Architects, Designers Go Deep at Danby Quarry

MENDON, Vt. – Designers and architects went underground – deep underground – on Oct. 26 when Artistic Tile hosted its second annual tour of the Danby marble quarry of Vermont Quarries Corp. located within Dorset Mountain in Vermont.

 Click photo to enlargeThe group made a day of it, going round-trip from New York and getting some education on the road.

During the ride to Vermont, Artistic Tile President Joshua Levinson conducted a course –  “Journey from the Center of the Earth” – exploring stone’s journey from the quarry to the finished product. Attendees received CEU credits from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).  

The factory tour provided an additional CEU credit as well, including a trip inside the world’s largest underground marble quarry.

Once inside the mountain, guests saw the quarry processes in action, as excavators brought down two 140-ton walls and moved 20-ton blocks. Guests also viewed the operation of modern quarrying equipment, including a diamond-ire saw and chain saw; they also watched the enormous blocks cut into slabs and observed how different finishes are achieved.Click photo to enlarge

Actively mined for more than a century, the Danby quarry sits within 500 miles of many major Northeast U.S. population centers. Under the LEED® rating system for the use of regional materials, Danby stones qualify for one point when used within that 500-mile radius.

Danby marble is also GREENGUARD-certified by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, which establishes building standards to protect the health of a building’s occupants.  

“Visiting the quarry is truly a unique experience, and seeing the stone in its original birthplace brings a new appreciation to this magnificent material,” said Nancy Epstein, founder and CEO of Artistic Tile. “Witnessing our guests calling design clients to share the amazement of what they were experiencing while we were touring was the ultimate reward.

“Bringing stone to life is our goal and we are proud to have successfully fulfilled our mission,” Epstein added.

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