Arizona Tile New Mexico Holds CEU Event
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Arizona Tile hosted a CEU learning event on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at its showroom and warehouse in Albuquerque, NM. Members from the Architectural & Design (A&D) community, as well as industry professionals from the stone industry, attended the presentation, “Natural Stone vs. Manmade Materials.” The session was presented by Tony Malisani of Malisani Inc., a fourth-generation fabrication business in Great Falls, MT, in conjunction with the Natural Stone Institute (NSI).
The course was designed to compare the versatility, performance characteristics and green building considerations for both natural stone and manmade materials. Understanding these key points will prepare a supplier or specifier with knowledge for design concepts, applications and how to educate the consumer.
Learning objectives included:
- Define and explain attributes to understand what can affect the performance of both natural stone and manmade materials in interior applications.
- Compare and contrast the attributes and installation capabilities of natural stone and manmade materials to understand the optimal building material choice for project design and installation.
- Discuss common green building considerations for these materials, including embodied energy, potentially harmful ingredients, and land impacts.
- Learn which innovative design trends can be satisfied using natural stone, including biophilic design, complex geometries and textures, to offer the consumer both creative and aesthetic opportunity.
“The difference between natural stone and manmade products I don’t think can be any different or more important than right now,” said Malisani. He emphasized that natural stone has an unlimited lifecycle.
“Natural stone can encompass everything and do anything,” he said. “One geologist told me stone is always the answer. It just depends on the thickness it needs to be.”
Malisani told participants that it is important to remember all attributes of both natural stone and engineered stone as it is explained, and these attributes should be taken into consideration for any application. “The factors discussed are generally a concern for any material utilized,” he said.
Manmade materials were defined as engineered quartz, porcelain/sintered surface, acrylic/solid surface and cultured marble. Several “pros” of manmade materials include:
- Typically does not need to be sealed
- Patterns and colors within the same dye lot are usually consistent
- Acrylic/solid surfaces are repairable (Potentially expensive)
Malisani encouraged participants to ask questions and share experiences. The interactive discussion went on for an hour, followed by time for participants to mingle and enjoy some refreshments. To learn more about the NSI’s CEU program, visit www.naturalstoneinstitute.com.
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