By Danielle Mokris – Technical Director of the Southeast Region for the Concrete Masonry Checkoff’s Block Design Collective 

Charlotte is in the midst of one of the most significant school construction efforts in its history. Backed by $2.5 billion in bond funding, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) is advancing dozens of projects, from new campuses to major renovations, to keep pace with a fast-growing region. 

But this moment is about more than adding capacity. It’s also about how those schools will perform for decades to come. They must be safe, durable and factor in operating costs. And that comes down to decisions that are often overlooked: the materials that form the structure itself. 

One material continues to stand out in school construction: concrete masonry. 

Concrete masonry units (CMU), commonly known as concrete block, provide multiple layers of protection in a single system. Reinforced masonry walls not only offer inherent resistance for a number of safety concerns, but come in beautiful architectural finishes, while helping create learning environments that are both durable and easy to maintain. 

Safety Starts With the Building 

School safety is often framed around policies, technology and response plans. But those systems depend on something more fundamental: the building itself. 

Reinforced CMU provides inherent fire resistance, structural strength and impact durability. That translates into real-world safety advantages, including: 

• Fire resistance: CMU walls can achieve multi-hour fire ratings, helping slow the spread of flames, providing valuable time for evacuation. 

• Severe weather resilience: Reinforced masonry assemblies are designed to withstand high winds and flying debris, allowing portions of a school, such as interior corridors or gymnasiums, to serve as hardened shelter areas. 

• Ballistic resistance: Certain reinforced CMU assemblies meet recognized standards for ballistic resistance, providing an added layer of protection in secure corridors and shelter-in-place zones. 

• Forced-entry resistance: The mass and strength of masonry walls slow or prevent unauthorized intrusion compared to lighter wall systems. 

Durability That Reduces Long-Term Risk 

Across the country, districts are facing growing maintenance burdens tied to materials that don’t hold up under daily use. Concrete masonry can help Charlotte break that cycle. 

Concrete masonry: 

• Resists dents, damage and deterioration 

• Maintains structural performance over long life cycles 

• Reduces maintenance and repair costs 

Ballantyne Ridge High School: Built for Growth, Designed for Today 

Ballantyne Ridge High School, one of CMS’s newest campuses, demonstrates how modern school design can balance performance, efficiency, and aesthetics without feeling heavy or institutional. The campus uses lightweight CMU from Johnson Concrete Products, which reduces structural dead load while maintaining strength and durability for long-term performance. 

In high-use areas such as kitchen and service spaces, tight-textured kitchen block was selected for its durability, ease of maintenance and clean, consistent appearance. Its dense surface helps resist wear, staining and daily impact, making it well suited for demanding environments while maintaining a refined, uniform finish over time. 

West Charlotte High School: Modernization With Staying Power 

West Charlotte High School was designed to replace the existing campus while preserving its legacy — carrying forward the identity of one of Charlotte’s most established schools. That vision comes through in the use of high-polish architectural CMU, including Echelon’s Trenwyth® units from Oldcastle. Carefully selected colors and patterns create a woven effect at the main entrance, blending tradition with a distinctly modern look. 

Beyond aesthetics, these smooth-faced, tight-tolerance blocks also support precise installation and long-term durability in high-traffic areas, while reinforced CMU systems deliver the strength and resilience expected in today’s schools. The result is a building that honors its past while built to perform for decades to come. 

Beautiful Inside and Out 

Today’s concrete block is not only beautiful because of its safety and performance features, but it also provides design flexibility. With a wide range of finishes, colors and textures available, schools can achieve a modern, high-quality aesthetic without compromising performance or safety. 

Building Smarter From the Start 

As Charlotte-area districts continue to invest in new and renovated schools, one factor is becoming increasingly clear: early collaboration matters. When architects, engineers and material experts work together from the beginning, they can design buildings that are safer, more resilient and more cost-effective.  

The Block Design Collective provides free technical design assistance to teams exploring concrete masonry. The goal is to help project teams make informed decisions early, when they matter most. From structural strategies and wall assemblies to design options and cost comparisons in North Carolina, project teams can visit blockdesign.org or contact Danielle Mokris (dmokris@blockdesign.org) for additional information. 

Because when it comes to protecting students, educators and communities, safety shouldn’t be an afterthought. It should be built in. 

Danielle Mokris is the Technical Director of the Southeast Region for the Concrete Masonry Checkoff’s Block Design Collective. In her role, she leads a team of design experts dedicated to supporting architects and engineers with tailored solutions.