NEXUS: Brick by Brick, a hands-on evening at the Ibstock I‑Studio.

On Thursday 26 February, the SpecStudio team joined forces with 4B Projects at the Ibstock I-Studio for NEXUS: Brick by Brick. This was the first informal session of 2026 focused on brick design, specification and real-world application, kindly hosted by Ibstock.

The evening was built around a simple objective: to deepen understanding of the material and the technical judgment calls that shape successful installation, reminding specifiers and designers that clear, well-defined specifications are critical in fast-moving projects with high performance requirements.

A practical format designed around real project questions, rather than a presentation-only CPD, the session kept things tactile and discussion-driven.

Guests were able to:

• Take part in a hands-on brick-making activity, helping to ground conversation into how bricks are formed and how manufacturing choices influence finish and consistency.
• Explore design and architectural specification considerations, including common coordination points between intent, construction detailing, and procurement.
• Review manufacturing processes and how innovation within the industry is influencing how specifiers and designers can engage in such a versatile product.
• An overview of the technical guidance and sample support available to design teams, helping them understand what’s available to support design development and robust specifications.
• Learn through case studies and practical examples, linking versatile product selection and detailing to what’s achievable in practice.

The informal setting (with drinks and pizza) helped the conversation stay open and collaborative, exactly the environment where practical lessons went hand-in-hand with industry innovation and tradition.

A few consistent themes shaped the discussions throughout the evening:

• Handmaking bricks is harder and more technical than you may first think!
• Brick can look deceptively straightforward, but the gap between concept and construction is often found in interfaces, tolerances, and the clarity of technical specification.
• Access to the right information, samples and manufacturer guidance earlier in the process helps teams avoid costly redesign, substitutions and site queries later.
• Performance, compliance and aesthetics are not separate conversations; the most useful discussions connected appearance and architectural ambition with practical questions of buildability, coordination and documentation.

Thank you to Ibstock for hosting us at their I-Studio, and to 4B Projects for collaborating with us to make the evening both practical and genuinely useful for those involved in specification and technical design.

If you’d like to be involved in future sessions or require support with specification strategy, advice, or sample/benchmarking workflows, whether you’re working in NBS Chorus, considering outsourcing your specifications, or simply looking to refine your specification writing approach, please get in touch.

info@specstudio.com
specstudio.com

Partners: 4bprojects.com | ibstock.co.uk