JMS Jura limestone withstands extreme weather conditions

The Talan Towers in Kazakhstan used JMS Jura limestone – a material that can combat the region’s harsh winters and hot summers

JMS Jura Beige limestone blends perfectly with the choice of glass and aluminum, accentuating the geometrical shapes of the building and adding to the light and filigree appearance.

The Jura Beige limestone with honed finish — The Jura Beige limestone used was given a honed finished. JMS supplied roughly 200,000 square feet in hundreds of various-sized pieces.

Jura limestone tested for hot summers and cold winters — “You have a really demanding climate in Astana,” said Stefanie Pfaller, the project manager for the job. “Hot summers and cold winters provide a rough surrounding and you need to have a very durable material. Jura limestone has been tested positive on these requirements.”

Located in Astana, Kazakhstan, Talan Towers is a high-rise building consisting of a podium and two towers hosting a Ritz Carlton Hotel, office and retail space. “Jura Marble Suppliers (JMS) quarried and fabricated the stone panels for the project,” said Magdalena Schoenwetter, vice managing director of JMS. “It had been designed by SOM. It is the new landmark of Astana. This project promises nothing less than pure luxury in the center of a city. It is definitely a prestigious project.” Having a surface area of 635,000 square feet, 393,000 square feet of which is covered with a unitized facade system, Talan Towers combines glass, metal and stone to form a unique picture.

Designed by SOM Architects of New York and built under the responsibility of Turner Construction Co., the structure features JMS Jura Beige limestone, which blends perfectly with the choice of glass and aluminum -- accentuating the geometrical shapes of the building and adding to the light and filigree appearance. The Jura limestone used has a honed finished, and JMS supplied roughly 200,000 square feet of the material in hundreds of various-sized pieces.

A delegation of clients and the responsible architect traveled to the JMS quarries and factories in Germany to check on their capabilities and to make the decision on the material range.

For JMS, the project took five months, from quarrying and fabricating the panels. “You have a really demanding climate in Astana,” said Stefanie Pfaller, the project manager for the job. “Hot summers and cold winters provide a rough surrounding, and you need to have a very durable material. Jura limestone has been tested positive on these requirements.”

In 2016, the project won a Pinnacle Award of Excellence for “Commercial Exterior” from the Natural Stone Institute.

Jason Kamery joined Stone World magazine as its managing editor in June 2014. Previously, he was the assistant editor for Pet Age magazine and a sports reporter for The Express-Times and The Exponent newspapers. Jason graduated from Purdue University with a B.A. in Mass Communication.