The 31,200-square-foot Consigli Construction Co., Inc.’s modern headquarters, commonly referred to as “The Granite Building,” in Milford, MA, is the first granite building on record in the U.S. to be deconstructed and re-constructed to its original specifications. Consigli saved the building from being demolished by the town, and moved it piece by piece to its new location a half mile down the road, where it now serves as the company’s headquarters. The goal when moving the building was to salvage the granite blocks and the roofing slate, and reuse all of the materials in the reconstruction process.
Approximately eight years in the making, the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is the largest building ever built in the University of California School System. The facility comprises 10 stories - eight of which are above ground - and includes 1 million square feet of space that sits on 4 acres at the southwest corner of Westwood Plaza and Charles E. Young Drive South in Los Angeles, CA. And despite the massive size of the new medical center, the unique design, which was developed by world-renowned architect I.M. Pei and his son, C.C. Pei of Pei Partnership Architects in New York, creates the illusion of several smaller hospitals instead of a single overwhelming structure. The exterior is built of more than 3 million pounds of Ambra Light travertine - imported from Tivoli, Italy - contributing to the high-quality look of the facility.
When it came to building his own home in Austin, TX, architect Anthony Alofsin dedicated time to creating a unique design that reflected its natural environment, which included the use of local stone. The plan that took a year to construct was set to give a modern, yet ancient mood. “It feels Japanese and organic, as well as recalling a Texas vernacular,” said Alofsin.
The French Lick Resort Casino in French Lick, IN, recently underwent an extensive renovation, which included a stone restoration as well as the addition of stone in new construction areas throughout the space. The property’s historic features were carefully restored while modern amenities were incorporated to enhance travelers’ experience. For the renovation of two hotels within the resort - French Lick Springs and West Baden - WorthGroup of Englewood, CO, provided interior design services to the Architect of Record, GS Ridgway and Associates Inc. of Vincennes, IN, as well as serving as the Architect of Record and Interior Designer for a new casino, event and conference center and parking structure.
Located in downtown Dallas, TX, N9NE Steakhouse was built with the intention of avoiding a traditional steakhouse feel. This was in keeping with the design goal that its owner, the N9NE Group, sets for all of its restaurants of this kind. To achieve this result, travertine - which provided a classical look in a modern setting - was used on the walls throughout the main spaces of the 7,200-square-foot restaurant.
StonExpo 2007 will take place from October 18 to 20 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV (conference program takes place from October 17 to 20). StonExpo brings visitors face to face with leading industry suppliers delivering products and solutions to help grow and improve business.
As part of the comprehensive seminar program at StonExpo East, which took place earlier this year in Atlanta, GA, a panel of industry veterans held an open “Countertop Installation Forum” with fabricators representing shops of all sizes from around the country. Panelists included Clark Jones of Brentwood Granite, Marble & Tile, LLC in Brentwood, TN; Lindell Lummer of Malibu Art Tile & Stone of Malibu, CA; and Duane Naquin of Stone Interiors in Gaston, SC.
More and more in the stone fabrication industry, companies are looking to take extra steps to ensure that the seam is as smooth as possible. Seam polishing is one technique, although many of the seams I polished were to fix someone else’s mistakes. You may also have to seam polish if you have a bowed slab.
When Eric Tryon started Premier Surfaces in June of 2002, he went into it having learned a lesson with his prior business that he sold. It was to have total control of the process. Drawn to the stone industry initially for the artistic approach, Tryon also favored the opportunity of making people’s dream kitchens turn into reality. After having previous business experience relying on subcontractors, though, he knew his new company, which is based in Alpharetta, GA, would be different.
Founded in 2001 as a manufacturer of laminate countertops, Odyssey Tops, Inc. of Myerstown, PA, recently expanded its operation to include quartz surfacing. And when it did so, not only did it move into a larger 24,000-square-foot building, but it also brought in the latest generation of stoneworking technology.
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