In an industry first, the Marble Institute of America (MIA) has entered into a formal alliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Among several initiatives being taken by the two organizations is a series of seminars for stone fabricators. These one-day sessions educate stoneworking professionals on OSHA standards, and they are specifically geared towards the stone industry. In addition to classroom instruction, a shop “walk-through” educates participants on specific hazards within a stoneworking facility that can be cited by OSHA. Earlier this year, Stone World documented one of these OSHA/MIA presentations, which took place at the facilities of Alpha Professional Tools in Oakland, NJ.
The importance of Marmomacc to the world of stone was demonstrated by this year’s “Marmomacc Meets Design” initiative, which paired leading international designers with 10 Italian stone processors. The pairings focused on the “lightness” of stone in developing objects such as lamps as well as entire booth designs.
Shortly before the Marmomacc exhibition in Verona, Italy, this past October, the Verona Chamber of Commerce released a report of Istat data for the first half of 2007 with regard to Italian natural stone import and export statistics. And for the first time in several years, the results were quite positive, with increases in a range of export and import categories.
The 42nd edition of Marmomacc, the International Natural Stone and Technology Exhibition, took place from October 4 to 7, 2007, at VeronaFiere in Verona, Italy. And according to its show organizer, the increasingly international event confirmed its role as a landmark show in the natural stone industry by posting impressive attendance figures.
The goal behind the construction of the Center for the Intrepid-National Armed Forces Physical Rehabilitation Center in San Antonio, TX, was to build the most advanced rehabilitation facility in the world. The four-story, 65,000-square-foot center provides military patients and veterans with severe extremity injuries, amputations and burns an opportunity to regain their pre-injury abilities in a supportive, healing environment, according to a design statement released by SmithGroup of Washington, DC, which served as the architect for the project.
The Neoclassical-inspired Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Tennessee, home to the Nashville Symphony and a centerpiece of Nashville’s downtown revitalization, comprises 197,000 square feet and was named in honor of the late Maestro Kenneth Schermerhorn, who led the Nashville Symphony for 22 years. Contemporary touches such as streamlined stone balustrades, cornices and parapets and stylized detailing subtly update the timeless design, according to the Nashville Symphony.
When designing the new Natural Science and Engineering Research Building at the University of Texas at Dallas, the architects wanted to reflect the colors of the existing architecture on campus, but at the same time, they wanted to create a distinct natural-looking appearance for the structure. After some deliberation, it was determined that Texas limestone would be the most appropriate material for the project, and as a result, the local stone was used throughout the interior and exterior of the building. “Our first design goal was to design a state-of-the-art, functional laboratory that is responding to the users’ needs,” said Stuart Baur, Associate Partner at Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP in Los Angeles, CA.
The beautiful setting of the Lake Arthur Park in Estancia, NM, served as an inspiration for a new library’s siting, functional distribution and architecture. The construction of the new building relocates the library from its former cramped quarters within the existing fire station building - just north of the new site. The new 5,600-square-foot library, named the Williams Memorial Library after donors Corrine Williams French and her brother Willis Williams, makes extensive use of locally quarried travertine for both interior and exterior elements in order to reflect the facility’s surrounding landscape.
Located right at the Brentwood-Maryland intersection in Clayton, MO, the Maryland Walk high-rise intersects more than just two streets. “Customized to meet the taste, income levels and lifestyle,” of a diverse group of individuals, it is a vertical neighborhood of 101 separate residences, “carefully crafted to accentuate the urban character,” of its surrounding area, according to lead architect Lou Saur, FAIA of Saur & Associates Architects in St. Louis, MO. And to add elegance to the residential building, an assortment of natural stone was used to furnish the interior of each unit.
A renovation to selected spaces at Fenway Park - home of the Boston Red Sox and perhaps the “the crown jewel of our national pastime” - recently took place. Improvements to the stadium included adding 26 new luxury suites, which feature natural stone in their kitchens and bathrooms, as well as dressing up one of the concourse areas.
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