By Tino Kalayil, Technical Director of the Central Region for the Concrete Masonry Checkoff’s Block Design Collective
In the Twin Cities, resilience isn’t a luxury. It’s a requirement. From deep winter freezes and spring floods to intense summer storms and rapid temperature swings, the region faces a wide range of environmental stressors. Architects, developers and construction leaders are under increasing pressure to deliver buildings that thrive in this demanding environment.
Concrete masonry units (CMU) meet that challenge. Known for its durability, longevity,fire resistance and thermal performance, CMU also provides a lower embodied carbon profile and helps lower operational energy demand. The result? A resilient, future-ready building solution that aligns with evolving climate realities.
Built to Handle Minnesota’s Climate Head-On
Climate extremes are intensifying across the state. Winters are getting warmer overall, yet damaging freeze-thaw cycles persist. Torrential rain and snowmelt increase flood risk. Severe storms and high-wind events have become more frequent. Even wildfires have shown their intensity in northern Minnesota. The need for durable, high-performance structures is growing.
CMU’s built-in advantages make it ideally suited for these shifting conditions:
• Fire-Resistant – CMU is inherently non-combustible, offering 2- to 4-hour fire ratings and maintaining structural integrity even under intense heat.
• Storm-Strong – CMU walls can withstand high winds, flying debris and snow loads, ideal for tornado-prone areas and blizzard conditions.
• Flood Durability – Resistant to water and mold, CMU is a critical building material in areas with snowmelt or river flooding and doesn’t need to be replaced if it gets wet.
• Pest-Resistant – CMU is pest resistant.
• Impact-Tough – Its durability makes it resistant to accidental impacts, freeze-thaw deterioration and the everyday wear-and-tear of heavy use.
Range USA, a chain of indoor gun ranges, specifically chose CMU for its buildings because of its durability and high performance. TCC Materials helped the chain build their first store in Minnesota. Although the project used a variety of CMU, Tab Meyer, region manager for masonry at TCC, noted the insulated block they selected was critical.
“They selected insulated block that has a 16.4 R-value rating,” said Tab Meyer. “That’s essential for our colder northern climates. In addition, they used smooth-face and split-face colored and painted masonry to add texture and depth as well as a beveled edge block in this all-structural masonry building.”
Range USA, Brooklyn Park, MN. Images courtesy of TCC Materials.
Code-Aligned and Ready for Higher Standards
As the Minnesota Energy Code and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) become more stringent, CMU offers an efficient pathway to compliance. It’s combination of thermal mass and insulation help teams meet energy and operational carbon benchmarks while streamlining the design process.
• Thermal mass helps reduce peak heating and cooling loads by absorbing and releasing heat slowly throughout the day.
• Insulated CMU assemblies can achieve resistance values, or R-values, of R-10 or more, meeting or exceeding local energy codes.
• Fire safety is inherently built into the wall. No extra layers, treatments or assemblies are required. CMU is a practical solution for everything from schools and healthcare facilities to industrial, civic and multifamily projects.
Embodied Carbon: Lower from the Start
Locally made across Minnesota, concrete block’s sustainability advantage starts at the source. Itsmanufacturing process uses less cement and water, which cuts emissions right from the beginning. CMU’s open-core structure reduces the volume of concrete used in a wall without compromising strength, delivering a more efficient, high-performing wall system.
But CMU goes beyond low impact. Its manufacturing process enables it to absorb carbon dioxide. This process continues over the life of the building, helping reduce overall emissions long after construction.
Performance with Purpose
Beyond structural benefits, CMU enhances interior comfort and usability:
• Acoustic performance: Its density blocks noise between units, offices or classrooms.
• Design versatility: Available in a wide range of textures, colors and patterns to match modern or traditional styles.
• Long-term savings: Low maintenance, energy efficiency and material longevity lowerthe total cost of ownership.
Built for Today. Ready for Tomorrow.
In a region where climate demands are growing, CMU remains one of the most reliable and adaptable materials available. From the city core to the suburbs, it’s helping the Twin Cities build smarter, stronger and more sustainably.
Get Free Project Support
Interested in seeing how your next project can benefit from concrete masonry? The Block Design Collective offers free project assistance to architects, engineers and developers. For more information, contact Tino Kalayil at tkalayil@blockdesign.org or visit beautyofblock.com.
Tino is the Technical Director of the Central Region for the Concrete Masonry Checkoff’s Block Design Collective. In his role, he leads a team of design experts dedicated to supporting architects and engineers with tailored solutions.
ABOUT THE CONCRETE MASONRY CHECKOFF
The Concrete Masonry Checkoff (CMC) is an industry funded initiative to support education, research and promotion of manufactured concrete masonry units in the United States. The Concrete Checkoff Program is the first-ever Checkoff Program at the Department of Commerce.
For more information, visit https://www.concretemasonrycheckoff.org/
