Because of its structural integrity and its diversity of color and texture, natural stone has been popular as a building material for centuries. To understand the natural attributes of stone, it is important to have some understanding of stone’s geological background.

Earlier this fall, the MIA+BSI held its annual study tour in Vermont.

Join natural stone professionals from around the world in entering the Marble Institute of America 2013 Pinnacle Awards competition.

In addition to visiting the many stone events on the “Spring Trade Show Circuit” so far this year — Las Vegas, Brazil, Atlanta, etc. — I took some time last month to travel to Salt Lake City, UT, for the Utah Stone Summit

The latest edition of the MIA/Stone World Industry Education Series is currently taking place at Arizona Tile in Salt Lake City, UT, and there are more than 30 fabricators on hand.

The AIA National Convention and Expo is set for June 20 to 22 in Denver, CO, and once again, natural stone will be part of the education program as well as the expo, which features the Stone and Tile Pavilion

The following is a message of invitation from Jim Hieb, Vice President of the Marble Institute of America

Surfaces and StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas have extended the discounted registration deadline for attendees for one week only to Wednesday, December 12.

Last month, I sat in the showroom at IGM in North Bergen, NJ, with nearly 40 veteran fabricators from the New York Metropolitan area, and I saw something that probably wouldn't have been possible five or 10 years ago. T