardstown, Louisville, Shelbyville, and Glasgow. “We cover every inch of the Kentucky market from Paducah to Pikeville,” says Hoehner. “We have also expanded our operations into middle Tennessee, Atlanta, and Baton Rouge”.

In addition to concrete block, Lee Brick & Block also manufactures Anchor and Keystone retaining wall products, Mountain Stone, and concrete brick. As distributors for a variety of clay brick manufacturers, Lee Brick & Block is a one-stop shop for all masonry needs. “We have the ability to provide a wide range of products from concrete block, manufactured stone, clay brick, retaining wall and landscaping products, to the mortar, cleaners, sealers, wire, and every other accessory necessary to complete the job.”

“Another reason that Lee Brick & Block is an asset to the masonry industry is its support and involvement as a leader in many of the trade groups and associations that promote the use of our products. Lee has several representatives on National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) committees, as well as brick industry committees and related building code groups. We not only financially support these groups, but we actively participate in the meetings and decisions to help grow our industry and allow our contractor and builder customers to continue growing their businesses.”

As you can tell, Lee Brick & Block is serious about its role in the masonry market. “We’re looking forward to continuing to help the Louisville market grow one building or home at a time, and we’re excited about the new facility with which to do that from,” Hoehner adds. “We hope that the community will be able to stop by and see us once we make the move and give us the opportunity to help them with their next project.”

More information on Lee Brick & Block may be found at www.leebrickandblock.com.

Additional information on Mountain Stone may be found at www.mtstone.com.

Here at Lee Masonry Products, we believe the hottest new component for patios ( and backyards ) is the outdoor fireplace. It’s the perfect way to extend the outdoor season. An outdoor fireplace takes the chill off early spring evenings and gives late fall guests a warm place to gather as the sun goes down.

Sam Hoehner, Manager of the Lee Brick & Block location in Louisville ( KY ) was recently interviewed for an upcoming article in the August edition of My House My Home magazine. In that article Sam called outdoor fireplaces “… the newest must-have.”

In years past, it was more common for families to gather around the stone or brick barbecue pit for their outdoor festivities. But today’s outdoor fireplaces are better because they are far more decorative, while remaining practical. And people say they use them to roast marshmallows over the coals !

Sam also says,

“Outdoor fireplaces provide warmth and give guests a place to gather around. The raised hearth design gives folks a place to sit even when there’s no fire. Many homeowners are adding a fireplace, laying pavers in an area, putting in some retaining walls or landscaping block, and finishing the design with outdoor furniture.”

Lee Brick & Block is the Kentucky distributor for the Fire Rock fireplace system. These easy to build fireplaces come in indoor (conventional) and outdoor (garden) styles.

The indoor fireplace system comes in four sizes, to include 30”, 36”, 42”, and 48” openings.

The typical installation of the indoor fireplace system can cost 50% less than a traditional masonry fireplace, making this system a great substitute for both new home and remodeling work.

The outdoor fireplace comes in 30” and 36” openings and can be laid and finished within a day. Many designs incorporate additional items into the finished product including grills, a place to store wood, and raised hearths.

“It can take several days to build the throat and smoke chamber on a traditional masonry fireplace,” Sam says. “With the Fire Rock fireplace, the main box can be laid up within an hour by two people. Not only does this system save the builder and homeowner money on the price, it also saves a lot of time.”

Bud Renfroe, Director of Design for Housewarmings, a complete hearth and patio company based in Lexington (KY), says, “We specialize in customized fireplaces and grill islands.”

Housewarmings plans to use Fire Rock fireplaces quite often, mostly due to the friendly design and how attractive the finished product looks.

“As part of the service we offer, we will visit the homeowner’s home and work with them on a design that will meet their individual needs. We will also do a cardboard mock-up of the fireplace so that the homeowner can get a comfort level and feel for the finished product before we move forward.”

Bud also mentions that “The fireplaces we offer are total outdoor applications. By that we mean that there is nothing on any part of the fireplace that will rust, rot, or decay over time.”

There are many factors to consider when planning an outdoor fireplace, such as:

• When fireplaces are incorporated into porches, it’s important to remember that they give off sparks that can ignite the existing structure or nearby trees and shrubs.
• Make sure the chimney does not vent into a tree canopy.
• Check with your homeowners or neighborhood association to make sure the fireplace project is allowed and check with your city or county building department to see if a building permit is required before beginning construction.
• Keep in mind metal, prefabricated fireboxes will rust when exposed to rain or snow.
• Masonry construction is preferred for longevity and ease of maintenance.

Fire Rock’s pre-engineered fireplace system is cast from masonry material, which is not susceptible to rust. The components in the kit can be installed only one way, the company says. A reasonably handy homeowner could even install it himself. After installation, it can be covered with finish materials such as brick or Mountain Stone, our manufactured stone veneer.

In addition to the Fire Rock fireplace system, Lee Brick & Block also carries a full line of clay and concrete pavers, segmental retaining wall, landscaping block, concrete block, clay face brick, caulks & sealers, and many other masonry related products and accessories.