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2013 Coverings Installation & Design Awards

Fifteen outstanding stone and tile projects from across the country and around the world were recognized in the second annual Coverings Installation & Design Awards in Atlanta, GA. The CID Awards celebrate creativity and technical know-how in the use of tile and stone in both residential and commercial projects.

Projects were judged and awarded separately on technical installation and design. One Grand Prize winner for both design and installation in each category (residential and commercial) was chosen.

The grand prize in the residential category was awarded to Phoenix-based installer Alpentile and designer Wendy Lesueur of Mesa, AZ, for a pool and deck in Scottsdale, AZ. The top commercial honors went to installer KEPCO+ of Salt Lake City, UT, and designer Ross Nadeau of SWA Group in San Francisco, CA, for a massive water feature at City Creek Center, a mall in Salt Lake City. Each of the top honorees won a $1,000 cash grand prize.

Nadeau and KEPCO+ earned the commercial grand prize with the stunning recreation of City Creek, a natural spring-fed stream that was moved underground a century ago to prevent flooding as Salt Lake City grew. The new above-ground, man-made creek bed, which runs through the City Creek Center mall, stretches over 12,000 feet and cascades over three waterfalls, the tallest of which is 18 feet high. Painstaking attention to detail was required for this immense project, as well as careful work to maintain the integrity of the waterproofing system.

Residential Grand Prize : Gainey Ranch Retreat, Scottsdale, AZ
Lesueur and Alpentile's project at a ranch in Scottsdale involved replacing a sun-damaged pool and deck with an all-tile spa, an elegantly shaped swimming pool with a 25-foot-long raised water feature, and an expansive stone deck for entertaining. Materials included hand-textured porcelain tile, glass mosaic tile and natural stone. The sparkling, iridescent finishes of the pool and spa tiling are brought to life at night with a single LED spotlight positioned so that the undulating surface of the water feature can be viewed from the patio.

**Participants:**

***Tile Installer/Design:*Luke and Amy Denny, Alpentile**

***General Contractor:*Mark Coble, Coble Construction**

***Landscape/Pool Design:*Wendy Lesueur, Wendy Lesueur Design**

***Tile Showroom:*Facings of America**

Commercial Grand Prize : City Creek Center Mall, Salt Lake City, UT
Nadeau and KEPCO+ earned the commercial grand prize with the stunning recreation of City Creek, a natural spring-fed stream that was moved underground a century ago to prevent flooding as Salt Lake City grew. The new above-ground, man-made creek bed, which runs through the City Creek Center mall, stretches over 12,000 feet and cascades over three waterfalls, the tallest of which is 18 feet high. Painstaking attention to detail was required for this immense project, as well as careful work to maintain the integrity of the waterproofing system.

**Participants:**

***Installer:*Jeremy Simmonds, Kepco+**

***Designer/Architect:*Ross Nadeau, SWA**

***Project Owner:*Bill Williams**

Residential Tile Design : Bilezijkian Apartment Remodel, Miami Beach, FL
This project consists of an AIA-award winning oceanfront apartment remodel in Miami Beach in which every single surface was demolished and re-built to the client's standards of modern, minimalist design. Porcelain tile was used throughout the project, with particular emphasis in the bathrooms. In the master bathroom suite, with an ocean view, an effort was made to replicate the colors, textures and patterns of the Atlantic Ocean, its bordering beaches and blue waters. Series porcelain, in plaster color, was used to mimic the irregular patterns left on the sand when ocean water recedes. The unique asymmetrical shape of the tile and the irregular installation pattern was instrumental in achieving the design goal successfully. The guest bathroom was inspired by colors from Miami Beach's pristine water (blue and aquamarine), in a staggered pattern on all surfaces. The challenge was to find square format tiles that are applicable for floor and wall surfaces. Imola Tile's single-fired tile series was the perfect match, used in white, blue and aqua.

**Participants:**

***Installer:*Construct LLC**

***Designer/Architect:*German Brun and Lizmarie Esparza, Den Architecture**

Residential Stone Design : Dragonflower Vine, Seattle, WA
Homeowner Millie Livingston asked Nadine Edelstein of Tile Design by Edelstein to design and install a mosaic pathway to wind around her raisedÃÂ¢Ã¢âÂ¬ÃÂbed vegetable garden. She chose a design that was partly inspired by textured Chinese reflexology pathways, partly by traditional American hand-weaving patterns and the contemporary nature of her garden. This design addressed the immense challenge of installing an intricate mosaic at a remote jobsite: its modular nature allowed Edelstein to create the mosaic offsite as "tiles" and therefore expedite the installation.

**Participants:**

***Installer/Designer/Architect:*Nadine Edelstein, Tile Design by Edelstein**

***Project Owner:*Millie Livingston**

Residential Tile Installation : Schaefer/Graf Residence, Evanston, IL
Built in the late 1890's, the building ultimately suffered years of neglect before its final tenant would be evicted in the late 1990s. Architect Mark Schaefer and fiance Patti Graf purchased the 100+-year-old brick loft building in June 2005. With a shaky economy on the horizon, and a building that needed more than not, the couple chose to give the interior living space the look and feel of modern Italian, the more minimal the better. The home boasts three floors of living space all heated exclusively with radiant floor heating, as well as exposed brick walls. Tile is featured throughout the 2,000+-square-foot living space, including bedrooms, baths and kitchen -- blending the aesthetic of old and new.

When faced with picking finishes for a rehab that literally started from a dirt floor in what now is the garage, this couple would end up with not only all Italian tile, but Italian doors and windows, an Italian kitchen and Italian bath fixtures in all three baths. The couple chose Chromtech porcelain tile by Floor Gres in warm matte to cover the entire third floor, including two bedrooms and a laundry room. Given the amount of exposed brick throughout the home, a traditional brick fireplace was not an option; instead an energy- efficient firebox was installed along with Tecnoquartz porcelain tile Decoro Muretto in hard black. While the color palate throughout the home is muted and neutral, the bathrooms tell a different story. The third floor bath shower and walls pop with Mostarda colored Progetto L14 tile by Lea Ceramiche. The second floor spans a media room, master bedroom/bath and stairwell, which are covered with Zebrano tile in beige by Cerim. Like the third floor bath, the master bath comes to life with Progetto L14 tile in glossy Ginepro and matte Vaniglia, mimicking the stripe effect one might find on a race car. The first floor entry has a two story ceiling, with a large glass front and old Chicago brick. In contrast is the porcelain tile Tecnoquartz Decoro Muretto in hard black.

**Participants:**

***Installer:*Kraftex Floor Corp.**

***Designer/Architect:*Mark Schaefer, MRSA Architects & Planners**

Residential Stone Installation : Concentric Complexity, San Antonio, TX
An artistic use of marble and onyx to create a one-of-a-kind showcase in both pattern and craftsmanship was the designer's vision in a sumptuous master bath installation in the 20,000-square-foot home. Seven different types of marble and onyx tiles were combined to create patterns in the floors and walls, highlighting the concentric interlocking circles gracing the floors. All the patterns for the floors were plotted and calculated by the contractor using the decorator's designs to create a master template.

**Participants:**

***Installer:*John Cox, Cox Tile Inc.**

***Designer/Architect:*Hillary Conrey, Courtney Walker & Associates**

Commercial Tile Design : Dallas SPCA Jan Reese Jones Animal Care Center, Dallas, TX
After 40 years, SPCA of Texas has moved into a new 70,000-square-foot complex, which opened in January 2012. The facility offers low-cost pet check-ups, treatment and surgery, as well as a new animal adoption center. Dallas-based Hinojosa Architecture and Interiors is the creative force behind the innovative concept of "jewel boxes" as dog enclosures, expanding the size of each enclosure for the comfort of each animal. Utilizing 24- x 48-inch tile allowed for minimal grout joints and easy maintenance in a project that demands regular intensive cleaning. The space is not only full of innovative solutions for technicians, but also offers a comfortable setting for families in search of their new pet.

**Participants:**

***Installer:*Fabulous Floors**

*Designer/Architect:*Gus Hinojosa, Hinojosa Architecture and Interiors

Commercial Tile Installation : Best Bet, Jacksonville, FL
The Best Bet project was a 143,000-square-foot fast-track renovation of an existing warehouse building that housed a home decorating retail outlet store to be converted to an adult gaming facility.

With a gaming facility, access to power is required for all gaming tables and machines. These tables and machines will be moved around frequently so flexibility of the power sources is imperative. The owner required a raised access flooring system to provide the project with maximum power placement flexibility. They also requested the use of carpet for the gaming areas and porcelain tile for the main traffic and eating areas.

The dedication and collaboration of design team, contractor and sub-contractor paid off in the end with a casino-style gaming facility unique to Jacksonville that has already proven itself popular with the public. Flooring transitions are seamless, despite the challenge the whole team faced in integrating raised access sub-floors with newly poured sub-floors and ADA compliant ramps.

The Best Bet project is special because of the specialized products that were integral to the success of this unique end use category. The ability of the sub-contractor to support the design team with their expertise in tile by working through ordering and on site challenges and ending with a notable and functional final product was paramount to the project's success.

**Participants:**

***Installer:*Joe White, Dixie Contract Carpet Inc.**

***Designer/Architect:*Mike Koppenhafer, Fisher Koppenhafer Architects**

*Project Owner:* Jacksonville Greyhound Racing and Poker

Commercial Stone Design : 1 World Trade Center/National September 11 Memorial, New York, NY
The site of the World Trade Center in New York is being rebuilt with five new skyscrapers and a 9/11 memorial. 1 World Trade Center, previously referred to as the "Freedom Tower," is considered to be the anchor building of the complex. The building will feature a water-recycling system, sustainable energy use and sustainable materials, including stone and tile. The overall stone installation program started with the exterior plaza and the two memorial fountains outside. Then, it moved on to the indoors. The contractors were responsible for providing and then installing 65,000 square feet of white marble wall tile in the lobby of the tower as well as in the sky lobbies on floors 64 and 65. Additionally, on the 64th floor, they installed 27,000 square feet of granite tiles. In total, the contractor installed 50,000 square feet of floor tile and 100,000 square feet of wall tile.

**Participants:**

***Installer:*John Bertone, Port Morris Tile + Stone**

***Designer/Architect:*Skidmore, Owings & Merrill**

*Project Owner:* Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Commercial Stone Installation : Smith Center for Performing Arts, Las Vegas, NV
The final design for the Smith Center for Performing Arts is composed of a large concert hall and two small theaters with stone throughout. White Indiana limestone is used for the facade with extensive marble floors and walls incorporating sculpted jams, layered headers and cubic columns. The floors of the large concert hall and theater are composed of light and dark polished Fior di Pesco in an alternating pattern. The walls are a mixture of polished Rosso Asiago and Rosa Verona. A winged sculpture in the center of the lobby is modeled after the dam's famous Winged Figures of the Republic statues.

**Participants:**

***Installer:*Robert Herman, Superior Tile & Stone**

***Designer/Architect:*Gregory M. Hass, David M. Schwarz Architects**

*Project Owner:* The Smith Center for Performing Arts

International Design : Children Education Center & Children Innovation Center, Paterna, Spain
This initiative was conceived because of the large amount of companies housed in the Park during recent years. Keeping in mind the average age of the workers, and the female demographics, needs and advantages had to be met, such as less work absences, extended maternity leave and collaboration between parents and school. From a functional point of view, the building was designed to address the specific needs of children of all ages. The idea was to generate spaces and opportunities for creativity. The building encourages a transmission of sensations from both inside and out, creating different spaces that encourage exploration. The colors and materials are key players in the project. Rounded shapes invite exploration, encouraging nearness without the danger of roughness or sharp ends, being children safety first and foremost.

The buildings are made of cylindrical blocks and colorful facades provided by ceramic tile. Each block comes in a different color with four shades, changing hues depending on natural reflection and ambience light. The floors inside are made of resin and climate controlled. Walls of light-colored woods such as arce, make rooms clean and cozy. Spaces are defined with curved walls, so there are no corners. The cylindrical blocks are joined by a covered patio. Interiors and exteriors change according to the time of day, seasons of the year or weather.

**Participants:**

***Installer:*Grupo Bertolin**

***Designer/Architect:*Ana Garcia Sala, Natucer**

*Project Owner:* Parque Technologico

International Design : University Teacher Training College, Granada, Spain
The building is designed on four levels, two of which are below ground for use as a car parking, and three above ground that contain the college, and is divided into six areas:

Common areas on the ground floor, consisting of entrance halls, a cafeteria, library, auditorium, gym, supermarket-store and a chapel

A teaching area on the first floor and part of the second, containing the lecture halls and seminar rooms for students

A departmental area, with offices, meeting areas and consultation rooms for teaching staff

An administrative and secretarial area on the ground floor

Basement parking with 154 spaces

A church with a separate entrance from the exterior

The project is based on the idea of providing an intimate, almost familiar architecture in the design of its spaces and the use of light and texture provided by its ceramic skin. From the outset, the physical nature of the building has been closely linked with the principles underlying its design. The ground floor with its entrances and meeting points is designed as a threshold, enclosed by the upper floors of the building. The focal point of the design of this building is the ceramic envelope of its lecture halls, which rises over the city. This basic idea has taken shape in the structural solution used for the project: roof trusses containing the two upper floors with their lecture halls and departments, supported by two rows of supports with a large span, under which are the common areas connected to outdoor terraces with gardens, protected by a large projecting structure.

**Participants:**

***Installer:*Construcciones Calderon, S.L.**

***Designer/Architect:*Ramón Fernández-Alonso y Asociados**

***Project Owner:*Archidiocesis Granada**

Community Project : McRae Children's Fountains, Jackson, MS
The judges also gave special recognition awards to three additional outstanding tile and stone projects:

**Award: Community Project**

**Project: McRae Children's Fountains, Jackson, MS**

**Artist:** Martha Ferris

**Mosaic Specialist:** Colorco, Merrimack, NH

Artistic Use of Tile, Residential : Vista La Grand, Grand Rapids, MI
The judges also gave special recognition awards to three additional outstanding tile and stone projects:

**Award: Artistic Use of Tile, Residential**

**Project: Vista La Grand, Grand Rapids, MI**

**Installer/Designer: Inspired Installations**

Artistic Use of Tile, Commercial : Iowa State Mural: Learning to Fly, Ames, IA
The judges also gave special recognition awards to three additional outstanding tile and stone projects:

**Award: Artistic Use of Tile, Commercial**

**Project: Iowa State Mural: Learning to Fly, Ames, IA**

**Designer: Artaic**

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2013 Coverings Installation & Design Awards

Residential Grand Prize : Gainey Ranch Retreat, Scottsdale, AZ

Gainey Ranch Retreat

Gainey Ranch Retreat

Commercial Grand Prize : City Creek Center Mall, Salt Lake City, UT

City Creek Center Mall

City Creek Center Mall

City Creek Center Mall

Residential Tile Design : Bilezijkian Apartment Remodel, Miami Beach, FL

Bilezijkian Apartment Remodel

Bilezijkian Apartment Remodel

Residential Stone Design : Dragonflower Vine, Seattle, WA

Dragonflower Vine

Dragonflower Vine

Residential Tile Installation : Schaefer/Graf Residence, Evanston, IL

Schaefer/Graf Residence

Schaefer/Graf Residence

Residential Stone Installation : Concentric Complexity, San Antonio, TX

Concentric Complexity

Concentric Complexity

Commercial Tile Design : Dallas SPCA Jan Reese Jones Animal Care Center, Dallas, TX

Dallas SPCA Jan Reese Jones Animal Care Center

Dallas SPCA Jan Reese Jones Animal Care Center

Commercial Tile Installation : Best Bet, Jacksonville, FL

Best Bet

Best Bet

Commercial Stone Design : 1 World Trade Center/National September 11 Memorial, New York, NY

World Trade Center/National September 11 Memorial

World Trade Center/National September 11 Memorial

Commercial Stone Installation : Smith Center for Performing Arts, Las Vegas, NV

Smith Center for Performing Arts

Smith Center for Performing Arts

International Design : Children Education Center & Children Innovation Center, Paterna, Spain

Children Education Center & Children Innovation Center

Children Education Center & Children Innovation Center

International Design : University Teacher Training College, Granada, Spain

University Teacher Training College

University Teacher Training College

Community Project : McRae Children's Fountains, Jackson, MS

McRae Children's Fountains

McRae Children's Fountains

Artistic Use of Tile, Residential : Vista La Grand, Grand Rapids, MI

Vista La Grand

Vista La Grand

Artistic Use of Tile, Commercial : Iowa State Mural: Learning to Fly, Ames, IA

Iowa State Mural: Learning to Fly

Iowa State Mural: Learning to Fly

Our eNewsletters are a rock solid source of industry insights!

Stay in the know on the international stone and tile industry trends.