ASU Sigmon Design Competition 2013

Words: Lynn NashSeniors Ryan Stell, second from left, and Michael (Tony) Washington, third from left, are the winners of the second annual Appalachian State University NCMCA Sigmon Memorial Design Competition held in Boone in March. Stell and Washington will share a semester's tuition as their prize.

Twelve teams participated in the competition to design and model a hypothetical masonry in-fill building section as a graded assignment in the ASU Senior Architectural Design Studio II class.

Pictured above from left to right, David Jason Miller, ASU Assistant Professor of Building Science; Stell and Washington; Past NCMCA President Doug Burton, Chairman of the Sigmon Design Competition, who served as judge for the completion; and Jeff Tiller, PE, Chairman, ASU Department of Technology and Environmental Design.

ASU Professor Lee Ball and former architecture student Miles Smith joined Burton in judging the projects.

The Sigmon Memorial Scholarship Design Competition, now at ASU and at NC State University, is named in memory of brothers Dwyane and David Sigmon, and Dwayne’s son Randy.
Elevating Masonry: Old Habits, Familiar Tools, and the Real Reason Masonry Contractors Aren’t Making the Switch
May 2026

Ask a masonry contractor how they run their jobsite, and the answer probably sounds familiar: paper logs, a flurry of texts, maybe a shared email thread. It works until it doesn’t. And yet, even as purpose-built field management software has become more a

The Cornerstone of Craftsmanship: Nurturing Masonry Talent Through Competition
May 2026

In the evolving landscape of skilled trades, masonry stands as a testament to enduring craftsmanship and dedication. Yet, the question of how to cultivate and showcase this vital expertise remains paramount. While the bright lights of national competition

There’s the Typical Way to Brace a Wall. And Then There’s a Better Way.
May 2026

Wall bracing is one of the most important safety considerations on any masonry jobsite, yet it is often treated as a task that happens after the wall is built. Crews return, equipment is brought in, and time is set aside to secure walls that have already

Remembering Harry McGraw
May 2026

The masonry industry has lost one of its great teachers and craftsmen with the passing of Harry Edward McGraw, who died April 26, 2026, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 93.