This edition of Marmomacc (24-27 September) attracted than 1,500 exhibitors from 58 countries and official trade delegations from 45 countries. More than 80 companies took part in Abitare il Tempo. Verona, 27 September 2014 – Indicators up and new records for the 49th Marmomacc, held for the first time in conjunction with Abitare il Tempo: more than 65.000 operators toured the halls, up by 15% over 2013, with 54% of attendance (+4,000) from 145 countries (143 last year). At the end of four show days at Veronafiere (24-27 September), the top ten international visitors saw India take first place, followed by Germany, Turkey, Spain and France. Then came China, the USA, Brazil, Russia and Egypt. There was also significant attendance from the United Kingdom, Iran, South Korea, Portugal and Poland. "This edition marked a critical step for Marmomacc, in terms of both the international development of the sector and the reciprocal promotion agreement with Expo 2015," said Ettore Riello, President of Veronafiere. It is equally proof that trade shows are a strategic asset in Italy's industrial policy and highlights Veronafiere's leading role in Italy and abroad. "This is a very positive result for the companies producing natural stone products, furniture and furnishing - all examples of excellence Made in Italy," said Giovanni Mantovani, CEO of Veronafiere. Such results are not fortuitous but the result of the major promotion Veronafiere implements through its network of delegates in 60 countries and the initiatives of Marmomacc in the World. Such action this year achieved an increase in exhibitors (1502 from 58 countries), joined by more than 80 companies attending Abitare il Tempo, as well as official trade delegations from 45 countries." Marmomacc thereby confirms its status as the landmark international event for the entire natural stone value chain, from materials to manufacturing technologies and training opportunities for architects and designers. This year, for the first time, the show was held alongside Abitare il Tempo - the exhibition dedicated to furniture, interior finishes and the contract world. The next edition of Marmomacc and Abitare il Tempo is scheduled Wednesday 30 September to Saturday 3 October 2015.

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., Sept. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Rinnai, the number-one selling brand of tankless water heaters in North America, has introduced the first tankless water heater in the industry that allows for both concentric or twin-pipe PVC venting from the same unit. These new Ultra Series condensing tankless water heater models RUC98i and RUC80i feature a built-in system that allows maximum flexibility for installers and dealers, who can now know that the unit they've specified or have on-hand will be compatible with whichever venting installation is preferred or required when they arrive on the jobsite. For concentric venting, installers simply remove and discard the exhaust adapter ring. For twin-pipe PVC configurations, the intake cap is removed and discarded. With the twin pipe option, the installer can use three- or four-inch PVC/CPVC pipe for the intake and exhaust. Rinnai Ultra Series condensing tankless water heaters deliver innovation and technological leadership in condensing tankless water heating design -- providing homeowners with an endless supply of hot water, energy savings, a space saving design and environmental benefits, and now featuring double the venting options on every installation.

New version contains more than 100 updates and new features including cloud and mobile solutions Columbia, Md. (Sept. 16, 2014) – Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc., a provider of intuitive, powerful and practical 2D/3D and Building Information Modeling (BIM) software solutions, announces the new Vectorworks® 2015 version of its award-winning line of software products, including: Vectorworks Designer, Architect, Landmark, Spotlight, Fundamentals and Renderworks®. This marks the beginning of its worldwide rollout, which continues with the release of localized versions in nine additional languages in the fourth quarter of this year through the second quarter of 2015. “With every new release, we concentrate on giving customers the enhancements and features they want, and, more importantly, what they need to make their visions come to reality faster, easier and with more precision than ever before,” said Dr. Biplab Sarkar, CTO, Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. “Vectorworks 2015 builds upon the functionality that is important to designers today, providing an experience that connects the dots between vision and realization in the most intuitive way possible.” The Vectorworks 2015 software contains more than 100 updates and new features in the areas of architecture, BIM, urban planning and entertainment design. In previous versions, the power of 64-bit was only available in the platform’s photorealistic rendering engine, Renderworks, but has now been integrated throughout the entire Vectorworks 2015 product line, providing designers with the ability to handle larger projects, as well as better performance and stability. In addition, designers will observe a revolutionary graphical experience from advances made to the Vectorworks Graphics Module (VGM), which was introduced last year. “We’re are at a turning point where designers are discovering new ways to imagine and construct their projects,” said Sean Flaherty, CEO, Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. “Every day, designers choose Vectorworks because of our multidisciplinary approach and because they want a solution that supports their creative process instead of replacing it. We allow great design to materialize from inspiration, exploration and discovery.” The English-language version of Vectorworks 2015 software is available to Vectorworks Service Select customers today by download. Shipping of the English-language version to all customers will begin September 23, 2014.

Caesarstone's NEW elegant color: Calacatta Nuvo 5131 We are excited to announce our new color Calacatta Nuvo, Caesarstone's interpretation of natural Calacatta marble. Calacatta Nuvo brings you wide, elegant, cascading, grey veins on a white opaque base.

49th edition scheduled at VeronaFiere 24-27 September WORLD STONE INDUSTRY: TRADE IN 2013 IN XCESS OF 22 BILLION DOLLARS QUARRIED AND PROCESSED MATERIAL VOLUMES CAME TO 265 MILLION TONNES - AN INCREASE OF 5% China, India, Turkey and Italy are the top four exporters with a 61% share of total. Italy stands at the top of the technologies sector, with one-third of the world market. These are just some details published in the XXV World Stone Report by Carlo Montani, in collaboration with publisher Aldus and the patronage of the Tuscany Region, previewed today during the inauguration of Marmomacc 2014. Verona, 25 September 2014 – Natural stone conquering the world: between 1990 and 2013, international natural stone production grew by 180%, from 46 to 130 million tonnes, equal to 1.4 billion equivalent square metres (based on the conventional slab thickness of 2 centimetres), while consumption levels boomed by 185%. A trend of steady increase over the years that becomes even more apparent when taking into account that the last half-century has seen more marble and granite used than in all previous eras. This is just some of the content of the XXV World Stone Report by Carlo Montani, in collaboration with publisher Aldus and the patronage of the Tuscany Region, previewed yesterday at Veronafiere during the inauguration of Marmomacc 2014. For 25 years by now, this report has been an analytical and informative tool for all sector operators, with more than 200 thousand figures organised in tables and statistics. 2013 was another year of consolidation for the world stone industry: the volume of quarried and processed material (265 million tonnes) increased by about 5% compared to 2012. Marble is increasingly used as a constructive and decorative material, with per capita usage up in 2013 to 226 square metres every thousand units, against 215 the previous year and 135 of 2003. This general expansion, however, is matched by progressive concentration of production in a handful of countries: "Since the 1960s, the balance of power has changed radically," explained Montani, "with the top four producers - China, India, Turkey and Brazil - expanding from 30% to 61% global production.." As regards trade, 2013 posted values of 22 billion dollars, 58.5% of which in the hands of the top four exporting countries: China, Italy, Turkey and India. Made in Italy confirms its leading role in the field of technology and quarrying, cutting and processing machinery, with about one-third of the world market and very strong positions in several leading nations such as Turkey and Brazil. Yet what does the future of marble hold in store? The author of the XVV Report said: "Stone boasts an extremely long history and will have a equally long future by combining technology, aesthetics and professional values: in a word, quality. Translated into numbers, prospects through to 2020 indicate total output of at least 170 million tons, equal to 1.8 billion equivalent square metres."

Big Ass® Light has unveiled the Big Ass High Bay LED, a brilliant, long-lasting LED light fixture designed specifically to address common issues in industrial and commercial facilities. Unlike competing fixtures that are made of stamped sheet metal, the Big Ass High Bay LED is robustly constructed to withstand the rigors of even the toughest environments. Built of a solid piece of heavy-duty, extruded aluminum, the Big Ass High Bay LED features ribbed fins to increase its surface area. That design allows the entire structure to act as a heat sink, quickly dissipating heat that can shorten the lifespan of LEDs. The design ensures the fixture’s LEDs stay brighter for longer. To test the fixture’s durability, employees ran over the Big Ass High Bay LED with a Ford F-250 pickup. The fixture didn’t show a smudge, while the leading competitive LED fixture folded. View the full series of tests below. The Big Ass High Bay LED’s innovative design accommodates both the ever-changing needs and uses of industrial and commercial facilities. Its patent-pending lumen maintenance tray protects the LEDs from the unavoidable dirt and debris that quickly accumulates in these workspaces. When the tray does get dirty, it can easily be removed, wiped clean and returned, so the LEDs stay vivid for up to 150,000 hours. The tray also provides light distribution options, allowing facilities to redirect lights to narrow, regular or wide angles as floor layouts change. An easy-access panel lets users swap out drivers and other components, so the Big Ass High Bay LED never becomes outdated. The Big Ass High Bay LED is a long-term, energy-efficient and money-saving solution. Big Ass Light is so confident about the fixture’s performance that the company offers a 60-day risk-free trial and backs the product with a seven-year, bumper-to-bumper warranty.

MILWAUKEE, Sept. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Advances in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment that offers higher efficiencies, increased comfort and improved indoor air quality make a new system an attractive alternative to an aging, inefficient system, especially one that is experiencing problems. However, choosing the system that best meets your heating and cooling needs is not always easy. To refine your search and help you make an informed decision, the experts at the Luxaire® brand of Johnson Controls offer some helpful advice. First, find a contractor you can trust – preferably one who is North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certified and a member of state and national contractor associations. Then, ask the following questions: • Does the contractor do the work, or does he/she subcontract it to someone else? • Is the contractor adequately insured? • What is the contractor's schedule for getting the work done? • Will other projects affect the contractor's ability to complete your job on time? • Does the contractor offer a maintenance service agreement? • Can the contractor provide any references from prior customers? • Will the contractor conduct a load calculation to determine the proper size of equipment for your home? Next, determine what kind of equipment you need by considering these questions: • What equipment does the contractor recommend and why? • What is the efficiency rating of the equipment? Is this enough/too much for the size of your home? The efficiency of a cooling system is expressed as a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) number. Heat pump efficiency is expressed by a Heating Season Performance Factor (HSPF), and the efficiency of a furnace is expressed as the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). • Where will the equipment be located? Will the recommended equipment fit here? • Is your ductwork properly sealed, insulated and sized for the new equipment? Finally, consider the financial questions that come with a purchase this significant: • How much does the new system cost, including installation? • Does the contractor or manufacturer offer any warranties on the equipment you are purchasing? If so, what does the warranty cover? • Are any rebates available? • Does the contractor offer any financing options? • Did you consider the cost of operating the system as well as the initial cost? Your heating and cooling system is one of the more expensive purchases you will ever make. That's why it's important to ask questions and apply the answers to make the right decision – one that meets your comfort needs efficiently and affordably.

FOR CRAWL SPACES Viper CS is a white, cross-woven polyethylene vapor barrier designed for crawl spaces. Its bright white color will give any crawl space a fresh, clean look while also combating the harmful effects of radon, moisture causing wood rot, mold, mildew, odors and poor indoor air quality. Standard Roll Size: 12' x 200' Standard Configuration: 10-mil *Custom Sizes and Print Available Viper CS II crawl space vapor barrier is manufactured using blown polyolefin film. Viper CS II is designed to control moisture migration in crawl space applciations. Viper CS II has a low perm rating and is engineered with excellent puncture and tear resistance. Standard Roll Size: 14' x 200' Standard Configuration: 10-mil *Custom Sizes Available

Nu-Age Films are high performance vapor retarders used in everyday construction, industrial and agricultural applications. They are tri-layer blown films manufactured from prime grade virgin resin. There is zero recycled content used thus increasing the films longevity. The tri-layer manufacturing technology and special virgin resin blends produce a light, strong, durable film that outperforms all respective industry standards. Nu-Age Films are available in widths ranging from 8' up to 20' max. Product configurations include: Nu-Age Films 10+ Engineered to outperform conventional 10-mil poly sheeting Nu-Age Films 6+ Engineered to outperform 6-mil poly sheeting Nu-Age Films 4+ Engineered to outperform 4-mil poly

MarShield supports a variety of charities by allowing a casual Friday. Each Friday, employees have the opportunity to make a donation to a “Denim Days” fund. In return, that employee gets to wear jeans. Once a year the MarShield team selects a local charity from the list of employee nominated organizations to donate the funds. This year we have chosen to support the Divas Changing Lives charity event called “The Beautiful You”. This event is to raise money to support the Camisole Project, which helps women who have undergone breast cancer surgery. MarShield believes in supporting causes in our local community and has done so for 35 years. We are excited to donate to this wonderful cause knowing that we are making women in our community more comfortable during such a difficult time. Breast Cancer has affected many women close to the MarShield family and we are thankful for the Divas who help these women. Being in the Medical industry ourselves, we understand the importance of these charities and will continue our support efforts for many years to come. About “The Beautiful You” Event: The Divas will be hosting “The Beautiful You” Martinis, Manicures & Mercedes, on Friday September 26, 2014 at Mercedes Benz located at 441 North Service Road in Burlington. The evening promises to be an elegant and enchanting affair for all in attendance. About the Divas Changing Lives Camisole Project: The Camisole Project was founded by Barb Daize, owner of BodyMed Boutique in Burlington, Ontario, in 2011. Having been touched in many ways by breast cancer, Barb wanted to pay it forward and provide comfort and dignity to those women having breast cancer surgery. After breast cancer surgery, post-surgical drainage tubes are used and can remain in place for days or weeks. Typically, patients use safety pins to ease the awkwardness of the equipment. Barb found two camisole manufactures that have cleverly inserted removable drain pockets to provide protection and comfort at such a critical time in a women’s recovery. The Camisole Project donates these camisoles to women having breast cancer surgery at hospitals in many areas of Ontario including Halton, Niagara, Mississauga and Toronto. They also recently shipped free camisoles outside of Ontario, to Alberta, British Columbia and Nova Scotia. Their hope now is to expand this project across all communities in Ontario and to continue to support women in need across Canada.

BEDFORD, Mass., Sept. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Holcim (US) Inc. announced today that four of its plants earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) prestigious ENERGY STAR®. This marks the third time Holcim's Midlothian plant in Midlothian, TX has received the award while the Devil's Slide plant in Morgan, UT has been honored for its seventh consecutive year. The Holly Hill plant in Holly Hill, SC and the Ste. Genevieve plant in Bloomsdale, MO are both receiving the award for the fifth time.

Zehnder America starts local sourcing initiative using American manufacturing for its new ComfoFlex ducting and register boxes. As the demand for Zehnder Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) and Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) Comfosystems has increased significantly in the US market over the past few years, Zehnder will continue to look to locally source additional components in the coming years. Greenland, NH (PRWEB) September 16, 2014 -- Zehnder America is locally sourcing in the United States both its new ComfoFlex ducting and register boxes as part of its comprehensive approach to providing both the HRV or ERV and properly matched air distribution components. When a Heat Recovery Ventilation or Energy Recovery Ventilation system is designed with properly matched system components, it will be quiet and often provide a smoother installation. Much evidence points to a range of common issues in purchasing just a Heat Recovery Ventilator or Energy Recovery Ventilator unit without specified air distribution components. When unspecified ducting and air distribution components are pieced together, it's not uncommon for the efficiency of a HRV or ERV to go down significantly due to improper sizing or poor installation. This is the reason Zehnder highly recommends having a complete system designed and then after the system is installed, have it commissioned to ensure the system is working properly. Importance of a ventilation strategy in a high-performance building: Today’s buildings have become increasingly tighter and more insulated due to building codes and energy efficiency awareness. Without proper ventilation, tight, energy-efficient construction risks mold, mildew and indoor air quality issues. Zehnder’s breakthrough Heat Recovery Ventilator and Energy Recovery Ventilator solutions ensure increasingly energy-efficient homes have a continuous supply of fresh filtered air, a comfortable indoor environment and a reduction of heating and cooling loads in applicable climates. As a result, a comfortable and healthy indoor environment is achieved for the energy-efficient home year-round.

NCS V6 Includes New BIM Module, Symbols, Site/Civil Language Following a fifteen-month development process, the nation’s leading computer-aided design (CAD) standard has received an update. The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) today announced the release of the newest edition of the United States National CAD Standard® (NCS). As with Version 5, NCS Version 6 (V6) is delivered online at the NCS website. The NCS helps architects, constructors and operators coordinate efforts by classifying electronic design data consistently and making information retrieval easier. It improves communication among owners and project teams; cuts or eliminates costs of developing and maintaining company-specific standards; and reduces the expense of transferring building data from design applications to facility management applications. More than 6,000 architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) firms have voluntarily adopted the NCS in their workplaces. During each NCS revision cycle, participants propose, debate and ultimately vote upon additions and changes to the NCS to amend the current version of the standard. For this edition, NCS owners submitted an unprecedented 379 ballot items. The NCS Steering Committee, Project Committee and Task Teams, who are the ones responsible for vetting, reviewing and approving the submissions, play an integral role in the new edition’s development. The new edition includes: • New implementation guidelines on how to successfully implement the NCS for building information modeling (BIM) use. The “BIM Implementation” guidelines address relevant sections within the NCS that can be incorporated into the BIM workflow and current contracts referencing project delivery of construction information. • An improved style format, which applies to the body of the standard to properly number chapter and subchapter headings. • An enhanced and improved Symbols Library. All 1300+ NCS symbol CAD files were replaced and renamed using a unique 3-digit extension number and abbreviated name; converted to inches; and include new insertion points (with line type and pattern file type definitions where appropriate). Each individual symbol links to a corresponding. DWG, .LIN or .PAT drawing file. The library includes 72 new and 40 revised symbols, as well as two new Symbols Chapters. • New “Survey/Mapping” Discipline Designators. • New Major and Minor Groups definitions added for “Airports and Plumbing.” • A revised “Module 1 – File Naming” section to better address Model Files and Sheet Files. • A Revised “Module 4 – Drafting Conventions, 4.2 Drawing Standards” list of common scales to add “Site/Civil” scale descriptions. • A Revised “Module 4 – Drafting Conventions, 4.3 Sheet Types” section, which includes a new “Floor Numbering” format. • New and revised “Communications” terms and abbreviations. • A Revised “Module 7 – Notations, 7.4 User’s Guide” text format for notes. • A Revised “Plotting Guidelines” introduction. The NCS coordinates the efforts of the entire design and construction team by providing a way to organize and present electronic building design information consistently. It streamlines communication across disciplines during project development and throughout the life of a facility. Use of the NCS can help reduce costs and produce greater efficiency in the design and construction process. The standard is based on components from its partnering organizations: NIBS’s Foreword, Administration, Plotting Guidelines and new BIM Implementation modules; AIA’s CAD Layer Guidelines module; and CSI’s Uniform Drawing System modules. By combining these resources, the NCS prescribes CAD layer names; drawing set organization and drafting; notation; and NCS-BIM coordination and plotting conventions. With this edition, the NCS also provides needed direction on how to incorporate the NCS content within the BIM workflow. Many public and private sector organizations either require or use the NCS, including the U.S. General Services Administration; U. S. Army Corps of Engineers; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; U.S. Coast Guard; U.S. Navy; U.S. Forest Service; U.S. Treasury – Internal Revenue Service; U.S. Department of State; U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; state, municipal and local agencies and authorities; and large U.S. and foreign multinational corporations. NCS users who have purchased the previous version of the NCS within the past six months are eligible for a discount on NCS V6. This discount is available for six months from the release date, and expires March 9, 2015.

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Minnesota-based manufacturer Miller Ingenuity is using electronically-tintable SageGlass®, a product of Saint-Gobain, to create a unique think-tank environment where employees and customers can drive new product innovation and problem solving. The company, which manufactures products for the rail industry, recently opened its “Creation Station” – a 1,200-square-foot, state-of-the-art collaborative space where everyone in the company and community can brainstorm new ways of doing business. The Google-like campus within the factory is the first of its kind in Minnesota, as well as for the U.S. manufacturing industry. A key design objective of the Creation Station was to create a relaxing, inspirational environment in which people could better conceptualize solutions that meet the current and emerging needs of the industry. The company believes that great ideas can spring from anyone in the company and community; not just the engineering department. Consequently, the company enlisted its employees to lead the planning and design of the Creation Station. Providing abundant daylight, expansive outdoor views of nature, and “bringing the outdoors in” were critical to designing the right kind of creative space. To that end, the company installed a large, floor-to-ceiling wall of SageGlass, which maximizes daylight and outdoor views in buildings while controlling glare and heat gain. The glass can darken or clear manually or automatically to save energy and help keep building occupants continuously comfortable. For the project, Miller Ingenuity selected SageGlass LightZone™, the world’s first dynamic glass window system that enables variable tint zones within a single pane of glass. SageGlass LightZone allows the company to change the tint in three discrete sections in one pane of SageGlass, and each section can be set to any available tint level. This variability provides for even greater flexibility in managing solar heat gain and glare. With multiple zones in a single window, factors such as the changing angles of the sun throughout the day and seasons can be better managed to optimize daylight and preserve the outdoor view.

University of Pennsylvania Student Takes Top Honors as Richard Diehl Award Recipient Columbia, Md. (September 9, 2014)—Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc., a provider of intuitive, powerful and practical 2D/3D and Building Information Modeling (BIM) software solutions, announces the first recipients of the Vectorworks Design Scholarship. Fifteen students from eight countries will receive $3,000 USD to support their studies in any design major at the accredited college or university of their choice, and their schools will each get Vectorworks software licenses and training. In addition, University of Pennsylvania landscape architecture student Diego Bermudez was selected as having the top overall entry, so in addition to earning a Vectorworks Design Scholarship, Bermudez received the Richard Diehl Award and an additional $7,000 USD. The Vectorworks Design Scholarship program salutes students across disciplines such as architecture, landscape design, lighting design and interior design who are determined to solve today’s most challenging design problems. In its first year, nearly one thousand students from 56 countries submitted entries, which were evaluated by a talented and global panel of architects, landscape architects, professors, lighting designers and media professionals. These are the students judges recognized as the 2014 Vectorworks Design Scholarship recipients: • Markus Bobik, TU München, Germany, who uses the environment to create a protective shell around the soft core of an Alpine chalet • Enoch (Wes) Calkin, University of Cincinnati, USA, for re-telling Broadway’s “Carrie” as a more intimate and intelligent tragedy • Chen Yin Feng, Chongqing University, China, who transformed abandoned industrial infrastructure into an educational center and public space • Judyta Cichocka, Wrocław University of Technology, Poland, for coming to grips with the latest ideology of architectural iconism • Paul Dembeck, Beuth Hochschule Berlin, Germany, for a stage design that discreetly combines light and video to maintain focus on the artist • Marcel Hauert, Berner Fachhochschule, Switzerland, for a macrocosmic vision for an urban public space • Andrea Linney, University of Toronto, Canada, whose expansion of existing path systems transforms a large, cross-site, open-space • Shao Xing Yu, Southeast University, China, who uses an open space to find a balance between tourists and residents • Michael Signorile, Stevens Institute Of Technology, USA, who uses glass in winter garden hydroponics for his project • Tina Simon, TU Dresden, Germany, for larger-than-life renderings of ornately designed gardens in an urban, Baroque neighborhood • Daniel Sweeting, London Metropolitan University, United Kingdom, who critiques the tourist experience in London • Alexander Davey Thomson, K.U. Leuven, Saint-Lucas Campus, Belgium for his architectural visions of an ecology-based urban future • Lisa Vromman, KASK School of Arts Gent, Belgium, who explored a façade that communicates with the environment and encourages residents to comingle • Wu Xin Jing, Shanghai Theatre Academy, China, who abandons traditional concert effects for dramatic lighting

curated by Claudio Alessandri, Raffaello Galiotto, Vincenzo Pavan, Gianluca Gimini Department of Architecture of Ferrara – CDL Industrial Product Design This exhibition brings together a series of "architectural design" prototypes in stone selected from projects developed by students studying for a degree in Industrial Product Design at the University of Ferrara. The prototypes, the outcome of constant collaboration between the Department of Architecture of the University of Ferrara and many Italian stone industry companies, were developed during the 2013-­‐2014 academic year and will exhibited during the 49th Marmomacc Exhibition. This year's course is dedicated to technical and formal study and design of stone elements that can be specifically assembled to become an integral part of the architectural design project with the aim of creating new forms for items such as structural and partition walls or as cladding for buildings and architectural spaces. The "architectural objects" displayed during the exhibition saw students interpret the potential of different stone materials in the design and construction of modular products responding to the structural or decorative needs of architectural elements of various complexity-­‐which were then enhanced through processing, modelling and treatments matching formal concepts capable of providing added value to the architecture where they are installed. Companies taking part in this educational project interacted with students in the design stage by guiding the choice of materials as well as in the prototyping stage through the exchange of information involving 3D design systems by connecting them to sophisticated stone modelling programs installed in modern stone processing machines. Companies taking part: Consorzio Marmisti Chiampo, Grassi Pietre, Lithos Design, Pibamarmi, Arredo di Pietra, Altair, software Evolve

curated by Giuseppe Fallacara-DICAR Bari Polytechnic University Talking about stereotomic design means embracing a theoretical/practical paradigmas a point of reference for architectural projects designed in accordance with the use of vaulted architectonic systems and/or elements having resistant forms comprising separate and dry-jointed units. This paradigm can be attributed to traditional building techniques, specifically in stone and wood, where the concept of bonding the parts making up a building is the distinctive feature of its character and architectural expressiveness. Stereotomy today is unfortunately absent from both building practice and education, appearing merely in as the object of partial and isolated research into the history of building. This event asks fundamental questions about the possibility of resuming this topic interrupted by research into construction using dimension stone following the broken links in stereotomic culture in order to regain its in-born creative thrust for contemporary architectural design. The topics discussed demonstrate the solute vitality of the stereotomic lesson projected, hopefully, into a new future. The exhibition comprises three parts: 1. Lithic design_Visions (G. Fallacara, V. Minenna) Company: PI.MAR s.r.l. The set-up envisages the creation of a stone cube in Lecce Stone comprising very large blocks with a series of negatively sculptured human faces invite observers to look inside the stone in order to discover its specific application features. Inside the cube, through the holes drilled like eyes in the sculptures, observes will see a sequence of 3D Anaglyph images and videos. These images represent complex vaulted spaces made with stereotomic equipment using parametric modellers and CNC machine tools. These images will scroll to a sound track coming from inside the cube. 2. Structural Stone design (G. Fallacara, Marco Stigliano) Company: Atelier de la Pierre d’Angle Picardie The set-up envisages the creation of graphic plates and scale models (rapid rototype development) for experimental structures in dimension stone developed during a number of university "stages". Prototypes are tools for study and morphological-structural analysis designed to obtain more in-depth knowledge of stone material in relation to new construction languages. These prototypes are the result of a collaborative research project between the DICAR Department of Bari Polytechnic University and L’Atelier de la Pierre d’Angle Brignoles e Picardie. 3. Robostereotomic design (G. Fallacara, Brandon Clifford, Jelle Feringa) Company: MGI Sicilmarmi, T&D Robotics This set-up envisages the creation of a structure in Carrara white marble taking the shape of an overhead sail in accordance with hyperbolic paraboloid geometry. Parabolithic is a demo installation focusing on the formal potential of natural stone and machine tools which will be located in the Cultural Hall at Marmomacc 2014. Footprint: 4 x 6 m, h max 2.80 m. The sculpture is the result of a collaboration and research project between the DICAR Department at Bari Polytechnic University and two leaders in the stone industry: MGI Sicilmarmi and T&D Robotics.

STONE ACADEMY 2014 curated by Massimiliano Caviasca Stone Academy is the association bringing together universities, professions and institutions involved in training, research and academic-professional promotion activities in architecture based on the use of stone. During the 2014 edition of the Venice Architecture Biennial directed by Rem Koolhaas, the Stone Academy was recognized as an accredited structure for the "Biennial Session”. The theme chosen by the curator of the Venice Biennial - "Fundamentals" – indicates the need to investigate a present-day architecture project by starting from its origins: theme converging distinctly with the topics proposed by the Stone Academy in order to promote project research through the use of the stone as a "founding" material in architecture. There is an impressive calendar of appointments with dedicated workshops, visits and seminars in Venice Biennial venues, which opened its collaboration with the Stone Academy with the seminar titled "Internal & External - Stone design for living" on 19 and 20 June. Currently, more than 20 Institutes and Universities are members and as of year the programme includes new activities in collaboration with the School of Architecture in Ljubljana. Marmomacc in recent years has played an active and vital role in the promotion and dissemination of what universities are achieving in terms of teaching, research and experiments involving stone architecture, with a constantly expanding presence on the national and international scene. During Marmomacc 2014, university representatives will attend the annual general meeting with the aim of defining the guidelines for 2015 in this field of teaching in architecture today enjoying broader interest and topicality. Marmomacc will also host the following research and educational exhibitions: • Stone Academy Workshop 2014 - Puglia, Stone Territories (Hall 1) • Products developed during courses at universities taking part in the Stone Academy programme (between Halls 11-12) Thanks to the efforts of Marmomacc, the International Master in "Architecture and Construction-Contemporary Design with Stone" at Milan Polytechnic University this year celebrates its seventh edition, consolidating its operational headquarters in the Verona area c/o the Arena Convention Centre, Veronafiere. Thanks equally to the efforts of the Stone Academy, lastly, the workshops (organised during Marmomacc) and the Master courses in Contemporary Design with Natural Stone dedicated to the recovery of quarries, urban building and interior design, are accredited as professional courses with CFP approval by CNAPP.