Rugo Stone, LLC Wins 2016 "Best Use of Carrara Marble in North America" Award

OBERLIN, Ohio, April 5, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MIA+BSI is pleased to announce that Rugo Stone, LLC has been chosen for the first "Best Use of Carrara Marble in North America" Marble Architecture Award for their project "The Rotunda Renovation" at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. The award will be presented at the 33rd CarraraMarmotec International Fair of Marble, Technologies, and Design in Carrara, Italy May 18-21.

"The Rotunda Renovation" replaced the 16 marble capitals of the University of Virginia's Academic Village Rotunda, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designed by Thomas Jefferson, the Third President of the United States. An 1895 fire destroyed the original capitals carved by the Ricci family of Carrara, which were then replaced with columns from an alternate source.

In 2013, with the replacement columns crumbling, the University contracted Rugo Stone, LLC to restore the capitals. Lacking a complete capital, detailed photographs, or original drawings, Rugo Stone and its stone carver, Mario Pedrini srl of Carrara, used cutting-edge techniques to recreate the original capitals using the remaining stone fragments. To preserve the Rotunda's integrity and proximal historical structures, Rugo Stone designed an innovative lateral conveyance system that allowed for installation of those heavy and fragile capitals to be completed with 4-5 men, over the course of a few weeks, and without incident.

This new award was created to honor a project whose beauty, creativity, ingenuity, and craftsmanship exemplify professional mastery in the use of Carrara marble in a commercial or residential application in North America. With generous support from the Internazionale Marmi E Macchine Carrara SpA (IMM Carrara), the award winner will receive round-trip economy airfare and complimentary lodging for four nights to attend the Fair.

Marco Ragone (IMM Carrara) commented: "While all the projects submitted were impressive, the Rotunda Renovation prevailed due to the passionate story behind the monument. There was a special meaning of historical heritage where classicism and modernity were so well mixed and integrated." Past MIA President Guido Gliori (Grazzini Brothers & Co.) agreed: "In an age where cost savings is king, this renovation's quality, innovation, and technical problem solving is a winner for our history and the use of natural stone."

For more information on the Best Use of Carrara Marble in North America Award, please visit www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/carrara.

About MIA+BSI

MIA+BSI: the Natural Stone Institute serves more than 1900 members in 55 countries who represent every aspect of the natural stone industry, offering them a wide array of technical and training resources, professional development, regulatory advocacy, and networking events. Two prominent publications—the Dimension Stone Design Manual and Building Stone Magazine—raise awareness in both the industry and the design communities for the promotion and best use of natural stone. Learn more at www.naturalstoneinstitute.org.