Designing with Natural Stone, a day of continuing education for architects and designers, hosted by Marmomacc, in conjunction with the Marble Institute of America and FILA, was designed to educate architects and designers about the use of natural stone in building projects. 

The day began with a tour of Cadillac Stone Works led by owner Jeff Grail and Vince Marazita of Marazita & Associations and The Gallery nightclub at Planet Hollywood. Participants received an overview of stone fabrication including a facility walk-through to see machinery and a slab yard and discussed how designers and architects can best work with fabricators. They were then led through The Gallery nightclub to view stone work throughout the club. Attendees were also treated to a “lunch and learn” hosted by MAPEI as they shared the increased need for stone performance evaluations, a session on natural stone sustainability as well as a session on the importance of stone care and maintenance. The day also included a walking tour of the exhibits and Stone Pavilion. All of the educational courses and tours qualified towards continuing education credits through AIA and ASID.

“Designing with Natural Stone day definitely gained some momentum this year by attracting more qualified architects and designers,“ said Mauro Albano, Brand Manager, Marmomacc. “We attribute this primarily to the caliber of speakers and the quality of the education offered. Participating architects and designers definitely left with valuable information to take back and implement immediately into their business.”

A StonExpo/Marmomacc favorite, the Stone LIVE! stage, presented by the Stone Fabricator’s Alliance, showcased the latest fabrication and installation techniques from experts in the industry. This stage held daily, hour-long presentations ranging from seaming to scratch repair.

The Cage was a brand new addition to the show floor and created a definite buzz on the show floor. The chain link fenced area, presented by Stone Fabricators Alliance, was home to daily hands-on demonstrations showcasing the latest hand tools used to top polish, seam set and texture natural stone products. Joining the scene on Tuesday for a brief autograph session was Chris Grundy, host of the DIY Network’s “Cool Tools.”

StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas debuted its Mobile App this year to positive response from exhibitors and attendees. The free app allowed attendees to quickly find exhibitors, seminars, speaker information, and more from iPhones, iPads, Androids and Blackberry devices. Users were also able to connect to StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas Facebook and Twitter feeds, hotel/transportation options, local restaurants and more.

"If you’re in the industry, you should be here,” said Jeff Waterivs, Park Industries. “If you don’t come to StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, rumors start. There are costs involved, but it’s very important to maintain that presence."