We are excited to announce the availability of a number of Natural Stone Education classes. These continuing education courses are offered in conjunction with the Marble Institute of America, the stone industry’s leading information resource. Each class has been approved for continuing education credits through the AIA, ASID, IDC, IDEC,  IIDA, and ASLA.  Our goal is to teach architects and designers in the NYC and CT area the best practices of the stone industry as well as provide valuable networking opportunities.

We hope you can join us!

Paramount Courses PDF

Introduction to Natural Stone I

AIA Course Number: MIA01, 1.0 HSW LU; ASID, IDC, IDEC, and IIDA Course Number: 5740, Subject Code: 5.0, 0.1 HSW CEU; ASLA Course Number: ASLA1, 1.0 HSW LU; NKBA: 0.1 CEU

This one-hour class is designed for architects, landscape architects, and interior designers desiring to gain a full understanding of natural stone as a building material. Learn more about the various natural stones (limestone, travertine, onyx, marble, serpentine, sandstone, slate, quartzite, and granite). Obtain information about common quarrying techniques, fabrication, and finishing methods. With this understanding, you’ll enhance your ability to select the right stone, fabrication technique, and finish for your project.

• Obtain a better understanding of the various types of natural stone.
• Learn about common quarrying techniques.
• Gain knowledge about stone fabrication and finishing methods.

Introduction to Natural Stone II

AIA Course Number: MIA02, 1.0 HSW LU; ASID, IDC, IDEC, and IIDA Course Number: 5731, Subject Code: 5.0, 0.1 General Knowledge CEU; ASLA Course Number: ASLA2, 1.0 HSW LU

This one-hour class is designed for architects, landscape architects, and interior designers desiring to gain a full understanding of natural stone as a building material. Attendees will better understand stone testing requirements needed for some residential, commercial, interior and exterior applications. They will also learn about many common applications of natural stone including walking surfaces, vertical surfaces, furniture and countertops.

• Explain Stone Testing and Quality Control Methods
• Learn about Walking Surfaces (Flooring, Stairs, & Thresholds) & Vertical Surfaces (Adhered Systems, Anchored Systems, and Stone Thickness)
• Explain Common Considerations Needed for Stone Furniture and Countertops

Natural Stone : The Evolving Marketplace, Technology & Product Applications (TOUR)

AIA Course Number: 2011TL, 1.0 HSW LU; ASID, IDC, IDEC, and IIDA Course Number: 5957, Subject Code: 5.0, 0.1 General Knowledge CEU; ASLA Course Number: ASLA4, 1.0 HSW LU; NKBA: 0.1 LU

This seminar will showcase the story of genuine stone in a variety of ways. Witness a 10 minute video showcasing the history of stone, modern day quarrying techniques, and stone’s durability, beauty, and value. Learn and discuss landscape, interior and exterior use and application of natural stone. Obtain more information about the use of sandstone, bluestone, limestone, and quartzite for hardscapes, as well as the interior use of limestone, marble, granite and slate. Study the use of limestone for trims, caps, stoops, pool copings, water tables, veneers, and much more. Finally, tour a working stone facility and view the equipment used to fabricate stone.

• Learn about the history of stone, modern day quarrying techniques, and stone’s durability, beauty, and value.
• Study and discuss landscape, interior and exterior use and application of natural stone.
• Obtain information about integrating trims, caps, stoops, poolcopings, watertables, veneers, etc into your designs.
• Tour a working stone facility and view the equipment used to fabricate stone

Marble Use in the Kitchen

AIA Course Number: MIA03, 1.0 HSW/LU; ASID, IDC, IDEC, and IIDA Course Number: 5732, Subject Code: 5.0, 0.1 General Knowledge CEU; NKBA: 0.1 CEU

Specific to natural stone, many may think that you can only use granite on a kitchen countertop. This class will focus on the use of marble in the kitchen which is on the rise in the U.S. (note: marble has been used in kitchens for hundreds of years, especially in Europe). Attendees will learn that the use of marble in a kitchen will require different protective treatments. They will also learn more about the increasing trend of marble use in the kitchen; obtain unique design elements of using marble for a countertop surface; and, expand their ability to set the proper consumer expectation.

• Learn more about the increasing trend of marble use in the kitchen.
• Obtain unique design elements of using marble for a countertop surface.
• Expand your ability to set the proper consumer expectation.

Natural Stone Thin Veneer

AIA Course Number: MIA04 / 1.0 HSW LU, ASID, IDC, IDCEC, and IIDA Course Number: 0.1 HSW LU, NKBA Course Number: 0.1 CEU, ASLA Course Number: ASLA5 / 1.0 HSW LU

This one-hour class is designed to provide you with a basic understanding of a relatively new application (thin veneer) of a product (natural stone). Explore natural stone’s beauty and durability on structures from around the world. Learn the history and best uses for different types of stone veneer, how thin stone is produced, and common application techniques and opportunities. This course is part one of a two-part natural stone thin veneer series.

• Explore the history and best uses for different types of veneer.
• Learn how natural stone thin veneer is made and what product variations are available.
• Discover the advantages over anchored veneer and manufactured stone.
• Learn about application techniques and opportunities.

Natural Stone Tile: An Overview

AIA Course Number: MIA07 / 1.0 HSW LU; ASID, IDC, IDCEC, and IIDA Course Number: pending; NKBA
Course: pending
This one hour course will familiarize design professionals with the resources available for installation methods and specifying standards for natural stone tile. We will review the characteristics of natural stone in order to understand how they might affect your project. See examples of common stone tile failures and discuss the best practices to ensure a successful installation.

• Understand the basic stone types and methods of formation
• Gain an understanding of the key aspects of Stone Tile Specification as introduced in the 2011-12 TCNA Handbook, ANSI A 108/A118, and the MIA Dimension Stone Design Manual 7.2
• Understand how the intricacies of Stone Tile Installation can impact your project
• Learn key differences between the installation of Stone Tile and Ceramic/Porcelain Tile

For Questions or to RSVP,
please contact our CEU
Coordination Director:
Sarah B Johnson
605-262-2012
sarah@mkgdept.net