Upon the dawn of a new project, our architect and designer clients are quick to ask "do you have photographs of a similar application?". (Part of us must think designers are trained to ask those kinds of questions, as logic and an obligation to guide the owner to make sound investments take hold in these early evaluation stages.)

Our proud answer is often, "no". Quite frankly, we'd be bored if the answer to the question was "yes", and so would you. GPI prides itself on achieving unique works of art in stone and light that take extreme engineering feats, technical manipulation of surfaces and lighting... resulting in architectural pieces that are rare, unusual, and downright striking.

Think of the sculptor in this photo-he is reacting both emotionally and logically to a given set of parameters to create a distinct piece. The clay product is not really the focus here (you could buy clay from anywhere); the clay is manipulated by the sculptor's expert hands - formed through experience and insight.

The way that we work is different from what the A/D community typically expects out of a material supplier, so we like to establish early in the game that it’s in everyone’s best interest to view GPI as a member of your creative team and not just a vendor. We will work together to create exquisitely detailed features. If you’re wanting to take a risk for a truly unique piece, send us your sketches and let’s get started setting precedents for the architectural community.

Photo credit: User bdjsb7 via Flickr Creative Commons

A pretty typical situation occurred here at GPI this week.  A lighting design firm had specified our Infuse™ flat LED panels for a large commercial project, and the contractor ended up making a substitution in order to try to save some money.  As it turns out, the substituted LED panel product looks absolutely terrible and the entire team, including the client, is very unhappy.  So, we received a slightly panicked email from the architect and lighting designer asking us to step in and solve the problem. 

We suspect that the substituted product was poorly made, but assuming that it wasn't, there's still a host of problems with the application.  Even if all flat LED panels are created equally, this particular LED company did not pay attention to the details, and ultimately wasted a significant amount of time and money.  The problems? Uneven illumination, panels sized incorrectly, bulky hardware that is interfering with the light, and absolutely no attention to light diffusion strategies... the textbook case for our integrated systems and process.

Budget is indeed a critical issue in building construction.  Flat LED panels are typically used in feature areas of buildings, becoming main spatial focal points that are evaluated with a discriminating eye.  So if you're looking to cut costs, it's not always wise to do so in such high-profile areas. 

The lesson here: investing more money up-front in a system from a company that will perform as you expect will help avoid costly replacements and changes down the line.  Many of our designers, especially our repeat clients, realize this value, but it can be difficult to communicate this seemingly intangible value to their clients.  What strategies do you use to convince building owners to invest in high-end products?

As an integrated engineering, design, and supply firm, we frequently work with suppliers, engineers, designers, and architects to provide our unique backlit onyx features. One topic that seems to be shrouded in mystery is the topic of fire safety and fire requirements. Terms are frequently confused or misused, and data is often difficult to find (if it even exists). So what are the different areas of fire safety?  What guidelines or codes do you have to follow?

First off, every country, and sometimes even city, has its own building codes that specify certain safety requirements in structures.  In the U.S., the most frequently used code is the IBC, (International Building Code) which is put forth by the ICC (International Code Council).

To meet these requirements, certain standards and tests must be carried out.  To this end, technical standards are written that dictate a list of requirements that must be met. These technical standards, or specifications, can be written by private companies, government agencies, or standards organizations- ASTM, ISO, CEN, etc.

Those are the basic terms, for those unacquainted with building codes and standards.  Onward to the flames!  There are two major categories of fire safety ratings.  First there is fire resistance.  Fire resistance deals with the ability of structural components (walls, floors, ceilings, doors) to restrict the spread of flame and maintain structural integrity in a fire. Fire resistance relates to structural fire performance and becomes important after a fire has started and threatens a building's structural integrity.  The fire resistance test method used throughout the United States is ASTM E 119, Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials.  Fire resistance is usually measured in hours that the material or structure withstands the flame of a certain temperature.

However, not everything in a building must be tested for fire resistance. Interior finishes and exposed materials- wall coverings, ceiling finishes, etc.- are usually tested for flame resistance.  Flame resistance deals with the potential for fire growth within a structure.  Instead of fire resistance, which describes the performance of materials once a fire has already started, flame resistance measures properties in the early stages of a fire. There are several categories within flame resistance; most notably flame spread index and smoke-developed index.

The flame spread index (FSI) measures how quickly a flame propagates, or moves, across a surface. Materials are assigned values in the U.S. using a test known as ASTM E-84, Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials. Materials are measured on a scale of 0-1000. A low FSI indicates a low burn rate.  Thus, 0 is calibrated to noncombustible materials (i.e. concrete) while 100 is calibrated to 23/32” red oak flooring.  Classification in codes are:



The smoke-developed index (SDI) measures the concentration of smoke given off as a material burns. The index ranges from 0-450, and a low SDI indicates a low smoke development rate.  



Depending on the local codes, building occupancy, and intended building use, different requirements and levels of performance will be needed.  And here at GPI Design, our team of designers, engineers, and architects will work with you to achieve a beautiful LED backlit onyx feature that will meet the codes- and exceed your expectations!

Onyx itself is a luxurious material, and when integrated with the proper backlighting techniques the layers and depth of the stone is further brought to life.  You’re investing money and design time into this natural product, so consider the following tips to properly showcase its natural beauty:

1. Choose a stone that has significant visible veining or texture- the natural color and movement will distinguish the high-end natural stone finish from a man-made alternative.

(above image: Maker's Mark backlit onyx bar in Indianapolis by GPI Design)

2. White onyx is the least forgiving stone for backlighting applications.  Backlit white onyx is prone to hot and cold spots, so allow more space between the stone and the lighting source or consider using diffusion scrims and filters.

3. When designing with standard dimensional stone panels, ensure that the light source is bright enough to transfer through the stone surface.

4. When designing with glass-backed stone panels, ensure that the glass is non-leaded.  Leaded glass casts a greenish tint and can alter the color of the natural stone surface.

5. When designing a ceiling or wall layout of backlit onyx panels, consider the book matching composition and how the seams will interact with the natural veining of the stone. (Read our previous blog post on book matching natural stone for more details.)

Designing with light and natural stone comes with its own set of limitations, so take time to mock-up the stone and light assemblies or choose a company with experience in integrating the two products.

With precise attention to book-matching, designing with natural stone can result in striking compositions.

Are you familiar with the old adage “measure twice, cut once”? To obtain perfect veining patterns in our stone feature walls, at GPI it’s more like “measure twice. draw a diagram. step back and think about it. call the design department. then cut”.

(Photograph courtesy danielpermanetter via Flickr Creative Commons)

Book-matching is a reflection of stone veining patterns across a joint so that adjacent panels appear as “mirror images”. Think of an open book: the left page is one panel, the right page is another, and the spine of the book is the joint. Book-match patterns are most commonly found in wood veneers, but the same principles apply to dimensional stone and stone veneer as well. Other variations of matching patterns include: blend match, slip match, and diamond match.

The quality of book-matching can make or break that uninterrupted wall of backlit stone that you have envisioned. Disregard the continuity between panels, and you risk having skewed veining patterns that appear to shift and jump as they move across joints. This uncontrolled use of natural stone gives the appearance of a defect or installation error, so care must be taken in the manufacturing and installation process to ensure quality control. Many natural stone panels are pre-fabricated and cut to size, making on-site adjustments costly and time-consuming.

(Above image: Book match/diamond match seams at GPI's Signature Place project)

Because stone possesses movement and graining sculpted by natural processes, each slab is unique. The visual prominence of bookmatching depends on the veining characteristics and color variations of that particular stone in use. The sharp red veins of a stark white onyx are emphasized by precise mirroring (see above photograph), while a more uniformly colored stone surface will have less pronounced book-matching.

To ensure quality book matching, care must be taken when choosing a stone manufacturer. Fluid communication between the sales, design and manufacturing departments is truly the only way to ensure attention to detail. A responsible stone company will have the insight, experience, and quality control standards to achieve those tight seams. Unfortunately, with many typical stone manufacturers, pertinent information is lost as a project moves from stone tickets into production. Make sure to detail your stone wall elevations and call out the particular seams which should be book matched. You've gone to painstaking measures to detail your prominent stone feature, so take a few minutes to ensure that you nail the details.