Survey Finds Architects Designing Green to Address Demand for Lower Building Operating Costs
Autodesk, Inc. and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced the results of the 2007 Autodesk/AIA Green Index, an annual survey that measures how AIA member architects in the United States are practicing sustainable design, as well as their opinions about the green building movement. The index shows that green building has taken a firm hold on the industry and has captured the attention of both architects and their clients. The 2007 Autodesk/AIA Green Index survey reports 70 percent of architects say client demand is the leading driver of green building and that the primary reason these owners and developers are demanding greener buildings is for reduced operating costs. Architects are responding by significantly increasing their use of sustainable elements such as high-efficiency HVAC systems, recycled building materials and using software to model energy usage.

Today's Green Building Landscape
According to the Autodesk/AIA Green Index, less than half of architects were incorporating sustainable design practices into their projects five years ago. However, this number is quickly rising with 90 percent of architects expecting to incorporate some sustainable elements by 2012. This rapidly growing adoption of sustainable design is in direct response to a strong client demand for green building, with 70 percent of this year's respondents citing client demand as the main driver pushing architects to go green. When asked to cite a reason behind clients' push toward green building, 64 percent of respondents cited the reduced operating costs that can be obtained through sustainable design as the cause.

"Buildings are the leading provider of greenhouse emissions, and in 2005 the AIA set a goal to reduce carbon emissions from buildings by 50 percent by 2010 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030," said AIA EVP/CEO Christine McEntee. "The results of the survey are encouraging, but there needs to be a greater sense of urgency to make sustainable design the norm in the profession. To that end, we will be releasing additional resources in 2008 to better educate both architects and clients on best practices and benefits of green buildings."

The survey also shows that architects are making significant strides to meet their client demand for green building. Working to develop their sustainable design skills, 88 percent of respondents have received training or continuing education focused on green building. This year's Green Index also shows a significant increase in the practice of sustainable design since 2002. According to this year's survey, the industry has seen a 25 percent increase in the number of architects utilizing high-efficiency HVAC systems in their projects over the past five years. Other areas of growth include the use of highly reflective roofing materials, which has jumped 18 percent since 2002, and the adoption of energy modeling and baseline analysis, which has seen a 17 percent increase in that same period.

Moving the Industry Forward
While almost 75 percent of Green Index respondents believe that the building industry is headed in the right direction regarding climate change, and 54 percent believe architects are responsible for developing and implementing solutions to this issue, the survey also shows that there is still significant opportunity for architects to deliver on green building practices. Although 50 percent of architects reported having clients inquire about green building on the majority of their projects, only 30 percent of architects actually implemented green building elements in their projects. In addition, only 10 percent of architects are currently measuring the carbon footprint of their projects.

"We are encouraged that the 2007 Green Index shows a growing number of architects practicing green building," said Phil Bernstein, FAIA, LEED AP, Autodesk Vice President of AEC Industry Strategy and Relations. "Since only 10 percent of architects are currently measuring the carbon footprint of their projects, Autodesk recognizes a need to make this an easier and more efficient process using new and existing technology solutions. We look forward to continued cooperation with the AIA to help architects use technology to design more environmentally responsible buildings."

When asked what green building efforts they expect to adopt in the next five years, over half the respondents said they will be using tools to enable the prediction and evaluation of the environmental impact and lifecycle of the building materials used in their projects, a 36 percent increase from today. Fifty-six percent of respondents also stated that they will be using design software to evaluate and explore alternative building materials to maximize energy performance and minimize their environmental footprint.

Research Methods
The Autodesk/AIA Green Index was conducted online by StrategyOne Research in October 2007 among 347 practicing architects in the United States. The architects were questioned on their use of 14 green design practices: five years ago, over the previous 12 months, and their expected use five years from now. The design practices were based on the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards.

The architects who responded to the survey come from a mix of design practices. Forty-four percent are predominantly involved with commercial projects, 32 percent with institutional, 20 percent with single family homes, and 4 percent with industrial projects. Sixty-two percent of the architects have 15 or more years of experience. Additionally, 88 percent of the architects have received training or continuing education on the subject of green buildings. The full report is available on the Autodesk Web site at http://www.autodesk.com/green.

Entrepreneur of the Year Named
On Nov. 17, Manu Shah, chairman and chief executive officer of M S International Inc. (MSI), a leading distributor of natural stone, was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 national award winner in the Distribution, Manufacturing and Security category. Now in its 21st year, these awards recognize leaders and visionaries who demonstrate innovation, financial success, personal dedication and a commitment to the community as they create and build world-class businesses.

Shah was recognized for turning a small business that he started in his basement into one of the largest distributors of natural stone in North America. Shah was honored at a black-tie gala in Palm Springs hosted by Jay Leno. Awards were given in nine other categories. All Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year national winners were selected from approximately 400 regional award recipients by an independent panel of judges. Shah's national award follows being named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year regional winner for the distribution category in Orange County, Calif.

In receiving the award, Mr. Shah noted, "...for a man who came to this country with $210 in his pocket and $3,000 of debt, this is a humbling experience..." He continued, "Natural stone has been for ages and remains an incredible job creation machine. It is one of the few industries today that continues to support the population in the rural regions of the world. I would like to dedicate this award to the millions of people belonging to the non-glamorous stone trade. They have brought us and continue to bring to us vivid, stunning, exquisite and affordable natural stones from far corners of the planet to our homes and businesses."

Shah further stated, "this award is truly a reflection of the ingenuity, hard work and consistent innovation of the entire MSI Team, which includes dedicated employees, our suppliers in over 33 countries, and devoted customers across the world. We continue to look forward to bringing growth, innovation and efficiency to the natural stone industry."

Bring in the New Year on a Suzuki Hayabusa
GranQuartz announces the ADI Ultra High Speed (UHS) CNC Tooling Sweepstakes. Celebrating the arrival of the world's fastest CNC tooling, one lucky GranQuartz customer will be chosen on Jan. 2, 2008, to win the world's fastest production motorcycle — the Suzuki Hayabusa.

ADI's existing Eraser System is being supercharged with UHS technology for the ultimate blend of speed and polish quality. "The ADI UHS CNC tools have achieved up to three times the production speed or two times the tool life of competitive CNC tools," said Paul Taylor, diamond consumables product manager for GranQuartz. "The faster output results in tremendous savings in overhead and labor. Also, a fabricator can achieve much greater utilization of their biggest capital investment, their CNC, with ADI Ultra High Speed tools."

"We couldn't think of a better promotional tie-in," explained Tom Probst, marketing manager for GranQuartz. "The new Ultra High Speed tools from ADI are the world's fastest CNC tooling for stone cutting production. Nothing short of the world's fastest production motorcycle could promote our product better."

GranQuartz's CNC Tooling Program continues to set the standard of excellence in the stone fabrication industry with unsurpassed ADI CNC tool innovation, quality, inventory availability from eight stocking locations nationwide, two dedicated service technicians and 24 trained field sales reps.

To register for the sweepstakes or learn more about ADI Ultra High Speed tools, go to www.GranQuartz.com/Sweepstakes.

Small Start Grows Large
After emigrating from Bombay, India, Manu Shah and his wife, Rika, started MSI in their Fort Wayne, Ind., home with a modest goal — to bring in some extra income to supplement Shah's earnings as a mechanical engineer. Shah had a brother in India who worked in the natural stone business, and Shah saw the possibilities of importing stone for use in monuments. Being a meticulous planner, Shah kept redefining those business possibilities and positioned the company to expand. And expand they did. A key milestone came in 1981, when MSI won the contract to provide black granite for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

After the company was awarded the contract, Shah left his position as a project engineer for International Harvester and joined the family business full-time. Three years later, he relocated the company to Southern California, believing it would be the ideal location for distribution. Shah positioned the company to expand into commercial and residential markets, just as demand for granite and other stone surfaces in homes began to grow. Since then, the company has opened seven natural stone super-centers nationwide and has amassed more than 2,000 recurring customers in all 50 states as well as Canada and Mexico.

The company has experienced strong growth each year since its inception 32 years ago. Despite the slowing housing market, MSl has seen growth of more than 100 percent since 2004. The family business now includes Shah's two sons and more than 400 employees.

MSI was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Orange, Calif. MSI's product lines include granite, slate, marble, travertine, sandstone, limestone and other natural stone products from more than 33 countries on six continents. MSI maintains distribution centers in New Jersey, Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix, Dallas and Boston with three additional branches scheduled for 2008. MSI also maintains purchasing offices in India, Brazil, Turkey and China. The company services a nationwide customer base, which includes more than 3,000 retailers, wholesalers and fabricators of natural stone. For additional information, visit www.msistone.com.

International Apprentice Contest a Success
On Sept. 21-22, 2007, the International Apprentice Contest was hosted by the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) and the International Masonry Institute (IMI) at the John J. Flynn BAC/IMI International Training Center in Bowie, Md. The official dedication of the Training Center included the official naming of the new facility in honor of BAC president and IMI co-chair John J. Flynn.

Twenty-four winners, selected from 107 talented BAC apprentices who competed in eight craft categories including marble and stone, were announced at the contest banquet at the National Building Museum, where BAC and IMI attendees and contestants warmly welcomed guest speaker Senator Hillary Clinton. In addition to congratulating the BAC contestants, Sen. Clinton accepted the International Union's endorsement for president.

The John J. Flynn BAC/IMI International Training Center in Bowie, Md., was dedicated in September.
Photo courtesy of the BAC/IMI

"The Apprentice Contest shows how dedicated to their careers these young craftworkers are, and the new Training Center clearly demonstrates our union's and our contractors' commitment to the future," Flynn said.

The new $30 million training center offers training on an international level to BAC members at all stages of their careers, along with education programs for contractors, designers and others. The 25-acre campus has an approved site plan of more than 240,000 square feet of training, classroom and office space.

For details on the International Apprentice Contest or to learn more about the John J. Flynn BAC/IMI International Training Center, go to www.bacweb.org or www.imiweb.org.

MIA 2007 Award Winners Announced
MIA Natural Stone Scholarship Award Winner

The Marble Institute of America, Inc. (MIA) announces the winner of its Natural Stone Scholarship Award: Alberto Garcia, a maintenance mechanic and fabricator for Castle Rock Marble and Granite Inc. of Bronx, N.Y.

Garcia's selection was based on a 500-word essay explaining his commitment to the natural stone industry and why he desires to continue his career in the industry.

The education scholarship covered travel expenses to StonExpo 2007, in Las Vegas, Nev., the natural stone industry's premier exhibition and educational event. "There is so much more I can learn," Garcia wrote in his essay. "I can and want to continue to grow in the natural stone industry, promoting our products and motivating consumers through the sheer beauty of natural stone. I want to participate more and see where this career can take me."

"The Marble Institute of America is excited to recognize Mr. Garcia's commitment to the natural stone industry," stated Gary Distelhorst, executive vice president of MIA. "The intent of the MIA Natural Stone Scholarship Award is to provide educational opportunities for aspiring natural stone professionals, and the opportunity to expand one's knowledge."

Garcia was recognized at the MIA Awards luncheon in Las Vegas on Oct. 19.

2007 Pinnacle Award Winners
MIA's Pinnacle Awards honor projects that demonstrate exceptional beauty, creativity, ingenuity and craftsmanship in the use of granite, marble, travertine, limestone and other natural stones. The competition is open to MIA members around the world.

The winners were announced at the MIA's Annual Awards Luncheon in Las Vegas on Oct. 19, 2007, during the industry's trade show, StonExpo.

The 2007 Pinnacle Awards winners are:

• Commercial Interior Award of Excellence to Carnevale and Lohr of Bell Gardens, Calif., for the Creative Artists Agency in Los Angeles.
• Commercial Exterior Awards of Excellence to Intrepid Stone Contractors of Harvey, La., for the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, Tenn., and to Henraux S.p.a. of Querceta (Lucca), Italy for First Citizens Bank Headquarters in Columbia, S.C.
• Renovation/Restoration Award of Excellence to Rugo Stone of Lorton, Va., for the renovation of the Basilica of the Assumption in Baltimore, Md.
• Residential Interior/Exterior Award of Excellence to Millennium Stone Ltd. of Port Chester, N.Y. for a master bath at the Signorelli home in Port Chester.
• A special Pinnacle Award of Excellence for Craftsmanship was presented to Carrara Marble Company of America of Industry, Calif., for its work on a new 12-story office building at 2000 Avenue of the Stars in Los Angeles.
• Two Awards of Merit were presented in the Residential Interior/Exterior category to Columbia Stone of Tualatin, Ore., for the Broadway Residence in San Francisco, Calif., and to Twin City Tile & Marble Company of St. Paul, Minn., for a private residence in Minnetonka, Minn.
• Two Awards of Merit were presented in the Commercial Exterior category for work on the Sacramento Temple in Rancho Cordova, Calif. The awards went to Bestview International Company of Wood Dale, Ill., and to KEPCO+ of Salt Lake City, Utah.
• One Award of Merit in the Commercial Interior category went to Rugo Stone, LLC of Lorton, Va., for the Dewey Ballantine offices in Washington, D.C.
• A Restoration/Renovation Award of Merit was presented to Camarata Masonry Systems of Houston, Texas, for its work on the 919 Milam Building Garage Conversion in Houston

To view a copy of the 2007 Pinnacle Awards brochure, which depicts the winning entries, or to see the actual awards presentation please go to www.marble-institute.com/awards.

AGI Announces 2008 President
The American Geological Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce Dr. Peter J. McCabe as its new president. He was inducted on Oct. 30 at the Geological Society of America annual meeting in Denver, Colo.

McCabe received a bachelor's in geology from the University of Hull and then his Ph.D. from the University of Keele, both in the United Kingdom. He has worked as an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska, as a research geologist for Exxon Production Research Company, and was manager of Coal Geology for the Alberta Research Council. From there, he spent 20 years at the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver where he directed a project to study Cretaceous strata of the Western United States and was active in assessing world oil and gas resources. Currently, McCabe is working for CSIRO in Sydney, Australia, where he is the theme leader for the Petroleum Resources Division and is studying the petroleum potential of frontier basins.

In addition to his involvement at AGI, he has been active in a number of geoscience organizations including, the Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM), Geological Society of America, and American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society's use of resources, resiliency to natural hazards and interaction with the environment.

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