STAFF WRITER
– The Ontario Construction Report Special Feature
Thames Valley Brick & Tile (TVB&T) presented many of its extensive lines of architectural masonry and clay brick products at the OAA (Ontario Association of Architects) Annual Conference in May; an event which it regularly sponsors as well.
Established more than 40 years ago, the company has developed a focused expertise and proficiency to work with the architectural and design communities satisfying complex requirements. Its product lines include architectural clay face and thin brick, tile, glass block and floor systems, cast stone, and clay brick pavers. The company also offers an array of extensive custom products including many that qualify for LEED credits.
While countless brick companies choose to have architectural projects as a small part of their business, Thames Valley works to the opposite, with architectural projects being the company’s key emphasis. “The architectural community is focused on aesthetics and TVB&T works with 20 diverse plants, each with different capacities in size, colour and texture to address their needs,” company spokesman Jon Gravell explains. “We offer our clients everything from white to black and everything in between. We have easily more than a 1,500 different textures, sizes, finishes and combinations.”
A typical conversation between Thames Valley and its clients begins with an understanding of how the material will be used and the architect or designer’s ultimate goal. Then, drawing inspiration from their design, the search begins to discover a matching product or to create a customized product to meet their unique requirements.
The company offers standard and custom products manufactured in single batches, then stored and shipped from that production lot to the job site to ensure quality and consistency from start to finish.
TVB&T products are described as being a step above standard, including clay brick and with benefits such as low absorption and integral colour – and they are designed for the long-term. The company provides materials for a diverse range of projects including schools, long-term care facilities, high rise structures, shopping centres and universities, as well as many custom home projects.
The company belongs to several associations including the Brick Industry Association (BIA); the Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC) and its Toronto chapter; local mixed construction associations in Ottawa, Toronto and Hamilton; and the Canadian Precast Prestressed Concrete Institute (CPPCI).
Thames Valley supports the industry and participates in trade shows like IIDEX Canada, Construct Canada and Landscape Ontario Congress and sponsors the Ryerson University School of Architecture lecture series.
For more information, visit www.thamesvalleybrick.com.