Glen-Gery Corporation
Denise Smith, senior marketing manager for Glen-Gery. envisions the color "as the backdrop to today's constantly evolving design trends." She describes it as highly versatile and able to blend with a range of hues, textures, and materials. “Its understated elegance and neutral, transitional tones can adapt seamlessly to different architectural styles, ensuring longevity in design choices and appealing to diverse tastes,” says Smith. The company foresees "grey brick becoming increasingly prevalent in biophilic design for its ability to mimic natural elements while maintaining this timeless aesthetic. For these reasons, it remains a popular choice in modern architecture."
Glen-Gery Corporation
Available in both wirecut and smooth finishes, Silver City is part of Glen-Gery's Emporium+ line—a collection of lightly coated facebrick offering premium colors and a finish that reflects natural light, imbuing surroundings with brightness and dimension. The rough, organic texture of Silver City Wirecut evokes authentic character and dynamism to make facades more tactile and engaging. Silver City Smooth’s contemporary polish makes it ideal for modern architectural styles. Its sleek texture easily blends with a host of design elements, from traditional to avant-garde. Concrete Contractor connected with Tim Leese, marketing director for Glen-Gery for more.
CC: How does Glen-Gery go about making this decision? How did they determine the color of the year?
Glen-Gery Corporation
Each year, the Glen-Gery team selects its Brick Color of the Year by carefully examining market demands, color preferences, and design trends. Glen-Gery also considers practical applications, determining how a color can interact with a variety of textures, materials and building environments to ensure it meets diverse design needs while maintaining a timeless appeal. This approach helps them identify colors that not only respond to trends but also support lasting, adaptable design.
CC: Is there a history of previous years?
In 2023, Glen-Gery introduced its first-ever Brick Color of the Year—the Pitt Cafe Series, featuring four colors ranging from creamy whites to earth tones and brown-gray hues. The Pitt Cafe Series drew inspiration from 2023’s nature-inspired color and design trends that embodied warmth, coziness and texture. This was followed by the 2024 Brick Color of the Year—Blue Smooth Ironspot, a blue-black, reflective brick that captured the growing preference for bold, darker tones in modern design.
CC: How does the color decision affect sales?
Glen-Gery’s Brick Color of the Year often aligns with current design trends, making it a popular choice for those looking for modern, versatile options. It also generates demand from customers who want both aesthetic appeal and long-term value.
CC: How has / does the color of the year help concrete contractors?
Glen-Gery’s annual Color of the Year selection is intended to help professionals—from architects and designers to builders and contractors—and their clients incorporate anticipated color trends and achieve modern designs in their projects.
For contractors looking to meet diverse client needs, this year’s Brick Color of the Year is available in wirecut and smooth finishes, giving contractors options to create either a more textured, rustic look or a sleek, modern appearance, depending on the project’s demands. By choosing colors and textures that adapt to evolving design preferences and offer long-lasting appeal, Glen-Gery supports contractors in delivering results that satisfy both aesthetic and functional expectations.
