2023 IMI Tile Marble Terrazzo Workshops Educate Local Design Professionals

International Masonry Institute hosted a well-attended half-day Tile/Marble/Terrazzo (TMT) workshop at the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers District Council Training Center in suburban Chicago May 17, 2023. The program was attended by about 85 of Chicago’s top designers, architects, GCs, and signatory TMT contractors, as well as 20 sponsoring companies and organizations.

Scott Conwell, FAIA, FCSI, LEED AP of IMI gave an overview of ANSI Standards and TCNA requirements for designing with tile as well as an update on advanced certifications for tile installers (ACT) and other recommendations for qualified labor. Mike Spatz, IMTEF tile instructor, then led a tour of the ACT modules in the training area, and demonstrated laying large format tile using correct troweling and embedment methods for 95% mortar coverage.

Peter Weis of W.R. Weis marble contractors then treated the audience to a detailed case study of the restoration of the travertine terraces and stairs on the historic Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois, originally designed by noted architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Peter discussed their documentation of existing damaged travertine, sourcing and procurement of new travertine from the original quarry, and the nuances of the installation process that respected the integrity of the original architecture.

Finally, Michael Brawley and Emily Van Tassel of Terrazzo & Marble Supply Companies presented a through program on cementitous and epoxy terrazzo, including a discussion of the material’s sustainable attributes and modern installation techniques. They showed several National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association award-winning projects that blurred the lines between floor finish and fine art, leaving the audience impressed not only with the material but with the skills of BAC terrazzo installers.

Eric Emens, architect and partner at Assemble Design Workshop PLLC , attended the program and commented, “I enjoyed the IMI event. The presentations were very clear and well put together.”?

Throughout the day, attendees visited material suppliers and industry organizations displaying their products and services, and advancing discussions on how these materials can be applied to their projects currently in design. Typical of IMI’s programs, the Chicago TMT event combined AIA-registered education with real examples of BAC training and craftsmanship, underscoring the value of tile, marble, and terrazzo, and the qualifications and skills of union contractors and installers. The recent Chicago event was part of the 2023 national series co-sponsored by the Tile Contractors' Association of America (TCAA) , in cooperation with industry co-sponsors Tile Council of North America (TCNA), Natural Stone Institute (NSI), and National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association (NTMA). Other sites for this year’s series include New York City, San Francisco, and Portland, Oregon.