DEERFIELD BEACH, FL -- In partnership with the Marble Institute of America (MIA), Mapei, a leading manufacturer of tile and stone installation systems, has sponsored the development of the MIA's new iPad application. The app focuses on "Stones of North America," featuring the products of some of the finest quarries on the continent. "Mapei feels that this innovative iPad application will help architects make superior choices for their designs, and it will enable them to have the installation methods at their fingertips," said Real Bourdage, Director of Strategic Marketing for Mapei.

The application features a simple search method for selecting the type of stone the architect is interested in, along with photographs and information about each stone. It will also include a full copy of MIA's Dimension Stone Design Manual, and will allow architects to geo-locate quarry and processing locations for project owners desiring locally sourced materials -- a major tenet in the sustainability movement.

Based on the intended use of the stone in their design, architects can select CAD drawings and specifications for the installation directly from the app and insert them in their plans. The drawings and specs are based on the 2011 TCNA (Tile Council of North America) Handbook for Ceramic, Glass and Stone Tile Installation. Mapei's Technical Services Department provided the drawings and specifications, which are specific to stone tile installations. "We're pleased that we could help the Marble Institute with the development of this app and appreciate the opportunity to support the association," said Bourdage.

MIA's Executive Vice President and CEO, Gary Distelhorst, added, "The support of Mapei has been a key driver of the 'Stones of North America' iPad app development, and it clearly wouldn't be as valuable a resource without their support and their added technical content."

The app will be available to architects and other design professionals on April 1 and will also be featured at MIA's exhibit at the AIA National Convention in May.