VERONA, ITALY -- The 16th edition of Marmomacc Stone Academy's "Designing with Natural Stone" will run from September 22 to 27, 2014 in Verona, Italy, in conjunction with Marmomacc, the world's leading trade show for stone and related design and technologies. More than 250 U.S. architects have participated in previous editions of the course. Scholarship applications for this year's course will be accepted until July 15th.

Veronafiere offers this course to help architects learn advanced techniques in the use of marble, granite and other stone materials. The program is a unique combination of classroom lectures, guided architectural tours and field trips to local quarries, as well as to natural stone processing facilities. This comprehensive approach enables architects to better understand stone's full lifecycle -- including how marble is quarried, cut, processed, finished, selected for specific jobs and installed, all using the latest technologies and products. 

The 2014 edition will include visits to a nearby Botticino quarry and stone processing plant, an architectural tour of Verona, case studies on the Canadian Museum of Human Rights and other projects in stone, and sessions on sustainable stone design and stone cladding as well as new finishing technologies. In addition, the course provides time to explore Marmomacc, with its more than 1,400 exhibitors of stone and stone-related products from around the world.

"Designing with Natural Stone" has been recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) as a "Best Practices and Trends" educational program. Participants from 2013 agree:

"The course was very relevant to me as an architect as it not only provided information on the various stone types and their properties, but also their suitability to the project type and methods for installation and maintenance." (Teresa Sanchez, Gruen Associates, Los Angeles, CA)

"I cannot begin to say what an outstanding professional and personal experience these five days in Verona were. I have never experienced anything that compares to this continuing education course. The combination of a well-organized, varied but focused program, the social interaction, a perfect venue and location provided me with this incomparable experience." (Michael Burns, Michael J. Burns Architects Ltd., Moorhead, MN)

Participants earn more than 20 AIA continuing education credits. Most classes also count as HSW credits. The class is limited to 30 architects -- 16 from the U.S., the others from Canada, the U.K., South Africa, India and Singapore.

Scholarships -- covering tuition, hotels and meals -- are awarded on a competitive basis, based on a candidate's demonstrated interest in the field, responsibilities within their firm and experience with stone. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to Verona as well as a $500 registration fee. 

The course is co-sponsored by Stone World magazine and supported by the Marble Institute of America (MIA), which donates a copy of its MIA Dimension Stone Design Manual to all participants.

Those interested should e-mail Sebastiano Brancoli at: info@sbdcllc.com. The deadline for submitting applications is July 15, 2014.