From framework to practice: Applying the Resilience Design Toolkit in real-world architecture

The built environment is under immense pressure, from climate volatility and resource constraints to changing codes and client expectations. Architects are expected to balance performance, aesthetics, and accountability with every design decision they face.

The AIA Resilience Design Toolkit equips architects with a structured approach to managing these challenges. To move from framework to practice, architects must ground design decisions in materials and strategies that perform across the entirety of a building’s life cycle.

With built-in resilience, low embodied carbon, and unmatched passive performance, concrete masonry unit (CMU) construction serves as a practical solution for putting these principles into practice. 

Withstand, adapt, recover, transform

The toolkit outlines four core resilience capacities: 

• Withstand: Buildings must be able to endure fire, water, wind, and impact. That begins with noncombustible, durable materials that maintain structural integrity under stress.
• Adapt: Architecture must accommodate change. Systems that support modularity and long-term flexibility reduce the need for costly repairs or reconstruction down the line.
• Recover: Recovery depends on material performance. Assemblies that resist water, mold, and pests can drastically reduce post-event downtime.
• Transform: Resilient buildings must also support the transition to a low-carbon future. Selecting materials with low embodied carbon and strong compatibility with passive strategies makes this transformation possible.

Well-engineered CMU systems can support all four capacities simultaneously, making it an ideal choice for performance-driven design.

Material decisions that support climate goals

Resilient design doesn’t stop at disaster preparedness—it’s also about environmental accountability. Tools like EC3 and Tally help quantify the carbon impact of design choices, empowering architects to evaluate trade-offs early in the process.

It’s important to note that not all concrete is the same. Because the dry-cast process uses less cement and water during manufacture, concrete block has a lower embodied carbon footprint than those using the traditional wet-cast methods. It also continues to absorb atmospheric CO₂ over its lifespan. These attributes make attaining carbon goals a cinch without sacrificing structural performance.

Everyday performance matters, too

Resilience doesn’t only apply in emergencies. High thermal mass materials play a key role in passive design strategies, helping to stabilize indoor temperatures and reduce HVAC demand. In schools, housing, and public buildings, this contributes to long-term comfort, energy savings, and operational reliability.

Aesthetic integration, not trade-off

The toolkit encourages solutions that integrate performance and design. Modern concrete masonry supports both with an array of textures, colors, and custom detailing that enhance architectural expression without sacrificing durability or function. With patterned facades, sculptural surfaces, and bold contrasts, the only limitation of CMU is your imagination. 

The recently completed amphitheater at Mike Rylko Park in Buffalo Grove, Ill., is a prime example of how CMU melds form and function. The structure, which was designed and built by Legat Architects and A. Horn, Inc. Mason Contractors, took home the 2024 Excellence in Masonry for Best of Block Award from the Masonry Advisory Council. 

Light-colored ground face concrete block used on the stage draws the audience’s attention to the activity happening, while slotted blocks of the same color used on the side walls of the stage shell help acoustically tune the space.  

Dark ground face block on the back and sides of the facility absorbs the light and keeps the focus on stage, while scattered glass block with colored resin panels along the surface reflect the playful nature of the music. The unique combination also creates a special effect by animating the building with dancing spots of colored light during evening performances. The judges specifically felt that the design choice beautifully reflects the community's diversity and the vibrant spirit of the music.

Building forward with purpose

The AIA Resilience Design Toolkit sets the foundation. Turning it into built reality requires materials like concrete masonry that combine strength, sustainability, and purposeful design to create stunning spaces that endure.

The Concrete Masonry Checkoff’s (CMC) Block Design Collective, an official AIA partner, offers free project support to architects interested in seeing how their next project can benefit from concrete masonry. For more information, visit blockdesign.org.

The CMC also provides more in-depth training on the nuances of concrete block construction on its free educational platform for architects and engineers. The Block Learning Hub includes content on: 

•    Structural masonry
•    Sustainable and resilient building strategies
•    Aesthetic and functional applications
•    Technical detailing and best practices

These short, on-demand modules are eligible for AIA CEU credit and feature real-world applications in sustainability, energy, and resilience.

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