Most building structures known to be constructed in Ethiopia and other many countries contain,rnby rule of thumb or knowledge, some proportion of masonry components. Despite this reality,rnthe development of analysis and design techniques for masonry structures has lagged behindrnreinforced concrete. The lack of engineered guide lines, at governmental level, to the design ofrnreinforced masonry and failure of local universities to deliver courses on masonry has playedrntheir shares in the ill-treatment of this potentially rich construction material-masonry.rnNot few people perceive, as stone solely, the meaning of masonry and have clouded perceptionsrnregarding the extendible use of this material as core component of a structure. This researchrnwork, therefore, attempts to set some insights on the actual meaning of masonry and the possiblernpositive outcomes that can be enjoyed by making use of it in an engineered manner. To do so,rnthis thesis introduces some of the available methods of design based on limit state designrnphilosophy and so investigates some standard documents, in the captioned philosophy, likernEthiopian building code standard and the British code for design of masonry.rnBased on techniques in the reviewed materials a G+4 building structure, consisting of reinforcedrnmasonry wall as a main structural component and located in a Zone 2 seismic region of Ethiopia,rnis modeled in 3-D by equivalent frame idealization, designed and its cost is compared with arnsimilar reinforced concrete building. It is found that better economy, with overlappingrnadvantages of sound insulation and short construction time are gained from the use of reinforcedrnmasonry as a main structural component of building structures with current and practical pricernranges. Considering gradual cost increase in masonry units and decrease in cost of cement,rnstarting from current prices of both materials, the break even point for the cost of construction ofrnthe designed building using both construction material types is found.