case study
Natural stone’s longevity depends on more than material alone. From geology and environment to standards and installation, each factor influences performance. When properly selected and installed, stone paving can deliver lasting durability with minimal maintenance.
The Missouri State Capitol’s five-year restoration tackled structural issues, weather damage, and aesthetics. Experts used 3D scanning, drones, and precision stonework to preserve its historic beauty, including restoring the dome’s lantern and Ceres statue—finishing ahead of schedule.
A 225-ton granite art installation was transported to a new home at American University, giving it a second life. Rugo Stone and James G. Davis Construction worked together to transport the stone pieces and ensure a successful removal, relocation, and installation.
Utah-based quarrier Mountain Valley Stone is known for their quartz-rich sandstone, white limestone, and commitment to sustainability. By making sustainability a priority, the entire Mountain Valley Stone operation can keep its eye on the future and help to ensure that these beautiful mountain landscapes are preserved for many generations to come.
Located in Idaho and Montana, Yellowstone Rock quarries four different colors of travertine. Their most popular stone is Continental Buff vein cut and their materials can be found across the United States. A combination of new ownership, increased investment, and high-quality stone has Yellowstone Rock poised for growth.
Billie Tsien and Tod Williams have designed and built over 40 buildings, many with natural stone. They credit their love of stone with their frequent visits to Rome. Their choice to sue natural stone is both practical and philosophical. Learn about their holistic approach to stone sourcing and design.
After the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, laws mandated fireproof materials, leading to the use of stone in new buildings. The Nickerson House, completed in 1879 with limestone and sandstone, was known for its opulent interior featuring various marbles and onyx. Over time, environmental pollution darkened and eroded the stone. Acquired by Richard H. Driehaus in 2003, the building was meticulously restored using handheld lasers to remove soot. Now a historic landmark, it continues to receive maintenance to preserve its stone facade.
Las Vegas Rock quarries Aztec Sandstone, a 180-190 million-year-old stone with rich hues of red, orange, purple, and brown. This sandstone, used in historic Vegas buildings, is now known for its vibrant colors and layered patterns. The quarry, started in the 1940s and revived in 1991, offers a sustainable, Cradle to Cradle certified product with zero waste. Customers can select blocks personally, enjoying a “farm to table” experience with stone. Las Vegas Rock emphasizes American craftsmanship and sustainability in its operations.
Four years of overhaul—the complex’s first major renovation since 1917—resulted in a state capitol worthy of the accolades it has received. The stonework received the 2021 Grande Pinnacle Award from the Natural Stone Institute, while awards for the total project streamed in from many trade organizations: the American Public Works Association, Building Design and Construction magazine, the American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado, the Construction Management Association of America, and Engineering-News Record Mountain States.
A former hospital complex originally built in 1894, the Old Parkland campus in Dallas, Texas, has seen its share of reclamation and renovation in the past decades. The most recent addition, Freedom Place at Old Parkland, echoes the campus’ existing Jeffersonian buildings in style and design. Designing and building a 140-foot, six-story structure that includes 8,310 pieces of limestone required massive planning and coordination — particularly because the original design plan was created for cast stone.
Julia Manglitz, AIA, LEED AP, APT RP, has worked on several building types throughout her career: county courthouses, state capitols and office buildings, university campus halls and community centers. What makes each of these public buildings unique is they’re all landmarks in their communities. Another thing each of them has in common? Almost all feature locally or regionally-sourced natural stone.
Dan Shannon and his team wanted to take advantage of the unique footprint of 2 Bryant Park and connect the park to the plaza visually. Choosing the right natural stone would prove to be a pivotal decision. They decided to create a two-story high entry lobby passage through the building and elevate that open space using Thassos White marble from Greece along the primary and surrounding walls.
The formation of Dakota Mahogany marks the last time the Midwest endured a tectonic collision. Since then, seas have advanced and retreated across the landscape, the continents have rearranged themselves in different parts of the globe, and vast ice sheets grew, then melted, then grew again, over the course of several ice ages. After 2.6 billion years of erosion, the Midwest’s former mountain ranges have been worn down, leaving the landscape mostly flat. Through all of this, Dakota Mahogany sat patiently, waiting for its day in the sun.
Natural stone is often chosen for residential and commercial work because of its beauty and versatility. It’s also really nuanced, according to Roger P. Jackson. He is drawn to the beauty of natural stone and believes that its beauty goes beyond aesthetics. “Natural stone feels more durable,” Jackson says. “It has a character of strength, stability, durability, and mobility.”
There is no mistaking natural stone for its range, beauty, and sustainability. These are among the many reasons Craig Copeland, an architect, sculptor, industrial designer, and partner at Pelli Clarke & Partners finds himself recommending natural stone to many of his clients.
Among sweeps of tan, red, and grey rock sits a surprise: A pocket of gleaming white marble. The Cochise Marble quarry is located near Bowie, AZ in the Chiricahua Mountain range. The original quarry operated for around thirty years, and like so many historical quarries, it shut down, sitting idle for over six decades until local businessman Matt Klump reopened it in 2002.
Many people are drawn to natural stone because of its artistic qualities and characteristics. ALMA Studio takes it to the next level. The studio uses pure light projections to uncover, accentuate, and highlight art scenes that are hidden within the natural veining of stone slabs.
Ancient Art of Stone creates one-of-a-kind stone portals at their studio in Cowichan Valley, British Columbia, Canada. They first source stones, then design and build artistic and functional fireplaces, stone doors, spas, mosaics, megaliths, and murals and ship and install them across North America.
“Natural stone is such a noble material, and there’s a gravity to it that is immediately recognizable and universally appreciated by everyone,” says project director, Donna Bridgeman Rossi. “It’s not a subjective mix material, it is good in its own state that we value. You don’t have to modify it in any way to make it do what it needs to do.”
One of the biggest reasons design principal Hana Ishikawa uses natural stone in her projects is because of its durability. “Natural stone has been around for millennia, and it’s much more durable than concrete,” she says. “It’s much more durable than porcelain. It’s more durable than most materials that we work with.”