An example of timeless design can be found at the Mizpe Hayamim Hotel and Spa on the eastern slopes of Mount Canaan, overlooking the Golan Heights and the Sea of Galilee in Rosh Pina, Israel. The resort, which sits on 37 acres of fruit groves, vegetable gardens, an animal farm and winery and also includes walking paths, pools and streams, offers a range of health and cosmetic treatments as well as a serene environment for guests to reside. Recently, a renovation was completed at the complex, which involved replacing the original tile floor with Jerusalem Stone supplied by Jerusalem Marble of Jerusalem, Israel.

G.M.S. - Granite & Marble Services of Bluffton, SC, recently opened its doors in April of 2005, with Gianni Cafarelli and Karen Johanson as principal owners. And the story of how the two founders met and formed a partnership is an interesting one. With different backgrounds and life experiences, the dedicated pair complement each other and share a passion to create an efficient and top-of-the-line fabricating facility.

Skilled craftsmanship is reflected in the construction of a new outdoor amphitheater on the grounds of Sigmund Stern Grove - a 33-acre public park in San Francisco's Sunset District. The 10,000-seat arena features nearly 1,800 tons of Chinese granite that was hand cut in China and shipped to the site, where some pieces were further finished by hand. The design is the creation of renowned landscape architect Lawrence Halprin, and was implemented by a team of masons from QuarryHouse of San Anselmo, CA.

Close to the border of Maine and within several hours driving distance from Montreal and Québec City, Polycor's state-of-the-art manufacturing complex is tucked away in Saint-Sébastien, Québec, Canada, among rolling hills and green pastures. The facility has been in operation since 1911, and was purchased by Polycor Inc., a large quarrier and fabricator of natural stone headquartered in Québec City, in 1990. During the past 15 years, the company has worked to continually improve efficiency and increase prod-uction capacity at the facility. Its most recent addition is Polycor Slabs, which is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, including four wire saws for cutting blocks into slabs.

Stone+tec 2005 was held from Wednesday, May 25 to Saturday, May 28 at the Exhibition Centre Nürnberg in Nuremberg, Germany. And to the delight of the show's organizer, the exhibition received the anticipated number of visitors, making it a success.

Established in 1990, leading Turkish stone supplier, Tekmar, has undergone several trans-formations in the past 15 years - significantly increasing its size and production capabilities.

When it comes to his designs, architect Jeff Whyte of Schaumburg, IL, strives to maintain a balance between contemporary and homey. The architect combines materials such as stone, wood and glass to create unique and visually interesting designs, with warm and inviting atmospheres. This was the case for a residential project located about 30 miles outside of Chicago in Algonquin, IL, where Whyte utilized Wisconsin stone for the home's exterior, which blended the structure with its surrounding environment as well as providing texture and character.

Morseletto, a family-run stone-working operation in Northern Italy, now in its third generation, was founded in 1904. Today, under the direction of Barbara and Deborah Morseletto, the company has 10 quarries and a state-of-the-art fabricating facility -- complete with a sculpting studio.

Since Adam Anderson and Israel Cruz started BuildersPlus Counter-tops six years ago, the company has experienced a surge of growth. What began as a two-man operation in Houston, TX, has expanded to a business currently comprised of over 40 employees, with steady work from many area builders.

Started by Sheldon Smith in 1853, SmithGroup is considered to be the oldest architecture and engineering firm in continuous practice in the U.S. today. The company, which has nine locations throughout the country, recently celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2003.