Story at a glance:
- Brick’s durability, thermal mass, and resilience make it indispensable for architects designing for sustainability and well-being.
- HASTINGS Architecture shows how brick balances permanence, identity, and environmental connection at James Lawson High School, outside Nashville.
- Manufacturers like General Shale are driving down emissions, reclaiming sites, and pushing the industry forward.
“At our brick museum we have a piece from the ancient walls of Jericho—8,000 to 9,000 years old and still intact,” grins Scott Clark, director of commercial sales at building materials manufacturer General Shale. “That’s the kind of longevity brick offers. Once it’s made it stays a brick forever.”
This durability is more than a passing curiosity. It’s the foundation of brick’s sustainability story. A material that can last centuries without replacement or extensive upkeep offers a radically different life cycle than claddings that must be refinished, repainted, or replaced every couple of decades. Today green building specifiers are refocusing on masonry materials like brick and stone as a future-ready solution for sustainable, high-performance design.
The Benefits of Brick
The serrated brick facades at James Lawson High School are informed by the natural stratification of the surrounding limestone. Photo by Garrett Rowland, courtesy of General Shale
For architects the appeal of brick goes well beyond tradition. Its thermal mass reduces building energy loads, while its durability extends lifespans and lowers long-term carbon impacts. A recent study found brick walls deliver up to 24% annual energy savings compared to lighter-weight claddings.
“Fired clay brick represents integrity, durability, and sustainability. It stands up to the elements and supports the well-being of the people inside the building. For us that’s the foundation of responsible design,” says David Bailey, principal at HASTINGS Architecture.
Bailey says the material also carries cultural and contextual weight, highlighting his firm’s design for James Lawson High School in Nashville as an example. “We wanted the building to feel progressive but also rooted,” he says. “Brick gave us a way to express both. It’s a material of stewardship, one that connects buildings to history, to site, and to community.”
Traditional & Transformational
Brick’s thermal mass reduces building energy loads, while its durability extends lifespans and lowers long-term carbon impacts. A recent study found brick walls deliver up to 24% annual energy savings compared to lighter-weight claddings. Photo by Garrett Rowland, courtesy of General Shale
Across the school’s campus, serrated brick facades in a palette of grays were chosen to complement the natural stratification of the site’s limestone-based landscape. The school is surrounded by meadows and woodlands, and the material specified by HASTINGS, with its subtle tonal and textural variations, establishes a dialogue between the built environment and the rolling terrain. The project team settled on a modular product called Oyster Bay in a longer size of 11 5/8 inches (known as a Norman brick), which delivers a linear and contemporary aesthetic without compromising on warmth or tactility.
Acoustic performance, fire resistance, and resilience in high-wind zones strengthen brick’s case in markets facing both climate and social pressures. “It offers peace of mind,” Clark says. “And in an era of extreme weather, that matters.”
Bailey says for a large educational facility, those are qualities that aren’t just nice to have; they’re essential. Thermal mass was equally important. By absorbing and releasing heat slowly, brick helps regulate interior temperatures, reducing reliance on mechanical systems. “Yes, it’s more efficient,” Bailey says. “But it also creates a more comfortable and stable learning environment for students.”
At James Lawson High School, brick’s low-maintenance profile also factored heavily into the project’s life cycle analysis, resulting in significant environmental and cost savings over time. Photo by Garrett Rowland, courtesy of General Shale
In the past traditional kiln-fired brick manufacturing relied upon coal-based fuels, but innovation is reshaping the process. General Shale, which operates 22 plants across the US, has transitioned to natural gas, while its Austrian parent company Wienerberger, is piloting hydrogen and biogas in Europe. These shifts not only lower emissions but demonstrate the industry’s intent to decarbonize.
The company has set ambitious near-term goals—a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2026 (from a 2020 baseline), alongside a 15% reduction in waste and a 15% reduction in water use compared to 2023 levels. Today efficiency is built into operations; kiln heat is recycled to dry new brick, water is used efficiently, and raw materials are recycled during operations and sourced locally where possible to cut transport-related impacts.
Clark says mining operations are designed upfront with closure in mind, with plans for the reclamation of old sites, including planting of perennial grasses for soil stabilization, managed reforestation of disturbed forests, and biodiversity action plans that align with the parent organization’s global “nature positive” policy.
Transparency is also advancing. The Brick Industry Association (BIA) is finalizing an industry-wide Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) covering cradle-to-grave impacts, providing architects a clearer picture of brick’s carbon profile and life cycle benefits.
At James Lawson High School, brick’s low-maintenance profile also factored heavily into the project’s life cycle analysis, resulting in significant environmental and cost savings over time, Bailey says. “We also prioritized a locally manufactured product to minimize transportation-related emissions and support the local economy,” he says. “Using regional materials contributes to LEED points and aligns with Metro Nashville Public Schools’ broader sustainability commitments.”
Brick is one of the few materials that can be reclaimed and reused without losing performance.
Looking ahead, Bailey sees fired clay brick playing a larger role in sustainable architecture. “We’re excited by the innovations in low-carbon firing and circularity. Brick is one of the few materials that can be reclaimed and reused without losing performance,” he says. “That’s critical as we think about adaptive reuse and flexible life cycles.”
He also points to design opportunities. “Digital fabrication and modular patterning let us use the materials in expressive new ways. Brick offers infinite variation when it comes to scale, shadow, and rhythm—qualities that allow us to craft buildings with richness and identity.”
Clark says concrete building systems that complement brickwork, like pre-cast wall panels and tilt-up systems, continue to enjoy popularity when combined with thin-brick systems. This is particularly true in commercial and institutional construction, where you achieve a true, kiln-fired brick appearance in a much faster timeline.
The brick industry is actively investing in the future. Robotics promise faster, more precise installation for certain wall types, addressing labor shortages while opening new design possibilities. Prefabricated thin-brick systems are expanding, offering architects solutions that integrate seamlessly into high-performance building envelopes.
“Automation is ultimately the future,” Scott says. “In Europe robots are already laying brick. It won’t replace craftsmanship, but it will give us new ways to build sustainably at scale.”
Contemporary green building is also a story of aesthetics and adaptability. Developers want materials that look fresh, perform reliably, and signal environmental responsibility. Brick, once pigeonholed as heavy and traditional, is showing surprising adaptability to the needs of the future.
