The 2009 Pinnacle Awards were judged in Las Vegas, Nevada. The judges included: Christian R.Pongratz, Pongratz, Perbellini Architects, Verona, Italy; James Hogan, Immediate past president, MIA; Carrara Marble Company, City of Industry, CA; Peter A. Follett, AIA, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, New Haven, CT; and David Meyer, Meyer + Silberberg Architects, Berkeley, CA.
"Over the years, MIA's Annual Awards Luncheon has recognized excellence in a number of areas, including stone projects entered in the Pinnacle Awards competition, the Natural Stone Scholarship Award winner and the Migliore Award for Lifetime Achievement," said MIA President Guido Gliori.
"Last year, the Grande Pinnacle Award was added, which recognizes the best of the Pinnacle Award winners. The Grande Pinnacle Award, sponsored by Marmomacc, has taken the industry's most prestigious award program to an even higher level.
"This year, we have added another award, the MIA Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year. The Craftsman of the Year competition drew entries from across the country and a winner, whose body of work in the natural stone industry stood out above everyone else, was selected as the inaugural winner."
The 'W' Hotel - South Beach, located at South Beach, Florida, was awarded the 2009 Grande Pinnacle Award. Italbec U.S. supplied and installed over 400,000 square feet and $14.5 million dollars worth of granite, marble, quartzite, ceramic tiles and semiprecious stone at this new luxury hotel on Miami's South Beach.
The goal of the project was simple - provide the best of everything for a very discerning clientele. The work encompassed all guestroom flooring, walls, bathrooms, kitchens, restaurant, ballroom, nightclub, bars and lounges, public bathrooms, terraces and lobby areas.
Especially challenging was the book-matching and installation of numerous 30 to 35 square foot, highly polished panels of Grigio Orobico on walls over twenty feet tall in the interior of the lobby. Various other marbles, including Zalto Nero, Bianco Pana, Marron Fantassime and Misty Carrara were used in this project.
This immense undertaking was completed in less than 18 months by a crew of over 200 stone and ceramic craftsmen. The overall impression of the hotel is one of obvious quality of materials assembled with the greatest care by top notch craftsmen.
The Residential Interior/Exterior Award of Excellence was presented to Architectural Granite & Marble of Austin, Texas. The challenge for this project was to find materials that fit into the owners' architectural style, self entitled "Texas Hill Country Contemporary:" warm and inviting, but also clean and contemporary. The architect and the owners were determined not to copy the typical "Tuscan" style so popular for upscale homes in the Austin area. The main feature of the house is the use of both indoor and outdoor spaces and is designed so that everyday life flows through all of the spaces.
Award of Excellence, Commercial Interior
'W' HOTEL - SOUTH BEACH, Dania Beach, Florida
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