The goal of this project was to "create a classical, Romanesque structure to generate an Old World appearance, but modernizing it at the same time," explained project manager Sargon Adamo of Christopher Alexander Associates of Glen Rock, NJ, a firm specializing in restoration. As a key element of the project, Rosa Anatolia marble with a brushed finish was used as the primary stone throughout the church. Initially, polished marble was going to be used to replace the original terrazzo flooring, but the brushed finish was ultimately selected for practical reasons, Adamo explained. The brushed finish was considered to be less slippery, less formal and offer better wear and tear than the polished finish. Not only was the use of the Rosa Anatolia appropriate, but the stone was also much richer in color than any of the others, according to Adamo.
The stone was quarried in Turkey by Ozer International, LCC, which has a U.S. office in Harrison, NJ. Unfortunately, none of the parties involved in the construction of the project were able to visit the quarry -- because of the foreign difficulties the U.S. was having at the time -- but they were able to rely on Ozer to choose stones that were consistent in color. Adamo explained that these stones were specifically quarried for this project, as opposed to choosing the individual stones from stock material.