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.

The tour will first travel to Granada, Spain, on February 5, 2010 to explore sites that hold architectural significance, including:

·       Parque de las Ciencias

·       Memoria de Andalucia Museum

·       Historic Granada: the Albaicin neighborhood and Cathedral

·       Hamman Arab Baths

·       The world-famous Alhambra Palace

On February 9th, the group will travel to Valencia, the business epicenter of Spain's ceramic tile industry and the venue for Cevisama 2010. On the way, the group will stop in Benidorm, Spain, to view the new Paseo Marítimo de la Playa Poniente, a spectacular beach promenade designed by architects Carlos Ferrater and Xavier Martí of OAB Studio in Barcelona. The remainder of the trip will be dedicated to participating in Cevisama activities, meeting with a host of Spanish manufacturers and travelling to Castellon for a factory tour.

The four professionals attending are:

·         Rafael Alvarez, partner at Alvarez + Brock Design in New York. Founded in 2006, this multi-dimensional studio, with an emphasis on restaurant, hotel and product design, is a small atelier with vast experience. Alvarez and business partner Brannen Brock met while serving as senior designers at the renowned Tihany Design. Alvarez brings more than 17 years experience, specializing in hospitality design. His designs can be seen worldwide, including Le Cirque, Scampo Restaurant, the Borgata Hotel in Atlantic City and the Mirage in Las Vegas.

·         Ralph Bicknese, principal and co-founder of Hellmuth + Bicknese Architects in St. Louis, MO. Bicknese is a nationally recognized proponent and practitioner of sustainable design. Hellmuth & Bicknese Architects provides architectural, planning and consulting services throughout the U.S. (and Central America) that are centered on green building solutions to enhance and enrich life. This commitment has been demonstrated most recently on approximately 25 projects seeking certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED® green building rating system and other green buildings. Notable projects include Washington University's Living Learning Center -- on track to be the first building in the world certified to the stringent Living Building Challenge.

·         Jennifer Nemec, founder and principal of Ideation Studio in Chicago, IL. Ideation Studio is a multi-disciplinary design firm specializing in branded environment design. With more than 20 years of experience in retail store prototype design, exterior architectural design, graphic design and product design/development, Nemec has been involved in design projects for such highly regarded companies as Reebok, Lexus, Acura, Toyota, Sears, McDonalds, Warner Bros. and Universal Studios. Ideation Studio recently designed the Post Office of the Future for the U.S. Post Office, Oprah Winfrey's Merchandise Store and the Chicago Lighthouse store.

·         Jim Poteet, principal of Poteet Architects in San Antonio, TX. Established in 1998, Poteet Architects has been widely recognized for its work transforming San Antonio's downtown through the thoughtful rehabilitation of the city's rich existing building stock. At the same time, the office has become known for modern interior design -- especially spaces devoted to the display and appreciation of contemporary art. Current projects include a corporate headquarters in a repurposed auto dealership, a development of LEED eligible houses in a historic district and a contemporary art gallery for the Pace Foundation.