Changing the Game

CHANGING THE GAME Matt Assenmacher is founder and managing partner of strategic sourcing firm ViaMaris Imports, and managing partner of commercial flooring and stone contracting business Top Tile & Stoneworks. For more information, visit www.ViaMarisImports.com an d www.TopTile.net, em ail matta@toptile.net or call 407-296-0113. Given these intricate, important factors, it was clear that specialized and meticulous material sourcing would be needed to meet the designer’s intent. So, while cost was certainly a consideration, finding material that would serve as a seamless transition to the existing floor took top priority. Exceeding expectations When the project’s general contracting team was handed the material specifi- cations and tasked with tracking down the rare granite, they turned to ViaMaris Imports—a partner on nearly 25 projects in the decade leading up to the St. Regis Bal Harbour renovation. To deliver precisely sourced tile and stone products, often at significant savings, ViaMaris has developed an extensive network of overseas suppliers to help procure hard-to-find materials—a differentiator that would be necessary to completing the lobby extension as envisioned. ViaMaris quickly identified a supplier in Henan that could deliver the needed black peony; however, the quarry was no longer actively excavating granite from its source mountain, so the supply for the proj- ect would need to be hand-selected from the existing block supply that was stored on-site. ViaMaris executives flew to China to oversee this selection personally to ensure each block met the size and pattern requirements. While overseas, the team also visited the factory where the granite blocks would be processed into tiles to ensure the facility met the quality and production standards expected by the St. Regis brand. For ViaMaris and the general contract- ing team, the time invested in pre-planning for the project paid off. When the ViaMaris team arrived in Henan to meet with the supplier, they discovered that the quarry’s elevation and lack of accessible roads would require additional time for transpor- tation. Processing was temporarily placed on hold, as well, until early spring as the granite could not be transported down the quarry’s steep slopes in the peak of winter. If these unknowns hadn’t been accounted for in the planning process, the team would have run the risk of delaying the project. Once the weather had thawed, the raw blocks were shipped to the fabri- cation facility and the processed tiles were delivered to the United States approximately eight weeks later. Once the black peony granite had been sourced at the specified pattern and size, it was time to kick off the installation process. The project’s general contractor worked with Top Tile & Stoneworks—Via- Maris’ sister company—for the installation. As the natural veining found in black peony granite renders the material prone to cracking, it was important to secure a part- ner with a proven track record of precise handling and installation, as well as the ability to make informed recommendations on proper post-install care instructions for specialized materials. Installers worked hand in hand with the general contracting team to pick up where sourcing left off to complete the project ahead of dead- line, culminating in a stunning finished product that matched the designer’s intent. In the end, the project’s challenges also served as its rewards. Finding an exact match for such a rare material while still accommodat- ing the pattern requirements was extremely satisfying to all involved and supported the maintenance of the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort’s reputa- tion as an impeccably designed, must-see Miami destination. CCR Matt Assenmacher, along with fellow ViaMaris Managing Partner, Robert Muramatsu, on a visit to the black peony quarry in the Henan province in China. Rare products become rarer still when aesthetic specifications come into play. For this project, it was critical that the density and hue of each flower formation match the granite of the existing lobby. 170 COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — MARCH : APRIL 2019