Natural Stone Academy
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Member Price: FREE
Design Community: FREE
Add 48 courses to Your Library
Not a member? Consider joining to get access to all courses in our Natural Stone University free of charge.
The Natural Stone Institute offers various continuing education opportunities for Architects, Landscape Architects, and the design community. The Natural Stone Academy provides a quick and convenient way to earn valuable Continuing Education Units or Professional Development Hours by reading an online course and completing the quiz. If you are interested in taking courses from the Natural Stone Academy, please pick from the courses listed below.
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T111: "Doing the Heavy Lifting:" Design, Anchorage, and Installation of Heavy Cubic Stone Elements
Our modern world has managed to make nearly everything thinner and lighter, from the coat of paint on your car to the thickness of the bags at your local grocer. The same is true in the stone industry where we are using thinner than traditional sections in the majority of applications, however there are exceptions. For historic, perspective, vocal statement, or performance reasons, we still see the occasional “cubic” and “ultra-cubic” stone project. Many of today’s craftworkers are familiar only with the more common thinner stone elements, and as such are unaware of the methods, techniques, and challenges unique to the use of heavy, cubic sections of stone. This presentation will discuss many of the differences required in fabrication, attachments, and handling of these “-monstersize” natural stone elements.
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T112: "Exposed!:" Environmental Exposures that Create Special Selection Concerns for Natural Stone
Natural stone is used in a myriad of environmental exposures. When properly selected and designed, natural stone will perform in some of the harshest exposure conditions encountered. However, the anticipated exposure may trigger the need for additional consideration, evaluation, and testing. Environments that include elements such as freeze/thaw cycling, extreme heat, rapid thermal cycling, salt atmosphere, deicing salts, acid rain, heavy traffic (vehicular and/or pedestrian), immersion, pool or fountain chemicals, excessive dynamic building movement and/or vibration, seismic activity, extreme wind loading (hurricane), pollutants, exhaust, or vandalism/graffiti need to be identified prior to selection and design to ensure that an appropriate stone and related systems are selected to ensure satisfactory long-term performance. This webinar will discuss what measures need to be taken for a variety of exposure conditions.
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T110: "Stick with Me": Selecting and Applying Adhesives for Natural Stone
If you’ve been in the industry for decades, you remember a time when the use of adhesives for stone attachments was a forbidden practice. The development of modern, high-tech, high-performance adhesives has changed that considerably. Adhesive attachment, either by itself or in combination with mechanical anchorage, is a common and highly successful means of securing stone elements as well as completing cosmetic and/or structural repairs. This success does not occur, however, without a thorough understanding of the properties, capabilities, and limitations of the adhesive being used. An appropriate product must be selected, and careful attention must be paid to the storage, handling, surface prep, mixing, and application to ensure satisfactory results. This presentation will address many of the questions commonly asked regarding the use of adhesives with natural stone.
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T148: Effects of Deicing Chemicals in Natural stone
Commonly fielded questions by the NSI’s technical staff include numerous queries regarding the selection of deicing chemicals for use on natural stone, particularly limestone. Building maintenance personnel are routinely attempting to achieve a balance between providing safe walking surfaces for occupants while minimizing potential damage to stone surfaces due to the application of deicing chemicals. A recently completed research study performed by the NSI Technical Department has yielded some valuable insight regarding the degradation of limestone products when subjected to a variety of deicing chemicals. The chemicals included in the study cover a spectrum of chlorides and acetates representing a rather wide range of costs and effects. The stone test specimens were subjected to repeated wet/dry cycling and freeze/thaw cycling, in addition to the chemical exposure. This webinar topic is purposely presented just in time for the onset of winter snow and ice season in many of our northern regions.
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T141: Stone Testing: Attachments
Attachment of stone units is accomplished by either mechanical anchorage or adhesive bonding, or in some situations a hybrid system using both methodologies. Test methods exist to proof both mechanical and adhesive systems. Given the vast variety of products and designs available to accomplish attachment, the test methods tend to be less standardized than physical property testing methods to allow for customization of the method per the specific parameters of the project components. This session will uncover the mysteries of the ASTM C1354 (Individual Stone Anchorages), ASTM C1201 (Full Panel Stone), and the newly published ASTM C1823 (Shear Bond of Adhered Stone) test methods. Attention will be focused on how the methods are customized to address specific and unique situations.
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T242: Stone Testing: Accelerated Weathering 2
As the second webinar dedicated to this topic, this session will explain that with the absence of a published ASTM test method for accelerated weathering of dimension stone, leading researchers and laboratories in the country have created some consensus with respect to the methodology and protocols appropriate for this procedure. Different synthesized exposures appropriate for different application environments will be explained in detail. Methods for tracking and assessment of strength loss, mass loss, and surface degradation during exposure will be discussed and demonstrated. Guidance on the interpretation of the results will provide valuable insight in applying those results to your specific project.
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T144: Stone Tolerance & Quality Control
When installing construction components such as natural stone, tolerances are key—nothing in construction is exact. The challenge then is to define that limit that differentiates between “close enough” and “not close enough,” which are referred to as “within tolerance” and “outside of tolerance.” Documented, consensus tolerances within the industry define those limits, and unnecessary discussion and arguments can be avoided just by ensuring that all project participants are aware of the published tolerances of the industry.
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T143: ANSI Dynamic Coefficient of Friction Test for Natural Stone Surfaces
Public walking surfaces carry a unique level of liability. With the 2014 withdrawal of test method ASTM C1028, stone suppliers and specifiers do not have a test method available to document the safety of their surfaces. The Natural Stone Institute technical department has recently completed a comprehensive study using the ANSI A137 DCOF test method, which was written for ceramic products. The results are encouraging, suggesting that this test method may be equally applicable to stone products. Attend this session to learn how the issue of slip/fall liabilities could be addressed by adoption of this test method.
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T170: Using Stone in Wet Areas
Stone selection is an excited process for members of the design community, as well as stone professionals. When it comes to using stone in an area defined as a “wet exposure” application, such as showers, there are some key elements you will want to be aware of. This session will provide some of the properties to be evaluated to ensure success when installing stone in wet areas, as well as some of the proven installation methods. We will also discuss common mistakes that can lead to premature failure of these applications.
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AD167: Case Studies: Using Natural Stone in Interior Design (2023)
With so many building materials on the market today, what makes natural stone the best material for your application? Join us as a group of design and industry professionals discuss why they chose natural stone for their kitchens, baths, fireplaces, and interior specialty spaces, in a series of award-winning project case studies. Learn why natural stone is the ideal choice for these applications and understand how to avoid and challenges in these types of projects. Leave inspired with best practices and creative inspiration to expand the use of natural stone in your portfolio.
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AD165: Case Studies: Using Natural Stone in Commercial Architecture (2023)
With so many building materials on the market today, what makes natural stone the best material for your application? Join us as a group of design and industry professionals discuss why they chose natural stone for their commercial projects in a series of award-winning project case studies. During this session, we will discuss why natural stone is the premier choice for commercial applications in cladding, interior and exterior art installations, and public spaces. We will also share tools to avoid and solve challenges that can be associated with these complex applications. Leave inspired with best practices and creative inspiration to expand the use of natural stone in your portfolio.
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AD 168: Case Studies: Using Natural Stone in Commercial Architecture (2024)
With so many building materials on the market today, what makes natural stone the best material for your application? Join us as a group of design and industry professionals discuss why they chose natural stone for their commercial projects in a series of award-winning project case studies. During this session, we will discuss why natural stone is the premier choice for commercial applications in cladding, interior and exterior art installations, and public spaces. We will also share tools to avoid and solve challenges that can be associated with these complex applications. Come away with a plan to incorporate more natural stone into your design portfolio. Leave inspired with best practices and creative inspiration to expand the use of natural stone in your portfolio.
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AD 168: Case Studies: Using Natural Stone in Landscape Architecture (2024)
With so many building materials on the market today, what makes natural stone the best material for your application? Join us as a group of design and industry professionals discuss why they chose natural stone for their exterior projects in a series of award-winning project case studies. During this session, we will discuss exterior sitework, including plazas, water features, outdoor living spaces, parks, and memorials. Leave inspired with best practices and creative inspiration to expand the use of natural stone in your portfolio.
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AD160: Case Studies: Using Natural Stone in Landscape Architecture
With so many building materials on the market today, what makes natural stone the best material for your application? Join us as a group of design professionals discuss why they chose natural stone in their exterior projects. During this session, we will discuss exterior sitework, including plazas, water features, outdoor living spaces, parks, and memorials. Come away inspired with best practices to expand the use of natural stone in your portfolio.
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AD164: Case Studies: Using Natural Stone in Residential Architecture (2023)
With so many building materials on the market today, what makes natural stone the best material for your application? Join us as a group of design and industry professionals discuss why they chose natural stone for their residential projects in a series of award-winning project case studies. During this session, we will discuss residential architecture and the opportunities tied to stone applications in exteriors, outdoor living spaces, fireplaces, and interior specialty spaces. Come away inspired to incorporate more natural stone in your design portfolio. Leave inspired with best practices and creative inspiration to expand the use of natural stone in your portfolio.
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AD168: Case Studies: Using Natural Stone in Residential Architecture (2024)
With so many building materials on the market today, what makes natural stone the best material for your application? Join us as a group of design and industry professionals discuss why they chose natural stone for their residential projects in a series of award-winning project case studies. During this session, we will discuss residential architecture and the opportunities tied to stone applications in exteriors, outdoor living spaces, fireplaces, and interior specialty spaces. Come away inspired to incorporate more natural stone in your design portfolio. Leave inspired with best practices and creative inspiration to expand the use of natural stone in your portfolio.
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T178: Virtual Quarry Visit: Rademann Dolomitic Limestone
This one-hour virtual experience will feature an active quarry and allow you to see the stone in its original environment. Discover the history of the quarry, the geological components of the stone, and what makes it unique to this site. Stone professionals will provide technical information concerning stone installation, and you will discover creative applications and opportunities with a designer. Join us and connect with nature’s oldest building material!
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T171: Virtual Quarry Tour-Coldspring
This one-hour virtual experience will allow you to visit an active granite quarry and see the stone in its original environment. Discover the history of the quarry, the geological components of the stone, and what makes it unique to this site. Stone professionals will provide technical information concerning stone installation, and you will discover creative applications and opportunities with a designer. Join us and connect with nature’s oldest building material!
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T176: Virtual Quarry Tour: Lyons Sandstone
This one-hour virtual experience will feature an active granite quarry and allow you to see the stone in its original environment. Discover the history of the quarry in Lyons, CO, the geological components of the stone, and what makes it unique to this site. Stone professionals will provide technical information concerning stone installation, and you will discover creative applications and opportunities with a designer. Join us and connect with nature’s oldest building material!
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T173: Virtual Quarry Tour: Majestic Stone
This one-hour virtual experience will feature an active granite quarry and allow you to see the stone in its original environment. Discover the history of the quarry, the geological components of the stone, and what makes it unique to this site. Stone professionals will provide technical information concerning stone installation, and you will discover creative applications and opportunities with a designer. Join us and connect with nature’s oldest building material!
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T174: Virtual Quarry Tour: Polycor Indiana Limestone Quarries
This one-hour virtual experience will allow you to visit an active limestone quarry and see the natural stone in its original environment. Discover the history of the quarry, the geological components of the stone, and what makes it unique to this site. Stone professionals will provide technical information concerning stone installation, and you will discover creative applications and opportunities with a designer. Join us and connect with nature’s oldest building material.
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T175: Virtual Quarry Tour-Stony Creek
This one-hour virtual experience will feature an active granite quarry and allow you to see the stone in its original environment. Discover the history of the quarry in Branford, CT, the geological components of the stone, and what makes it unique to this site. Stone professionals will provide technical information concerning stone installation, and you will discover creative applications and opportunities with a designer. Join us and connect with nature’s oldest building material!
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T170: Virtual Quarry Tour-Vermont Quarries
This one-hour virtual experience will allow you to visit an active marble quarry and see the stone in its original environment. Discover the history of the quarry, the geological components of the stone, and what makes it unique to this site. Stone professionals will provide technical information concerning stone installation, and you will discover creative applications and opportunities with a designer. Join us and connect with nature’s oldest building material!
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T172: Virtual Quarry Tour: Vetter Stone
This one-hour virtual experience will feature an active limestone quarry and allow you to see the stone in its original environment. Discover the history of the Vetter Stone quarry, the geological components of the stone, and what makes it unique to this site. Stone professionals will provide technical information concerning stone installation, and you will discover creative applications and opportunities with a designer. Join us and connect with nature’s oldest building material!
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AD140: Achieving Green Building Goals with Natural Stone
Natural stone is nearly complete as a building material in its natural state and has proven its durability over the centuries. Combine these attributes with knowledge that the industry has committed to lowering impacts, being socially responsible, and aligning with green building programs. Most design teams already agree that natural stone is inherently a great solution for projects with green building goals. This session will elaborate on why and show you where to find the documentation needed to check more boxes than you might have realized were possible with natural stone.
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PR-131: Using Natural Stone to Create Biophilic Environments
Natural stone is an obvious material choice for biophilic design, but the versatility of the material is endless and worth exploring. This session will highlight several interior and exterior projects, and the unique ways they used natural stone in functional and artistic applications.
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AD156: Exploring Sustainable Quarry Practices
Join us as we explore the important topic of ecological land impacts from natural stone quarrying. The Natural Stone Sustainability Standard has redefined the narrative around natural stone extraction, where sustainability and longevity harmonize with industry needs. With a focus on exemplary cases of quarry reclamation and adaptive reuse, you'll leave with a new level of comfort knowing that the natural stone materials you are sourcing have been responsibly produced with long-term plans to protect the environment.
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PR115: Using Natural Stone to Lower Your Project’s Embodied Carbon
Thanks to a recently published set of industry-wide EPDs for natural stone products, we now know that it has a low global warming potential (GWP). There are many parts of todays interior, exterior, and landscape projects that can easily substitute natural stone for higher embodied carbon materials. Our panel of architects and landscape architects share why and how, siting recent project case studies.
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T147: Working with Your Fabricator: Setting Expectation for Residential Stone Applications
Have you ever specified a building material and had an unexpected outcome after installation? Join us as we discuss setting expectations when specifying natural stone for residential use. During this session, we will discuss how to select the right material for applications, what should be included in stone specifications and when to ask your fabricator for help. Come away with a better understanding of how to select natural stone for your next residential application.
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AD351: 2021 Award Winning Projects Featuring Natural Stone
Each year, the Natural Stone Institute honors several projects that represent the best use of natural stone through innovation, beauty and craftmanship. The award-winning projects featured in this course are notable for their ingenuity, sustainable attributes, and material selection. It is our hope to both educate and inspire architects and designers on the many benefits to building and designing with natural stone.
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AD350: 2020 Award Winning Projects Featuring Natural Stone
In this course, three projects showcase the ingenuity, sustainability, and versatility of genuine natural stone. Explore innovative ways natural stone is being used in contemporary design and understand the material selection played an important part in each of these award-winning projects.
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Virtual Tucker Design Awards Celebration
Join us as we showcase the recipients of the 2022 Tucker Design Awards, highlighting the design and use of natural stone. We’ll share the judges’ comments and learn what made the project award-worthy. Celebrate our recipients and the companies who contributed to the success of each project. Design teams will be available to answer questions and provide insight into design choices. We’ll also learn about the recipient of the 2022 Bybee Prize, a lifetime achievement award recognizing an architect for their legacy of inspiring use of natural stone.
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T142: Stone Testing: Accelerated Weathering
One of the increasingly common requests in stone properties is that of its resistance to freeze/thaw cycling. Historically, stone product performance evaluations were done via research of existing exemplar projects using the same stone in similar climatic exposures. However, this is not feasible when evaluating products that are relatively new to the marketplace. Development of a standardized method for accelerated weathering testing of stone has been a research topic within ASTM and other committees for decades. This session will provide the background of the research completed, a summary of the current research being conducted, and an overview of what type of testing is currently being implemented in the absence of a published, consensus-based protocol.
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T160: Stone Exterior Wall Cladding: Best Practices and Techniques
This session will discuss several varieties of exterior cladding systems and explain the minimum skills and experience that should be secured before venturing into each type of work. Come away from this session with a plan for researching and writing specifications to meet industry standards.
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T145: Joinery in Natural Stone Applications
Joints, or as called in some sectors of the industry, “seams,” are a necessary element in natural stone installation. Limitations in stock availability and fabrication machinery create practical limits on piece sizes, while the need to accommodate dynamic building movements and thermal expansions requires interruptions in the finish layers. Placement of these joints, sizing of the joints, and treatment of the joints must be properly designed and executed to prevent failures ranging from minor to catastrophic. This webinar will guide the designer, fabricator, and installer in better management of stone panel discontinuities to achieve the desired performance over the service life of the project.
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T162: Exterior Adhered Stone Veneer
Many contractors and design professionals have preferences for either adhered or anchored methods of applying stone veneer, but the decision shouldn’t be based on preference. Project details, structural support, anticipated loading, stone variety, and even local climate often provide a more objective answer as to whether adhesive or anchored methods are more appropriate. This session will discuss the code mandated and industry recommended parameters that should be evaluated to determine the system to use, and the components included in that system.
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T165: Stone Application Case Study: A Technical Discussion on a Los Angeles Home Installation
Join the Natural Stone Institute and Stone World Magazine as we discuss an award-winning residential natural stone project. This Los Angeles residential project includes exterior stone cladding, vein-cut travertine paving, bookmatched countertops and more. During the session, we will review project drawings and discuss the unique techniques utilized to complete this application.
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AD160: Designer Talk: Using Natural Stone in Residential Architecture
With so many building materials on the market today, what makes natural stone the best material for your application? Join us as a group of design professionals discuss why they chose natural stone for their residential projects. During this session, we will discuss residential architecture and the opportunities tied to stone applications in exteriors, outdoor living spaces, fireplaces, and interior specialty spaces. Come away inspired to incorporate more natural stone in your design portfolio.
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AD150: Designer Talk: Why Natural Stone?
With so many building materials on the market today, why is natural stone the best material for your application? Join us as a group of design professionals discuss why they chose natural stone as their premier building material. Learn tips on how to choose and specify the correct natural stone for your application. Come away with a plan to build natural stone into your design repertoire.
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AD155: Designer Talk: Using Natural Stone in Landscape Architecture
With so many building materials on the market today, what makes natural stone the best material for your application? Join us as a group of design professionals discuss why they chose natural stone in their exterior projects. During this session, we will discuss exterior sitework, including plazas, water features, outdoor living spaces, parks, and memorials. Come away inspired with best practices to expand the use of natural stone in your portfolio.
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AD170: Designer Talk: Using Natural Stone in Interior Design
With so many building materials on the market today, what makes natural stone the best material for your application? Join us as a group of design professionals discuss why they chose natural stone for their kitchens, baths, fireplaces, and interior specialty spaces. Learn why natural stone is the ideal choice for these applications and understand how to avoid challenges in these types of projects. Come away with a plan to incorporate natural stone in more of your design portfolio.
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AD265: Designer Talk: Using Natural Stone in Commercial Architecture- The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial
With so many building materials on the market today, what makes natural stone the best material for your application? Join us as a group of design professionals discuss why they chose natural stone for their commercial projects. During this session, we will discuss why natural stone is the premier choice for commercial applications in cladding, interior and exterior art installations, and public spaces. We will also share tools to avoid challenges associated with these applications. Come away with a plan to incorporate more natural stone into your design portfolio.
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AD162: Case Studies: Using Natural Stone in Interior Design
With so many building materials on the market today, what makes natural stone the best material for your application? Join us as a group of design professionals discuss why they chose natural stone for their kitchens, baths, fireplaces, and interior specialty spaces. Learn why natural stone is the ideal choice for these applications and understand how to avoid challenges in these types of projects. Come away with a plan to incorporate natural stone in more of your design portfolio.
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AD166: Case Studies: Using Natural Stone in Commercial Architecture
With so many building materials on the market today, what makes natural stone the best material for your application? Join us as a group of design and industry professionals discuss why they chose natural stone for their commercial projects in a series of award-winning project case studies. During this session, we will discuss why natural stone is the premier choice for commercial applications in cladding, interior and exterior art installations, and public spaces. We will also share tools to avoid and solve challenges that can be associated with these complex applications. Leave inspired with best practices and creative inspiration to expand the use of natural stone in your portfolio.
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T140: ASTM Standards and Stone Testing
Join Natural Stone Institute Technical Director Chuck Muehlbauer for an overview of ASTM standards and stone testing requirements for projects in the United States. Learn the requirements of performance placed on stone at the time of installation and in the future, and how these standards serve as benchmarks for quality limits of products.
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AD161: Case Studies: Using Natural Stone in Residential Architecture
With so many building materials on the market today, what makes natural stone the best material for your application? Join us as a group of design professionals discuss why they chose natural stone for their residential projects. During this session, we will discuss residential architecture and the opportunities tied to stone applications in exteriors, outdoor living spaces, fireplaces, and interior specialty spaces. Come away inspired to incorporate more natural stone in your design portfolio.
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AD163: Case Studies: Using Natural Stone in Landscape Architecture (2023)
With so many building materials on the market today, what makes natural stone the best material for your application? Join us as a group of design and industry professionals discuss why they chose natural stone for their commercial projects in a series of award-winning project case studies. During this session, we will discuss why natural stone is the premier choice for commercial applications in cladding, interior and exterior art installations, and public spaces. We will also share tools to avoid and solve challenges that can be associated with these complex applications. Come away with a plan to incorporate more natural stone into your design portfolio. Leave inspired with best practices and creative inspiration to expand the use of natural stone in your portfolio.
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T150: Advanced Anchorage Systems
Many choices exist for the anchorage of natural stone units. While experienced design professionals understand the factors that influence their selections, those factors may not be obvious to all. This session will discuss specific exterior anchorage devices and illuminate the intrinsic features unique to them that makes them a favorable choice in some applications, yet an unfavorable candidate in another. Focus will also be provided on the importance of proper installation of these same devices.
