Masonry Magazine September 2005 Page. 24
STONE
creating a dramatic effect where the stone plays off its waterfront setting. The color range also works well with the main structure's palette of peppered granite, black slate, brushed aluminum, steel and glass.
Get Real
WHY DO LEADING ARCHITECTS and builders specify natural stone when so many alternate materials are available?
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22
Masonry
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September 2005
The nice thing about
the real stuff is
that every piece
is unique unto itself.
Perhaps the best answer comes from George James, General Manager of Cut Stone, of Indiana Limestone Company of Oolitic, Ind. a city aptly named the "Limestone Capital of the World." In his view, natural stone is a natural choice simply because it's real.
"No one has been able to replicate true, natural stone," says James. "The nice thing about the real stuff is that every piece is unique unto itself. That's the way it was made, in our case, 350 million years ago when it was laid down in the shallow sea bed in what is now Indiana."
Another reason - especially for institutional buildings - deals with longevity. Government buildings, universities and most other institutional facilities are expected to last a long time. Architects for these structures want materials that will last equally long, with minimal maintenance.
"The perfect example of that is the courthouse, something that everyone expects to be there for over a hundred years," explains James. "We traditionally clad those buildings in limestone."
Another example is the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., where Indiana limestone was specified as the exterior cladding. When it was rebuilt after the attack on September 11, 2001-which was, incidentally, on the 60th anniversary of the Pentagon's first day of original construction Indiana limestone was found that perfectly matched the original.
Although it has been used for building since pre-historic times, stone still presents some challenges to the mason. According to James, every type of natural stone has its own set of specific requirements and challenges.
"Masons need to truly understand the material being put up," he explains. "For example, Indiana limestone, although it has virtually unlimited life as a cladding material, has corners that are susceptible to being chipped out if they're not handled properly."
However, once the limestone has been properly installed in the building, there is no reason that it shouldn't last hundreds of years.
"The bottom line is for masons to know what the particulars are on any given stone rather than one thing for all natural stones," James says.
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