Mt.-Nittany-Health-Center-State-College-PA17

Mt.-Nittany-Health-Center-State-College-PA5

Gemstone®

Ground Face CMU

The natural aggregates in our Gemstone® units are brought forth by grinding the face of the unit to a smooth “burnished” finish. A light coat of sealer is then applied to give it added sheen, and to help protect the block during delivery and installation. This also aids in the resistance of natural elements that can affect the surface. Gemstone units are used in both internal and external building applications.

Request Info Get a sample

QUICK-SHIP COLORS: We stock Gemstone^® CMU in 4″ solid and 8″ hollow corner & sash blanks in the six “Quick-Ship” colors below. We then grind to order, allowing for product delivery within a few weeks—versus months. Our WORKRITE^® Type-S masonry cement is also stocked in these same 6 colors for your convenience. All other colors, shapes & sizes are available by order.

BIM – Revit^® Design Files: We provide Revit^® design files for our common unit shapes & sizes, including the family of finishes and colors– by shape. They are free to download here.

Colors

Ash

Charcoal

Cinnamon

Claret

Glacier

Khaki

Mist

Parchment

Sandstone

Slate

Tabasco

Walnut

Adobe

Arctic White

Chamois

Cream

Crimson

Graphite

Kodiak

Mink

Putty

Saddle

Sahara

Terracotta

+ more

Ash

Charcoal

Cinnamon

Claret

Glacier

Khaki

Mist

Parchment

Sandstone

Slate

Tabasco

Walnut

+ more

Charcoal

Sandstone

Slate

Adobe

Arctic White

Cream

+ more

Adobe

Arctic White

Chamois

Cream

Crimson

Graphite

Kodiak

Mink

Putty

Saddle

Sahara

Terracotta

+ more

What we’re proud of

Product Highlights

Elegant Burnished Finish: Gemstone® units feature ground faces that reveal beautiful natural aggregates with a protective sealer adding sheen and resistance to environmental elements.

Versatile Application Range: Perfect for both interior and exterior building applications, combining aesthetic appeal with structural performance in a variety of projects.

Design-Ready Performance: Available in multiple shapes, sizes, and colors; meets ASTM C90 loadbearing specifications with downloadable Revit® design files for seamless project integration.

Resources

Technical Resources

Hollow Stretcher

Size: 4x8x16

Size: 4x8x16 | Code: 4816H-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 6x8x16

Size: 6x8x16 | Code: 6816H-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 8x8x16

Size: 8x8x16 | Code: 8816H-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 10x8x16

Size: 10x8x16 | Code: 10816H-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 12x8x16

Size: 12x8x16 | Code: 12816H-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Solid Stretcher

Size: 2x8x16

Size: 2x8x16 | Code: 2816S-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 4x8x16

Size: 4x8x16 | Code: 4816S-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 6x8x16

Size: 6x8x16 | Code: 6816S-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 8x8x16

Size: 8x8x16 | Code: 8816S-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 10x8x16

Size: 10x8x16 | Code: 10816S-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 12x8x16

Size: 12x8x16 | Code: 12816S-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Universal Corner

Size: 8x8x16

Code: 8816H-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Half Block

Size: 4x8x8

Code: 488S-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 6x8x8

Code: 688S-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 8x8x8

Code: 888S-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 10x8x8

Code: 1088S-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 12x8x8

Code: 1288S-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Half High

Size: 4x4x16

Code: 4416S-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 6x4x16

Code: 6416S-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 8x4x16

Code: 8416S-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 12x4x16

Code: 12416S-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Closed-Bottom Bond Beam

Size: 6x8x16

Code: 6816CB-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 8x8x16

Code: 8816CB-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 10x8x16

Code: 10816CB-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 12x8x16

Code: 12816CB-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Open-Bottom Bond Beam

Size: 6x8x16

Code: 6816OB-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 8x8x16

Code: 8816OB-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 10x8x16

Code: 10816OB-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

Size: 12x8x16

Code: 12816OB-(GMS/GSP/RSF)

CMU Color: Adobe

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2774 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Arctic White

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-103WS (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Ash

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2243 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Chamois

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2084 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Charcoal

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2062 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Cinnamon

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2181 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Claret

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2029 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Cream

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2900 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Crimson

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2031 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Glacier

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-280 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Graphite

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2062 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Khaki

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2342 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Kodiak

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-280 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Mink

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2062 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Mist

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2055 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Parchment

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2105 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Putty

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2243 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Saddle

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2002 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Sahara

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2774 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Sandstone

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2220 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Slate

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2062 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Tabasco

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2031 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Terracotta

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2208 (Shown Above)

CMU Color: Walnut

Matching Workrite® Mortar: WR-2220 (Shown Above)

Description

Style 1

B1 / C1 | Style 1

Style 2

B2 / C2 | Style 2

Style 3

B3 / C3 | Style 3

Style 4

B4 / C4 | Style 4

Style 5

B5 / C5 | Style 5

Style 6

B6 / C6 | Style 6

Style 7

B7 / C7 | Style 7

Style 8

B8 / C8 | Style 8

Style 9

B9 / C9 | Style 9

Style 10

B10 / C10 | Style 10

Style 11

B11 / C11 | Style 11

CERTIFICATIONS/TEST REPORTS:

Concrete Masonry SRW Safety Data Sheet

Project Gallery

Our Gemstone® Projects

Mt.-Nittany-Health-Center-State-College-PA9

Mount Nittany Health Toftrees Outpatient Center

State College, PA

The Mount Nittany Health Toftrees Outpatient Center in State College, PA, boasts a unique design, featuring a blend of various York Building Products concrete masonry colors - Arctic White, Parchment and Putty - for the building envelope. Adding to the visual appeal, the architects integrated a variety of our block finishes - Gemstone, Gemstone Plus and Split Face - to lend the structure a textured look. To enhance the aesthetic even further, the walls incorporate multiple-height blocks, resulting in a dispersed, ashlar appearance. Crafting such an intricate array of masonry units poses a significant challenge for the architect, and the installation of these diverse units demands a well-coordinated and focused team of mason contractors to ensure successful execution.

Products Used

Gemstone®

Gemstone Plus®

Split Face

Mt.-Nittany-Health-Center-State-College-PA10

Mt.-Nittany-Health-Center-State-College-PA27

Mt.-Nittany-Health-Center-State-College-PA21

Mt.-Nittany-Health-Center-State-College-PA19

UGI Reading Training Center

Reading, PA

UGI constructed its new Training Center complex on a 40-acre site in Bern Township, PA, directly across from the Reading, PA airport. The Training Center is anchored by a 47,500 SF Training Building, which includes seven classrooms and two lecture rooms. Four labs within the building accommodate specific UGI departments, including Construction and Maintenance, Safety, Service, and Meter and Regulation training programs. Gemstone® units in Mink were used in the construction, and the main entry portion of the building featured half-high units laid in a contemporary stack-bond fashion.

Products Used

Gemstone®

Chipotle Mexican Grill

Camp Hill, PA

This monolithic structure looks fantastic wrapped in Graphite Gemstone® ground face units.

Products Used

Gemstone®

ACCESS Chester Community Center

Chester, PA

York Building Products supplied over 6,000 architectural masonry units for a new community center in Chester, PA. The base of the building features five courses of Mist split face masonry units. Above this textured foundation, Gemstone units in Mist, Slate, and Charcoal colors are arranged to create a sense of lightness and airiness, giving the building a "floating" feeling. One of the significant challenges faced in this project was achieving a balanced and visually pleasing distribution of the three different Gemstone colors. The goal was to avoid a too structured and repetitive pattern, while also preventing a haphazard and messy appearance. Achieving this balance required careful planning and design layout to ensure that the colors and units were distributed harmoniously throughout the structure. The efforts put into planning and design layout paid off, resulting in a nearly perfect scattering of colors around the entire building.

Products Used

Split Face

Gemstone®

Mercedes Sprinter Facility

Kansas City, MO

This commercial facility features Rustic Face in Shadow, and Gemstone® in Oyster, providing a layered, "pancake" effect.

Products Used

Gemstone®

Rustic Face

Mercedes_Sprinter_Facility-Kansas_City_MO_IMG_9454

Mercedes_Sprinter_Facility-Kansas_City_MO_IMG_9461

Mercedes_Sprinter_Facility-Kansas_City_MO_IMG_9483

Mercedes_Sprinter_Facility-Kansas_City_MO_IMG_9514

Highland Presbyterian Church

Lancaster, PA

On the exterior, Arctic White split face units were used. On the interior, Gemstone® in Camel was used for a long two-story curved wall for dramatic effect.

Products Used

Split Face

Gemstone®

Englewood Apartments

Englewood, NJ

The base of this apartment complex features our Gemstone® CMU in Graphite.

Products Used

Gemstone®

Westinghouse Headquarters

Pittsburgh, PA

The base of this high rise in downtown Pittsburgh features Gemstone® in Graphite, giving the building a strong appearance.

Products Used

Gemstone®

GrandMarc Luxury Apts.

Charlottesville, VA

These luxury apartments in downtown Charlottesville feature our split face CMU in Adobe, and Gemstone® units in a custom color.

Products Used

Split Face

Gemstone®

Horsham Fire House #1

Horsham, PA

This award-winning building features Gemstone® in custom Red, split face sills and banding in Charcoal split face. Windows are trimmed in Charcoal Gemstone. This stunning project garnered numerous design awards.

Products Used

Gemstone®

St. Clair Hospital

Pittsburgh, PA

This project is comprised of over 43,000 SF of our Gemstone® masonry units including four different colors - Parchment, Arctic White, Putty, and custom - and three different sizes - 12x24, 8x16 and 4x16. What makes this project especially noteworthy is the difficult layering of shapes and colors to provide a contemporary look.

Products Used

Gemstone®

Fire House #2

Horsham, PA

A smaller structure than House #1 in Horsham, this structure features the same finish & color palette of Gemstone® in custom Red, and split face sills and banding in Charcoal split face. Windows are trimmed in Charcoal Gemstone.

Products Used

Split Face

Gemstone®

US Army Reserve Center

Aberdeen, MD

This complex masonry project features full height, half high, and oversized masonry units in a variety of colors and finishes such as Gemstone® and Rustic Face.

Products Used

Gemstone®

Rustic Face

George & Lynch Headquarters

Dover, DE

This project features Gemstone® units in Saddle and split face units in Adobe on both the interior and exterior.

Products Used

Split Face

Gemstone®

Kansas City Police North Patrol

Kansas City, MO

This monolithic building features Gemstone® in Graphite, intermingled with Silver units to add visual drama.

Products Used

Gemstone®

Northeastern Middle School

York, PA

Split face in Gingerbread and Cream, with Gemstone® accent banding in Charcoal.

Products Used

Split Face

Gemstone®

Precision Pipe

Virginia Beach, VA

Split face units in Adobe and custom Red were featured on the lower half of this building, with Gemstone® in Adobe on the top half.

Products Used

Split Face

Gemstone®

Francis Scott Key Gateway Shoppes

Federick, MD

Split face and Gemstone used on the ends of this building provide an anchoring feel for the whole shopping center.

Products Used

Split Face

Gemstone®

Kona Grill

Arctic White Gemstone® contrasting with black accents gives this restaurant a contemporary feel.

Products Used

Gemstone®

Dallastown Area Intermediate School

York, PA

This artistic use of masonry utilized Gemstone® in Arctic White and split face in Parchment. Select areas utilized Titan Series® units in Gemstone Arctic White.

Products Used

Split Face

Gemstone®

Titan Series®

Jessup Elementary School

Jessup, MD

An interesting use of banding half-high Chamois Gemstone® units with regular Chamois split face CMU.

Products Used

Split Face

Gemstone®

Montour Elementary School

Pittsburgh, PA

The use of Putty Gemstone® units gives this school a cool industrial vibe, while being smooth to the touch for hallway travelers.

Products Used

Gemstone®

Napoleon Elementary School

Napoleon, OH

Utilizing Ash Gemstone® in a knee wall application helps protect walls from kicks and scuffs.

Products Used

Gemstone®

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology – Greiner Advanced Manufacturing Center

Lancaster, PA

On the exterior, Titan Series® units were used to provide a massive look to this building. Interior walls featured Gemstone® in Arctic White.

Products Used

Gemstone®

Titan Series®

Village Elementary School

West Windsor, NJ

The designer specified Titan Series® units in Gingerbread with a Gemstone® finish for the base of this school, and as partitions in the courtyard.

Products Used

Gemstone®

Titan Series®

South Amboy Community Center

South Amboy, NJ

A three-story high community structure, this cavernous interior masonry project features Gemstone in Adobe and Cocoa, and split face banding in Cocoa. Reflections from the Gemstone units help to brighten this interior space.

Products Used

Split Face

Gemstone®

Chantilly Jaguar

Chantilly, VA

Crisp, Arctic White Gemstone® brightens this entryway of this luxury dealership. Arctic White split face was used on curtain walls.

Products Used

Gemstone®

Split Face

Daly Dining Hall – Rider University

Trenton, NJ

Titan Series® units in Sahara with a Gemstone® finish give this dining hall a bold, solid appearance.

Products Used

Gemstone®

Titan Series®

EZ Storage

Brentwood, MD

A large structure on the outskirts of Washington, DC, this tall building is visible from blocks away. The majority of the building envelope was built with custom red split face units with Arctic White Gemstone ground face units featured around the entryways at the base. It is also trimmed in Arctic White Gemstone for the horizontal banding. A beautiful project!

Products Used

Split Face

Gemstone®

Sewickley BMW

Sewickley, PA

Scored 8x16 Gemstone® units in Mist provide a clean aesthetic and monolithic look to this German dealership.

Products Used

Gemstone®

Explore Similar Products

The Legend...

Split Face

Split face is consistently the most popular architectural masonry unit finish because it offers a uniquely textured face, and can be manufactured as a paint-grade product or in a variety of attractive colors. Because of the manufacturing process of a split face block, no two units are exactly alike, which offers aesthetic depth to building design.

Ash

Charcoal

Cinnamon

Claret

Glacier

Khaki

MIst

Parchment

Sandstone

Slate

Tabasco

Walnut

Adobe

Arctic White

Chamois

Cream

Crimson

Graphite

Kodiak

Mink

Putty

Saddle

Sahara

Terracotta

+ more

View product

Shot Blasted CMU

Rustic Face

The texture on the face of this block is generated by blasting small pellets at the surface of the unit. This process delivers a time-worn, weathered appearance that lends a building an easy-living “coastal” feel.

Adobe

Arctic White

Chamois

Cream

Crimson

Graphite

Kodiak

Mink

Putty

Saddle

Sahara

Terracotta

Ash

Charcoal

Cinnamon

Claret

Glacier

Khaki

Mist

Parchment

Sandstone

Slate

Tabasco

Walnut

+ more

View product

Structural Concrete Brick

Master-Brik®

Single-wythe brick construction has never been easier. With the appearance of kiln-flashed colors to complement almost any project, Master-Brik® structural brick masonry units offer significant advantages to the designer and mason alike.