Join natural stone professionals from around the globe in entering the 2015 Pinnacle Awards competition, which has added two new categories this year, including "Kitchen of the Year" and "Bath of the Year." These highly-coveted awards are given to projects whose beauty, creativity, ingenuity and craftsmanship exemplify professional mastery in the use of natural stone in commercial and residential applications.
A very exclusive Grande Pinnacle Award, sponsored by Marmomacc, is given to the best project across all categories. Again this year, this award will be presented to an architect from the firm involved in the winning project. This award includes a beautiful trophy created by an award-winning architect and designer, as well as a trip to Marmomacc 2016in Verona, Italy. The winner will receive complimentary round-trip economy airfare and hotel stay for five nights, as well as local meals and transportation, while taking part in this 20+ AIA/CES program.
Also this year, all Pinnacle Award of Excellence and Award of Merit winners now have the opportunity to invite an architect from the firm involved in their winning project to StonExpo/ Marmomacc Americas 2016. With the generous support of Informa Exhibitions, these award-winning architects will receive three nights lodging in Las Vegas, NV, and will be invited to the annual MIA Awards Luncheon. Marmomacc will invite the winning architects to take part in a full-day educational program held during StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas (the program offers 4+ AIA/CEH/HSW credits and includes complimentary lunch and dinner); note that airfare to Las Vegas is not included.
The Awards -- sponsored by Marmomacc, Mapei, GranQuartz and Coldspring -- will be presented at StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas in Las Vegas, NV, on Thursday, January 21, 2016 during the MIA Awards Luncheon. The winning entries will be displayed in the lobby of StonExpo/Marmomacc Americasand at other trade shows throughout the year. The MIA will also display all Pinnacle Award winners on its website and in a special MIA awards brochure, which will be distributed at the 2016 StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas convention.
The Pinnacle Awards are open to all MIA member companies. Project teams must include at least one MIA member company. Projects submitted must comply with MIA standards as defined in MIA's Dimension Stone Design Manual and MIA Technical Modules. To be eligible, projects must have been completed within the past three years (January 2012 to July 2015). Multiple entries are encouraged and accepted.
An independent panel of judges including both industry and design professionals will evaluate the entries. Entries will be judged on implementation of the design, quality and craftsmanship of the fabrication and installation, and control and utilization of the natural stone material's color and character. Creative solutions to logistic or technical challenges unique to the project will influence the judging of the projects.
The deadline to submit entries is 5 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 2015. Separate entry forms must be completed for each entry. Entry forms must be completed -- with a project description, at least six photographs and the entry fee -- and returned to: MIA, 380 E. Lorain Street, Oberlin, OH, 44074, USA. For more information or to print an entry form, visit www.marble-institute.com.
