Canada Masonry Design Centre

What Canada Masonry Design Centre does

Canada Masonry Design Centre (CMDC) is a Canadian not-for-profit association founded in 2003 and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, that supports the masonry design and construction community with technical assistance, education, tools, software, and research. It serves structural engineers, architects, specifiers, building scientists, masonry contractors, and university researchers across Canada through a network of seven regional offices (Mississauga HQ plus Dartmouth, St-Hubert QC, Ottawa, Saskatoon, Calgary, Vancouver). CMDC sits on all CSA technical committees that develop Canadian masonry standards (CSA S304, A370, A371, A82, A165, A179), giving it direct influence over the codes its products support.

CMDC's core product is the MASS (Masonry Analysis Structural Systems) software, developed through the National Masonry Design Programs (NMDP) joint venture with the Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers Association (ACPMB/CCMPA), which performs structural design calculations for masonry assemblages per the National Building Code of Canada and CSA S304. Complementary products include the 'Masonry Structures: Behaviour and Design' engineering textbook (2nd Canadian Edition, bundled with CSA S304-14), the Partition Wall Calculator (1,800+ wall designs), and biennial Canadian Masonry Symposiums (15th edition in Ottawa 2025 with 250 delegates from 15 countries and 112 papers).

Revenue is generated through a mix of membership dues from contractor members and industry partners, MASS software subscriptions/renewals sold via masonryanalysisstructuralsystems.com, textbook sales, paid seminars and professional courses (including the Engineered Masonry Design Course), consulting services, and sponsor-funded research collaborations. Distribution combines a national regional-office network for direct technical assistance with e-commerce for software and textbook sales, and direct training programs for engineers and contractors.

Name

Canada Masonry Design Centre

Legal name

Canada Masonry Design Centre

Website

https://canadamasonrydesigncentre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Canada Masonry Design Centre (CMDC) is a Canadian not-for-profit association that provides technical assistance, education, structural design software (MASS), textbooks, and research support to structural engineers, architects, specifiers, and masonry contractors across Canada via seven regional offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Technical Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Masonry (Brick, Block & Stone) (EDAOAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Concrete Masonry Units (CMU) & Concrete Blocks (IMADABAB)

Keywords

• Masonry design services
• Construction technical support
• Building enclosure consulting
• Construction training programs
• Masonry research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mississauga

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Engineering Textbook Sales: Sale of the 'Masonry Structures: Behaviour and Design' textbook (2nd Canadian Edition) through the Masonry Analysis Structural Systems website. Includes a copy of CSA S304-14 standard.
2. MASS Software Licensing: Structural design software licensing through the MASS website with sales, renewals, and technical documentation available online.
3. Seminars and Professional Courses: Technical seminars and comprehensive professional courses offered to support continual learning for designers and contractors. Free copies of CSA standards provided during training conferences.
4. Consulting Services: Professional consulting services offered to support designers and contractors with masonry projects.
5. Membership Dues: Supported by contractor members and industry partners through membership contributions. CMDC is a not-for-profit association.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CMDC provides technical information, advisory services, education and training, and applied research support for masonry construction systems. It serves as a central reference for architect, builder, and consumer inquiries about masonry design, performance, and best practices in Canada.

Product overview

Canada Masonry Design Centre offers a portfolio of products and services supporting the masonry design community. The core offerings include MASS software for structural masonry design and an engineering textbook. Technical services encompass technical assistance, seminars, professional courses (including the Engineered Masonry Design Course), and consulting services. The organization also hosts the biennial Canadian Masonry Symposium and provides web-based design tools such as the Partition Wall Calculator. CMDC operates as a not-for-profit association supported by contractor members and industry partners, providing resources to engineers, architects, specifiers, and building scientists across Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MASS (Masonry Analysis Structural Systems): A structural design software package for designing masonry assemblages in accordance with the National Building Code of Canada and CSA S304 standards. Jointly developed through National Masonry Design Programs (NMDP) partnership with ACPMB.

Products and services

• Technical Advisory and Information Services Technical advisory and information services providing masonry design, performance, and construction guidance to architects, builders, engineers, masons, and consumers in Canada.
• Education and Training Programs Training and demonstration services designed to teach industry professionals about masonry construction techniques, design best practices, and emerging masonry systems.
• Specification Writing and Testing Services Applied research, testing, and specification writing services for masonry construction projects, supporting builders, designers, and material suppliers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Construction schedules 50% faster than wood frame and 64% faster than cast-in-place concrete when using loadbearing masonry
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Masonry Design Programs (NMDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture between CMDC and Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers Association (ACPMB/CCMPA) to develop and maintain the MASS (Masonry Analysis Structural Systems) software. CMDC provides technical support as authorized support provider.
• Atlantic Masonry Institute (AMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned the Atlantic Canada loadbearing masonry cost comparison study. CMDC wrote the study on behalf of AMI.
• Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers Association (CCMPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded the Atlantic Canada loadbearing masonry cost comparison study. Also co-ventures with CMDC on the National Masonry Design Programs (NMDP) for MASS software development.
• Clay Brick Association of Canada (CBAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner association providing technical resources and information about clay brick for Canadian designers.
• Spitfire Design Co.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal design firm that provided prototypical building floor plans for the Atlantic Canada cost comparison study.
• Valron Engineers Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering firm that developed structural designs for all three building material options in the Atlantic Canada masonry cost study.
• Acadian ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction company that provided cost estimates and construction schedules for the Atlantic Canada loadbearing masonry cost study.
• Carleton UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner hosting organizing committee members for Canadian Masonry Symposiums including Ted Sherwood, Bora Pulatsu, and Ehab Zalok. Collaboration on research and education.
• Concordia UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner with Khaled Galal (Past Chair) involved in Canadian Masonry Symposium organizing. Active in masonry research collaboration.
• CSA Group (Canadian Standards Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMDC actively participates in CSA technical committees developing Canadian masonry standards. CSA Group publishes masonry standards including CSA S304, CSA A370, CSA A371, CSA A82, CSA A165, CSA A179. CSA Group funded the CANUS Masonry Standard Harmonization Project.
• CANUS Masonry Standard Harmonization Project PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative initiative between Canadian and US masonry industry to harmonize CSA S304 and TMS 402 masonry design standards. Funded by National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA), Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers Association (CCMPA), Canada Masonry Design Centre (CMDC), and CSA Group.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA): The US national trade association for the concrete masonry industry, providing engineering resources, software, education, and code advocacy — the closest cross-border analog to CMDC's role north of the border.
• Brick Industry Association (BIA): US trade association for clay brick manufacturers offering design guides, technical notes, education, and code advocacy — a sister industry association model covering the masonry material CMDC also serves.
• International Masonry Institute (IMI): Labour-management joint trust fund that provides training, education, and technical assistance for the masonry industry — closely parallels CMDC's technical assistance, seminars, and EMDC course offering.
• The Masonry Society (TMS): US-based engineering society that develops the TMS 402/602 masonry design code, runs the Masonry Educators Conference, and publishes technical journals — directly comparable to CMDC's code-committee participation and research symposia.
• Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers Association (CCMPA / ACPMB): Canadian concrete masonry producers' association and CMDC's JV partner on the MASS software — serves overlapping stakeholders and frequently co-funds CMDC's research and advocacy work.

Others

• CSA Group: Canadian standards development organization that publishes the S304/A370/A371 masonry standards CMDC helps write — closely intertwined ecosystem partner and standards authority.
• Portland Cement Association (PCA): US cement and concrete industry association funding research, education, and code advocacy — adjacent industry body whose members overlap with CMDC's contractor base.
• Canadian Wood Council (CWC): National association that promotes wood-frame and mass-timber construction — operates the same trade-association playbook (research, codes, education, technical resources) but for CMDC's primary competing material system.

Broad incumbents

• American Concrete Institute (ACI): Broader US standards and education body for concrete and masonry that publishes ACI 318/530 and runs certification programs — overlaps with CMDC's scope but at a much larger scale across all concrete-based construction.

Regional players

• Atlantic Masonry Institute (AMI): Regional masonry trade association serving Atlantic Canada that commissions CMDC for research — smaller geographic analog demonstrating CMDC's replication model and customer base in the contractor-association ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canada-masonry-design-centre

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canada Masonry Design Centre