Continuing Education

Course Details:
Innovative landscape architects are constantly looking for new ways to push the envelope of creativity. In this course we will examine built case studies that describe how collaboration at the different stages of design, fabrication and installation can lead to innovative design solutions.

Course Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Understand the way designers work with quarriers and manufacturers during the design process.
Learning Objective 2: Understand what questions to ask the natural stone provider to increase the collaborative process.
Learning Objective 3: Understand the traditional and cutting-edge technologies that have re-shaped the way we design today.
Learning Objective 4: Through case studies, examine the communications process between designer and fabricator in inventive projects.

Program approved for 1 LU/HSW by the American Institute of Architects (AIA/CES) and the American Society of Landscape Architects (LA CES).

Course Details:
In this course, participants will receive education through case study examples on creating value for owners of landscape projects using natural stone. Participants will lean how to bring their vision to reality with the selection and specification of stone that maximizes the material’s benefits. Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to identify opportunities for incorporating stone into a project, while keeping budget in mind and providing owners with an enduring, environmentally sustainable solution.

Course Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Understand how to select one stone with multiple finishes to maximize the stone’s usage and applications in the landscape while providing the variety desired.
Learning Objective 2: Learn how to create value in design through technology such as CNC (Computer Numeric Control).
Learning Objective 3: Identify how to specify natural stone with considerations such as sustainability and maximizing materials.
Learning Objective 4: Recognize how working with a reliable stone source creates value.

Program approved for 1 LU/HSW by the American Institute of Architects (AIA/CES) and the American Society of Landscape Architects (LA CES).

Course Details:
In recent years, campuses across the country have experienced a rebirth in design. Designers are experimenting with traditional materials such as natural stone and incorporating them in modern applications. Buildings and hardscapes must present a timeless, iconic elegance designed with durability and longevity in mind. Beautiful plazas and natural settings bring students outside, while thoughtfully designed hardscapes connect multiple buildings and provide opportunities for students to connect and share ideas. At the same time, walking surfaces are tasked with handling the elements and wear and tear of high-traffic areas. Through case study examples, we’ll discuss how to incorporate natural stone into campus design for iconic, durable, low-maintenance and creative solutions.

Course Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Understand the key goals for modern campus design and how natural stone can meet the needs for beauty, durability, prestige and low-maintenance.
Learning Objective 2: Understand how natural can be incorporated into durable, high-traffic hardscapes, including the appropriate finishes.
Learning Objective 3: Understand how to use natural stone to give the appearance of a building with tradition and a long history, while incorporating modern designs.
Learning Objective 4: Understand how natural stone can be incorporated into artistic elements in campus design.

Program approved for 1 LU/HSW by the American Institute of Architects (AIA/CES) and the American Society of Landscape Architects (LA CES).

Course Details:
Natural stone offers one of the most durable and creative options for landscape paving. To ensure natural stone paving holds up to the projects demands such as location’s climate, intended use, it’s important to select the proper setting bed method for the project. This course will examine the advantages of four primary types of setting bed methods, environmental considerations and intended applications for each method. In addition, finish treatments for paving will be examined, especially for preventing slipping in wet or icy conditions.

Course Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Understand the four types of setting beds: mortar set, sand set, pedestal set and bituminous set.
Learning Objective 2: Understand the advantages and recommendations for each setting bed methods.
Learning Objective 3: Learn the best finishes for natural stone paving, depending on the stone used, the environment it is in, and the volume of foot traffic it receives.
Learning Objective 4: Through case studies, examine how natural stone is used in various paving applications.

Program approved for 1 LU/HSW by the American Institute of Architects (AIA/CES) and the American Society of Landscape Architects (LA CES).

Course Details:
This course is intended to instruct attendees about the use of stone in projects as well as defining the key elements in the design process.

Course Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Participants will develop an understanding of when and why stone elements should drive the design intent of the overall project.
Learning Objective 2: Participants will understand the importance of project team interaction with stone specialist.
Learning Objective 3: Participants will identify and discuss the importance of the process of stone design including needs assessment, stone selection, suitability, as well as BIM and stone design.
Learning Objective 4: Participants will develop an understanding of the importance of quarry and fabrication plant tours to view materials in their natural setting and have a better idea to surface finishes as applied to finished materials.

Program approved for 1 LU/HSW by the American Institute of Architects (AIA/CES) and the American Society of Landscape Architects (LA CES).

Course Details:
This course will focus on the architect’s sampling process, surface finishes, graphics, basic stone detailing, BIM object libraries, and will touch lightly on anchoring systems. The objective is to provide an understanding of available finishes, and design tools available to architects as they begin the design process and progress toward contract drawings. Consideration will also be given to budget pricing and cost implications of various design options.

Course Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Examine and compare various finishes for stone applications.
Learning Objective 2: Recognize quarry range and background color and appropriate project sampling procedures.
Learning Objective 3: Explore anchoring systems, basic detailing, and BIM libraries for stone project design.
Learning Objective 4: Analyze pricing and budget considerations for standard stone details.

Program approved for 1 LU/HSW by the American Institute of Architects (AIA/CES) and American Society of Landscape Architects (LA CES) and .1 LU by the Interior Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC).

Course Details:
This course is an introduction to commercially available natural stones (Granite, Limestone, Sandstone, and Marble) as used in dimension stone production. Geology as it relates to each stone type will be provided to aid in understanding each stone type’s physical properties. Stone harvesting and fabrication will be discussed to educate and provide insight into quarry and production techniques that contribute to successful architectural projects (understanding quarries, color and natural markings as they relate to natural stone, etc). ASTM Testing procedures and relative values will be discussed in relation to the stone categories considered. Also discussed will be piece size and thickness as it relates to the use of each stone type and the effect of quarry type and technique.

Course Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Identify the three basic geological stone formations and distinguish their inherent physical characteristics as they relate to architectural stone use.
Learning Objective 2: Define ASTM testing procedures and values relative to stone types and understand comparative performance values by stone species.
Learning Objective 3: Develop an understanding of natural stone quarrying and fabrication and how they relate to finished materials and piece sizes.
Learning Objective 4: Explore various stone applications and the possibilities that exist with using natural stone.

Program approved for 1 LU/HSW by the American Institute of Architects (AIA/CES), American Society of Landscape Architects (LA CES) and .1 LU by the Interior Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC).

Course Details:
When set against a backdrop of natural stone, water features can take a variety of creative directions. Whether the goal is to create a design that’s tranquil, playful or dramatic, stone and water pair up beautifully and are natural complements to each other. When considering a stone-water combination, it’s important to understand which stones perform the best with water and how different fabrication techniques and finishes accomplish the designer’s vision. Precision fabrication techniques are an important consideration that allow designers to extend the limits creativity. This course will examine the elements of fabrication and stone selection to ensure a beautiful outcome with a stone-water design.

Course Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Recognize how to select the proper stone for water applications by understanding physical characteristics such as porosity and absorption rate.
Learning Objective 2: Understand the importance of precision fabrication capabilities when designing with natural stone and water features.
Learning Objective 3: Learn how different finishes affect the overall appearance of the water feature.
Learning Objective 4: Through case studies, examine creative landscape designs that incorporate natural stone with water elements.

Program approved for 1 LU/HSW by the American Institute of Architects (AIA/CES) and American Society of Landscape Architects (LA CES) and .1 LU by the Interior Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC).

Course Details:
In this course, design teams will learn how to specify stone for sustainable projects and how certified stone aligns with leading green building certifications such as LEED v.4 and the Living Building Challenge.

Course Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Understand the material health of natural stone, including the Declare Label.
Learning Objective 2: Understand the sustainable practices for sourcing and quarrying natural stone, including the elements.
Learning Objective 3: Learn how natural stone aligns with green building programs such as LEED v.4 and the Living Building Challenge.
Learning Objective 4: Understand how to specify natural stone to achieve sustainability goals on projects.

Program approved for 1 LU/HSW by the American Institute of Architects (AIA/CES), Interior Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC), American Society of Landscape Architects (LA CES), and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI).

Course Details:
Natural stone has been the building material of choice since the beginning of time due to its strength and durability. With seemingly endless possibilities that can create a unique and dramatic exterior, natural stone cladding also delivers a striking aesthetic to projects big and small. By fully understanding natural stone cladding’s capabilities, design teams can push the limits of imagination and design a stunning project that will be an inspiration for years to come. This course will examine stone selection and fabrication, external forces affecting natural stone cladding, and the different cladding techniques used today.

Course Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Learn how to select the proper stone for exterior cladding through understanding the physical characteristics of each stone such as color, finish, weight and other properties.
Learning Objective 2: Explore the different cladding techniques such as rainscreens, honeycomb and traditional handset that create a range of dramatic visuals.
Learning Objective 3: Through case studies, examine creative cladding designs that incorporate natural stone with the beauty of their surroundings.
Learning Objective 4: Learn about attachment systems and key considerations when working on cladding applications.

Program approved for 1 LU/HSW by the American Institute of Architects (AIA/CES) and the American Society of Landscape Architects (LA CES).

Course Details:
Explore how lightweight natural stone panels bring sustainability and design flexibility to both exterior and interior applications. This course covers how stone is responsibly sourced and engineered into innovative panel systems that reduce material use while maintaining the strength and beauty of natural stone. Learn how these panels meet structural and environmental performance standards, contribute to LEED certification, and unlock new aesthetic possibilities.

Course Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Understand how natural stone can be selected and extracted using sustainable practices, and provide the basis for creating lightweight stone panels.
Learning Objective 2: Learn about the manufacturing process to create a lightweight stone panel, which utilizes less stone and saves natural resources.
Learning Objective 3: Identify the various aesthetic options and architectural features that can be achieved when using lightweight stone panels.
Learning Objective 4: Discover how utilizing lightweight stone panels can meet structural performance requirements, are safe in extreme environmental conditions, can achieve LEED credits, and can help reduce design, engineering and final installation costs.

Program approved by the American Institute of Architects (AIA/CES), American Society of Landscape Architects (LA CES), and Interior Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC).

Course Details:
This course is an overview of the equipment and sequence of fabrication processes used to create cuts and finishes per the design specifications for natural stone building products. Participants will recognize how architectural drawings translate into shop tickets and apply to the fabrication process. Illustrative examples of natural stone fabrication standards and how finished products are prepared for shipping and installation will convey realistic expectations in specifying design requirements for building and landscape projects.

Course Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Show the machinery and use of each throughout the various aspects of how natural stone is fabricated to design specifications.
Learning Objective 2: Understand the purpose and process of shop drawings and see examples of carry through from selection through fabrication.
Learning Objective 3: Identify some commonly specified cuts and applications of natural stone and illustrate the variety of finishes available.
Learning Objective 4: Understand how fabricated natural stone is prepared for installation, packaged and processed for shipment.

Program approved for 1 LU/HSW by the American Institute of Architects (AIA/CES) and the American Society of Landscape Architects (LA CES).

Course Details:
This course is to observe an operating quarry with an overview of granite geology and composition. Understand fundamentals of quarrying granite by viewing an extraction operation that results in commonly used material. Witness how employing industry best practices support sustainable operation goals toward social, economic and environmental responsibility.

Course Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Recall the geologic region of the granite formations and its quarrying history.
Learning Objective 2: Understand the composition of granite deposits with explanation of standard extraction methods, fabrication capabilities, and common uses in building and landscape design applications.
Learning Objective 3: Examine the fundamentals of extracting, cutting, staging and transporting granite by viewing the quarry site and surrounding facility operations.
Learning Objective 4: Observe how efforts of quarry reclamation support natural stone industry best practices and sustainability goals.

Program approved for 1 LU/HSW by the American Institute of Architects (AIA/CES) and the American Society of Landscape Architects (LA CES).