- General Contractor: Cranshaw Construction, Newton, MA
- Installer: A Scolaro and Sons Masonry, Lynnfield, MA
- Architect: Benoit Design Group, Worcester, MA
- Product: The Standard DURUS System
Table Talk showcases modern construction techniques, designed by Benoit Design Group and constructed by Cranshaw Construction in Worcester, MA. This development utilized Metro Brick’s 350 Main Street Flashed bricks in a mechanically attached brick rainscreen system, demonstrating a seamless blend of innovation and traditional aesthetics.
Choosing a Mechanically Attached Brick Rainscreen System
For this project, Benoit Design Group embarked utilized a mechanically attached rainscreen for the first time. The walls feature a wood-framed structure with a plywood substrate, supported by the DURUS system sub-girt components. This system enabled the installer, A. Scolaro and Sons Masonry, to address planer irregularities and ensure the structure remained level and true before the bricks were installed.
While this was A. Scolaro and Sons’ first experience with a rainscreen system, production quickly improved as the team became accustomed to the process. The result is a remarkably clean and flat wall system, nearly indistinguishable from traditional brick construction.
Sustainability and Long-Term Benefits
This project’s use of a brick rainscreen system brought several key advantages:
- Planer Consistency: The DURUS system ensured a level and consistent façade, enhancing the project’s aesthetic appeal.
- Reduced Learning Curve: Despite initial challenges, the installation process proved efficient and repeatable.
- Exceptional Quality: Dan Benoit, founder and principal of Benoit Design Group, remarked that this was the flattest, most consistent brick façade he had ever encountered.