The Marble Institute of America announced the winners of the 2012 Pinnacle Awards competition during its annual Awards Luncheon, held during StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas 2013. The Pinnacle Awards recognize excellence in commercial, residential, sustainability and renovation/restoration of natural stone projects worldwide. Projects selected as winners must demonstrate exceptional beauty, creativity, ingenuity, and craftsmanship in the use of granite, marble, travertine, limestone, and other natural stones. The competition is open to MIA members around the world.
During the Awards Luncheon, the MIA also presented the 5th annual Grande Pinnacle Award, sponsored by Marmomacc. A Grande Pinnacle Award was also presented to the architect involved with the winning project. The 2012 Grande Pinnacle Award winner is:
Grazzini Brothers & Company of Eagan, Minnesota for the amazing interior work on the Lakewood Cemetery Garden Mausoleum in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Challenged with adding a large structure to a much-beloved place, a strategy was developed that protected and enhanced the cemetery’s historic landscape. At the mausoleum’s entry, an intricately patterned white mosaic rendered in infinite loops across white billowing surfaces re-imagines the historic 1910 Lakewood Chapel’s colorful mosaic interiors. The interior committal space is clad with Alabama White marble walls. Horizontal bands of split-faced gray granite tie the structure to the earth. Bronze doors usher visitors into a serene space of mahogany walls, marble floors and abundant daylight. Throughout, the contrast of textures - light and dark, rough and smooth, rustic and refined - calls upon both visual and tactile senses to offer a peaceful place for contemplation and remembrance. At this cherished haven within the city, architectural progress meets history with grace and a newfound vitality.
The architectural firm of HGA Architects of Minneapolis, Minnesota was also presented with a Grande Pinnacle Award for the Lakewood Cemetery Garden Mausoleum.
The 2012 Pinnacle Award winners are:
Commercial Exterior Award of Excellence to Cold Spring Granite, Cold Spring, MN for the Lakewood Cemetery Garden Mausoleum in Minneapolis, MN.
Commercial Exterior Award of Excellence to Port Morris Tile & Marble, Bronx, NY for the National September 11 Memorial in New York, NY.
Residential Interior/Exterior Award of Excellence to Picasso Tile & Stonework of Tempe, AZ for the Desert Courtyard in Scottsdale, AZ.
Residential Interior/Exterior Award of Excellence to Stones and Roses International Co. Ltd. of Samutprakam, Thailand for the Muang Thong Thani Residence in Samutprakam, Thailand.
Renovation/Restoration Award of Excellence to Rugo Stone, LLC, of Lorton, VA for the Saint John the Apostle Catholic Church in Leesburg, VA.
Renovation/Restoration Award of Excellence to Tennessee Marble Company of Friendsville, TN for the Harris County 1910 Courthouse Restoration in Houston, TX.
Renovation/Restoration Award of Excellence to Camarata Masonry Systems, Ltd. of Houston, TX for the 1910 Courthouse Restoration in Houston, TX.
Commercial Interior Award of Merit to Twin Stone Designs & Installations, Inc. of Hollywood, FL for the St. Regis Spa in Miami Beach, FL.
Commercial Interior Award of Merit to M&G Contracts (S) PTE LTD of Singapore for the Ocean Financial Centre in Singapore.
Commercial Interior Award of Merit to Superior Tile and Stone of San Leandro, CA for The Smith Center for Performing Arts in Las Vegas, NV.
Commercial Interior Award of Merit to Intertile Natural Stone Surfaces of San Leandro, CA for The Smith Center for Performing Arts in Las Vegas, NV.
Commercial Interior Award of Merit to Camarata Masonry Systems, Ltd. of Houston, TX for the El Paso Energy Building in Houston, TX.
Commercial Exterior Award of Merit to Titan Stone, LLC of Pompano Beach, FL for the Brickell World Plaza in Miami, FL.
Residential Interior/Exterior Award of Merit to Creative Edge Master Shop, Inc. of Fairfield, IA for the Masterpiece of Saddle River in Upper Saddle River, NJ.
Residential Interior/Exterior Award of Merit to Stones and Roses International of Samutprakam, Thailand for the Residence Krungthep Kreetha Living Room in Bangkok, Thailand.
Renovation/Restoration Award of Merit to Polycor of Quebec, Canada for the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, OH.
Special Pinnacle Award of Merit for Hand Craftsmanship to Titan Stone, LLC of Pompano Beach, FL for The Annunciation at Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL.
Special Pinnacle Award of Merit for Sustainability to Las Vegas Rock Inc. of Jean, NV for the MDA Expansion Project at the Rachel Ann Perkinson Center in Jean, NV.
Judges for the 2012 Pinnacle Awards competition were:
Mac Walcott of Walcott Adams Verneuille Architects in Fairhope, AL
Carter Quina, AIA of Quina Grundhoefer Architects in Pensacola, Fl
Christian R. Pongratz of Pongratz Perbellini Architects in Verona, Italy
Gasper (G.K.) Naquin, Immediate MIA Past President of Stone Interiors in Loxley, AL
For project pictures, pictures of the presentations or complete descriptions of each 2012 Pinnacle Award winner, contact Garen Distelhorst at gpdistelhorst@marble-institute.com.
