ARTISAN TILE & MARBLE
CO. OF NJ, INC.

Newburgh MallNewburgh, New York

Nestled in a small community along the Hudson in Newburgh, New York is a small shopping mall managed by Kravco, Inc. Built in 1980, this mall was typical for its time - sealed concrete floors with a 2’ brick border.

In mid-1998 the mall was renovated with nearly 50,000 square feet of 12 x 12" stone tiles, as imported by Innovative Marble. These tiles consisted of marble, granite and limestone imported from around the world. With a 4’ x 4’ checkerboard, consisting of Imperial and Mojave light gold marbles, a very creative three-dimensional geometric design dominates the mall. Lines of Solnhofen green limestone were accented with African Black Galatia dots.

These combinations formed a unique and intricate installation, which was featured in the April 15, 1999 issue of Tile & Decorative Surfaces magazine. The article, entitled "Focus On: Remodeling & Renovation", described the mall’s striking juxtaposition of patterns and colors and the recent trend toward the use of such design concepts.

Three court areas were enhanced with medallion murals consisting of red Selborne, dark taupe, and Grigio Plaja. Due to the time constraints (the mall had to be completed in nine weeks), the possibility of using waterjet pre-cut medallions was prohibitive. Twenty-four union craftsmen completed the task of creating these murals in the field, on time (with no overtime).

The special challenges of this complex installation were magnified as the mall remained open and in complete operation during the installation process. This called for precision management and coordination between the installation team, the general contractor, the mall, and its tenants - while still trying to create the spectacular patterns and medallions envisioned by the architect.

The revitalization of this mall was further complicated by the requirements of over 30,000 square feet of N.A.C.’s E.C.B. crack suppression membrane and Mapei’s self leveling. Both Kerabond/Keralastic and Mapei’s Granirapid were used for installation. CTC’s Tranz 12 bronze strip was required at all storefronts. The curves and circles of the medallions complemented the bold stripes, diagonals, and angular lines sweeping throughout the mall.

The design team for this project was additionally challenged by criteria set forth to create an elegant, functional facility all the while making prudent budgetary decisions. This was accomplished by the intricate layout and installation that truly sets a new standard in the use of field set stone by skilled artisans.

The challenge in designing and creating an environment that would exemplify luxury in an atmosphere of elegance and richness could only have been accomplished with the cooperative efforts of true craftsmen working to create the architect’s appealing designs.