MIAMI, FL -- The Italian Trade Commission (ITC), with the collaboration of the Italian regions of Liguria, Apulia, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany and Veneto, recently hosted a dimensional stone exhibition at the 2010 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Convention that was held last month in Miami, FL. The Italian booth displayed over 160 dimensional stone samples -- quarried in the six above-mentioned Italian regions -- as well as an exhibition of designer items carved in stone.
TOKYO, JAPAN -- Sicis, an Italian manufacturer of high-end mosaics, recently added Tokyo, Japan, to its worldwide list of showroom locations. The new 1,600-square-foot studio opened its doors in the city's Minato district on July 16 and 17, 2011.
WASHINGTON, DC -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reached agreement on a five-year integrated media partnership with Hanley Wood, LLC that will increase the value of AIA membership as well as expand the reach and impact of member knowledge and expertise. The AIA/Hanley Wood agreement, unprecedented in its proposed use of digital media, integrates AIA member knowledge and thought leadership through Hanley Wood magazines, Web sites, events, the AIA Annual Convention, joint research initiatives and support for AIA chapters.
At an event held June 30 for members of the
media and its dealers, Fiandre Architectural Surfaces opened its Chicago
showroom and introduced its latest technology: Active Clean Air &
Antibacterial Ceramic.
PHOENIX, AZ -- Recently, Cactus Stone of Phoenix, AZ, hosted 50 seventh-grade students and five staff members from the Phoenix Country Day School at its Stone Gallery.
LAWRENCEBURG, KY -- Florida Tile has been awarded $162,500 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) economic stimulus funding to replace old, inefficient lighting with advanced, energy-efficient fixtures at its manufacturing facility in Lawrenceburg, KY. Florida Tile was one of four Kentucky companies to share grants totaling $787,000. The announcement was made on May 13, 2010 by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear.
ORLANDO, FL -- After reviewing hundreds of leading tile distributors across the continent, Ceramic Tiles of Italy was pleased to announce Arizona Tile as the 2010 recipient of the Confindustria Ceramica North American Distributor Award. Each year, this award is presented to a prominent U.S. or Canadian distributor at Coverings for their dedication to the promotion and use of Italian ceramic tiles in the marketplace. In recognizing the excellence of Arizona Tile, Ceramic Tiles of Italy also bestows an unprecedented honor onto the distributor -- the first ever to receive the recognition for a second time in the program's history. This significant event confers prestige to the distributor, truly in a category all its own. Highly respected as an industry leader, Arizona Tile has over 30 years of operation and experience in residential and commercial tile sales, with more than 25 locations spread out across seven states in the Southwestern U.S.
LOS ANGELES, CA -- The call for entries for the AIA|LA Design Awards is now open. The awards competition showcases the best of built work located in Los Angeles or by LA-based architects and located elsewhere. Entrants must be members of any chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Award winners will be announced and celebrated at the AIA|LA Awards Party. Registration is due by June 2, 2010 and submittals are due by August 12, 2010.
ORLANDO, FL -- The call for entries for this year's 2010 Ceramic Tiles of Italy design competition asked North American designers and architects to show off what they can do with Italian tiles. The A&D community responded effortlessly to the challenge, with a range of outstanding submissions that clearly point to a positive new year in design. The new decade also marked the competition's shift to a completely digital application, making the application process paperless and more accessible than ever. As a result, Confindustria Ceramica, the Association of Italian Ceramics, and the Italian Trade Commission received the highest number of top-quality submissions in the competition's 17-year history. The jury was so impressed by the entries that they awarded two prizes in each category: residential, commercial/hospitality and institutional.
VALENCIA, SPAIN -- TAU Group's trademark subsidiary Porcelanatto has announced a partnership with international designer Karim Rashid in a line called NO-Stalgia. This new avant-garde style transports Rashid's design exuberance to the realm of ceramics -- creating a new medium for the decorative field. To officially unveil this line to the U.S. market, TAU, a Tile of Spain branded manufacturer, will hold a press conference at Coverings in Orlando, FL, on Wednesday, April 28 from 3 to 4 p.m. in booth #1723.
VALENCIA, SPAIN -- Coverings 2010 will serve as the debut venue in the U.S. for Tile of Spain's new global marketing campaign, an aggressive platform with the message: "Yes, We choose Spanish ceramic."
CLEVELAND, OH -- The Marble Institute of America (MIA) is now accepting entries for its enhanced 2010 Pinnacle Awards competition, which will include a new element in the judging criteria for this year's competition. This year, judges will be evaluating sustainable design elements in addition to the traditional criteria of beauty, creativity, ingenuity, craftsmanship and suitability of materials. If a submitted project displays superior effort, innovation and execution towards sustainable building goals, the MIA would consider awarding its first MIA Pinnacle Award for Sustainable Design. The Pinnacle Awards program is facilitated by the MIA and made possible by the generous sponsorship of Mapei.
SYLMAR, CA -- On February 18, the Walker Zanger showroom in Houston, TX, hosted the 2010 Administrator's Training and President's Forum for the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). Known as one of the world's most comprehensive stone and tile companies, Walker Zanger provided use of its showroom space to the ASID for this event, and it extends this same opportunity to other organizations focused on interior design, stone and tile, architecture and building. Walker Zanger's showrooms seek to give back to industry communities by providing an attractive backdrop for meetings, networking mixers, trainings and other educational events, according to the company.
COCONUT GROVE, FL -- Ceramic Consulting Corp. (CCC) has announced the appointment of Scott Alpert as General Manager /New Business Development. Alpert brings three decades of tile experience to the organization.
CHANDLER, AZ -- The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), the largest tile contractors association in the world, gathered for four days at the Wild Horse Pass Resort in Chandler, AZ, for the 2010 NTCA annual winter meetings that kicked off on February 15.
OAXACA DE JUÁREZ, MEXICO -- Since March 2009, Alcalagres, a Tile of Spain branded manufacturer, has been involved in the development of one of the most significant projects in the city of Oaxaca de Juárez -- the capital city of the State of Oaxaca, in southern Mexico. Through the company's local representative, Porcer, Alcalagres has supplied an extensive amount of exterior porcelain cladding for the project Ciudad Judicial (meaning "Judiciary City") -- a project by the Government of the State of Oaxaca that has turned into the largest administrative infrastructure improvement initiative in the whole country. It is part of the city's urban development plan.
BOLOGNA, ITALY -- Because of last year's extraordinary success, Cersaie 2010 is repeating "Building Dwelling Thinking," the cultural event held in the Architecture Gallery that is both a meeting venue and an opportunity for discussion on key issues of building and materials. The International Exhibition of Ceramic Tiles and Bathroom Furnishings, which will be celebrating its 28th edition in Bologna, Italy, beginning on Tuesday, September 28, 2010, confirms its role as an important forum for the Italian and international design world.
CAMBRIDGE, MA -- The Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers' Association (ASCER) will support a one-year research effort undertaken by the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) called "Ceramic Futures." The project will explore the best ways to meet the increasing challenges of product customization, adjustment to buyers' preferences and sustainability in production.
VALENCIA, SPAIN -- Tile of Spain launched the Reign in Spain A&D tour campaign to select four architects and designers to participate in Cevisama, the international tile exhibition held annually in Valencia, Spain, as representatives of the A&D community from the U.S. This was the first year that Tile of Spain offered space on the tour for architects and/or designers.
NEW YORK, NY -- Ceramic Tiles of Italy and The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) have a long-standing partnership and a shared mission to educate architects, designers, contractors, developers and tile specifiers about new products and cutting-edge installation techniques. Now, the two industry leaders are working together to present a series of seminars across the country. In this ever-changing world, it is important to keep up with the latest advances in technology and design. In terms of Italian tile, this translates to modern motifs, ultra-slim thicknesses and extra-large formats. The traveling program, called "Beyond the Surface: The Skinny on Italian Tile," will feature CEU accredited sessions from industry experts and an opportunity for attendees to see what's new in the local marketplace.
Madison, WI -- Quarra Stone of Madison, WI, a company that supplies and fabricates natural stone for signature architectural and restoration projects throughout the country, has launched a comprehensive database that identifies dimensional stone quarries throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The database is designed to enable architects who are specifying natural stone in their projects to earn points towards LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. Current guidelines call for the award of one point towards LEED certification for builders who use dimensional stone that is quarried within 500 miles of construction.
JACKSON, MS -- The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), the largest professional tile contractors association in the world, has introduced "Tile-TV" as another creative tool to enhance the experience of its active tile and stone contractor members and other industry professionals with this monthly news and information-sharing vehicle available on line at www.tileletter.com.
NEW YORK, NY -- At the beginning of 2005, the Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA) presented a challenge for Spanish tile manufacturer Alcalagres via its "Art For Transit" department: to capture on porcelain tile the works of one of the fathers of conceptual art and minimalism from the past century, Sol LeWitt.
Now in its 17th year, the Ceramic Tiles of Italy Design Competition celebrates the outstanding residential, commercial and institutional work of North American architects and designers who use Italian ceramic tile in their products.
VALENCIA, SPAIN -- Currently, Tile of Spain is looking for architects and designers to participate in its annual trip to Spain. Ideal candidates would be architects or interior designers who have an affinity for ceramic tile and can travel from February 5 to 13, 2010.
ALCORA, CASTELLÓN, SPAIN -- Ceracasa, a Tile of Spain branded manufacturer, has produced an innovative ceramic product that removes harmful nitrous oxide (NOx) pollution from the air through a process of photocatalysis, with the help of sunlight and humidity. The product, known as Bionic Tile® by Ceracasa, was developed in collaboration with the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia in Spain and FMC-Foret. The product will make its U.S. debut at the HEALTHCAREDESIGN.09 tradeshow, booth #1724, which will be held from October 31 to November 3 in Orlando, FL.
BOSTON, MA -- Italian tile manufacturer GranitiFiandre announces Boston-area architects and designers now have an updated and full-service showroom in which to peruse the company's vast product line. Geologica by Best Tile, a GranitiFiandre resource center, located at the Boston Design Center, One Design Center Place, Suite 618, has recently completed a full-scale remodeling project utilizing GranitiFiandre's latest porcelain tile innovations.
BETHANY, CT -- Laticrete International, a leading manufacturing of innovative systems for the installation of tile and stone, has launched a groundbreaking online Internet tool for projects seeking LEED certification. For architects, builders, developers, installers or anyone working to compile points and credits for projects seeking LEED certification, Laticrete has developed a free online tool that reduces what could take weeks of work and time down to just a matter of seconds.
The planning has begun for Coverings 2010, which will take place next April 27 to 30, when the international show of ceramic tile and natural stone returns to Orlando, FL, and the Orange County Convention Center. Then in 2011, the show will be making a strategic move westward, heading to the Los Angeles Convention Center in California.
Marmomacc, a leading international stone industry trade show in Verona, Italy, is offering free admission to trade visitors who pre-register online. By pre-registering before September 25 at www.marmomacc.com/freebadge2009 visitors will be able to immediately print their own entry badge -- thereby saving $50.
Cosentino® North America, a nationwide leader in natural stone and one of the world's largest producers of quartz surfacing, is sponsoring the "Ugly Kitchen" contest to correspond with Cosentino's recent addition of seven new designer colors to its Silestone® offering.
The Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers' Association (ASCER) is launching the eighth edition of the Tile of Spain Awards of Architecture and Interior Design competition. The awards are made in recognition of projects that best reflect the development of Spanish ceramic tiles in cutting edge architecture. The deadline for project submissions is October 30, 2009.
SYLMAR, CA -- Walker Zanger, a comprehensive stone and tile company with locations throughout the U.S., has announced its acceptance of a 2009 Silver ADEX Award for the hand-crafted designs featured in the Sonja Mosaics Collection. Sponsored by Design Journal magazine, ADEX -- Awards for Design Excellence -- is one of the largest and most prestigious product design award programs in the U.S.
The call for entries for this year's 2009 Ceramic Tiles of Italy Design Competition read, "Great design deserves to be recognized." And the North American architectural and design community responded loud and clear. This year, Confindustria Ceramica, the Association of Italian Ceramics and the Italian Trade Commission received the highest number of submissions in the competition's 16-year history. Aside from the high quantity, it was the quality of the projects that particularly impressed the international jury. From entire residences to multi-floored shopping centers, Italian tile played a major role in every project, as it provided a surface solution that was design-forward, durable and dependable.
SYLMAR, CA -- Walker Zanger, a large distributor of stone and tile with locations throughout the U.S., recently announced its acquisition of one of the world's largest artisan ceramic tile manufacturing facilities, Cerámica Antique. WZ Holdings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walker & Zanger, Inc. has acquired majority ownership in Cerámica Antique. As the distributor, and now, majority owner of the manufacturer of some of the most sought-after designs in ceramic tile, Walker Zanger is taking steps to further solidify its place as an industry leader, according to the company. With the purchase of the state-of-the-art facility, Walker Zanger gains the premier manufacturer of hand-crafted ceramic tiles, controls the production of some of its most complex products and obtains engineering knowledge, patents and flexibility.
CORAL GABLES, FL -- Tile of Spain recently registered a full-day program for ASID, consisting of five distinct modules as part of an educational program customized for the needs of the U.S. market. ASCER, the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturer's Association, has for more than 10 years devoted a significant amount of energy and resources to continuing education within the U.S. ceramic tile industry.
CLEVELAND, OH -- The Marble Institute of America (MIA) has issued a call for entries for the prestigious 2009 Pinnacle Awards Competition, which includes the recently added Grande Pinnacle Award. The Grande Pinnacle Award will be awarded to the best winning entry across all categories.
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