Building Stone in Architecture
Building stone has been admired by philosophers, writers and artists for centuries.
“Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.” -Michelangelo
Architects agree that building stone is a really attractive material. But it is the combination of attractiveness, strength, and durability that set stone apart from other building materials.
The earliest known use of stone was by prehistoric humans for their flint weapons and tools. Later, building stone was used to construct structures for habitation, recreation, and worship. Metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary rock have all been used in buildings for centuries. Many and various kinds of natural stone used in building projects, including castles, cathedrals, and barns can be viewed on this fun webpage from the University of Georgia.
Because of its attractiveness, strength, and durability, stone is used in many forms on architectural projects. Natural dimension or block stone and crushed stone are used on interior and exterior building components of walls, foundations, stairs, chimneys and for paving projects. Typically, building stone is selected based on its appearance, availability, cost, and durability. Transportation is a major cost of obtaining stone, so we usually specify locally available stone.
Crushed stone is used as the base for parking lot and road construction. It is also a structural material used to bridge unsuitable soil under building foundations. Quarrying and mining crushed stone usually requires drilling and blasting, followed by processing. The stone is crushed and sorted by size prior to use in paving construction. Although crushed stone is hidden under the building foundation or paving, its strength and durability are being tested every day.
Indiana limestone is the locally available dimension or block stone that we use because it is readily available, durable, and gorgeous. It was used on the exterior of the National Cathedral in Washington, DC and on the Biltmore Estate which was constructed in 1895. We are using Indiana limestone accents on the new Wintrust Financial project, State Bank of the Lakes, which was just opened in Round Lake Beach, IL.
Limestone has a light, neutral appearance. Its subtle variations make it attractive as an accent on brick buildings for sills, quoins, keystones, coping, and lintels. Because of its consistent appearance, Indiana limestone is a great choice for buildings that may be expanded in the future. It is also versatile and easy to carve and shape, but is very durable and ages gracefully. The advent of CNC machines has enabled natural building stone to be more competitive with cast stone. We provide drawings and specifications for the stone and then it is cut to fit before being shipped to the job site. Check out the Indiana Limestone Institute’s beautiful building project photos.
As architects, we admire stone for its beautiful appearance. But, it is natural stone’s combination of attractiveness, strength, and durability that set it apart from other building materials.
