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Outstanding and visionary use of tile and stone in architecture and design will be recognized at Coverings 2009 with the annual presentation of the prestigious Spectrum and Prism Awards.
In issuing the Call for Entries, it was announced that the competitions for both honorsSpectrum for ceramic tile, Prism for natural stoneare open to international and domestic projects that best represent a mastery of the materials, overall creativity and imagination, plus installation competency. The awards have been a highlight of Coverings for most of the 20 years that the tile and stone expo and conference has been in existence. The 2009 show is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21 through Friday, April 24, at Chicagos McCormick Place Convention Center, and the Spectrum and Prism Awards ceremony is planned for the Wednesday evening of show week. More than 20,000 entry forms have been mailed, plus a downloadable version is available at http://www.coverings.com/ spectrum-prism-awards.html, The deadline for submissions is Friday, January 30.
The Spectrum Awards will honor outstanding projects featuring ceramic and porcelain, as well as mosaic and glass tiles, with the possibility of winners in seven categories earning a total of $10,000. There will be both a Commercial and Residential First Prize for Ceramic and Porcelain installations, plus an Award of Merit in this materials category. For use of Mosaic and Glass Tile, both a First Prize and Award of Merit also will be presented. Additionally, the judges will be asked to decide two Special Recognition Awards in any of the following categories: Green Achievement; Community Project; Architectural Excellence; Detail & Design.
The Prism Awards will be presented in eight categories, with a total of $11,000 to be awarded. Up for grabs are First and Award of Merit Prizes each for Residential, Commercial and Institutional installations featuring extraordinary use of stone, along with two discretionary Special Recognition awards similar to the Spectrum criteria.
To qualify, projects must have been completed between January 2005 and December 2008. Each submission must be accompanied by an electronic file; a pocket folder with an official entry form; a typed project description and identification information; and, high-resolution photography. The entry fee is $100 for a single project; $60 for each additional submission.
While Spectrum and Prism winners walk away with a tidy sum of money in their pockets, whats even more valuable are the long-term business payoffs the cachet of the awards have. The recognition that the award has brought my relatively small company has allowed me to have widespread exposure and commissions from designers and architects worldwide, admitted Eric Rattan, a 2008 Spectrum winner and owner of Santa Fe Design Studio, Madison, WI.
Brett Rugo, president of Rugo Stone, LLC, in Lorton, VA, echoed Rattans viewpoint. Weve now won two Prism Awards [2007 and 2008], and its been especially gratifying. The benefits that winning such an award have given my business cannot compare. I think everyone should participate because it is so well respected in the industry.
According to Glenn Feder, president client events, of National Trade Productions, which manages and produces Coverings, When you win a Spectrum or Prism Award, its much more than taking home a check and trophy. Its global recognition and instant publicity that can translate into unexpected project leads and inquiries. Its an addition to your sales portfolio and marketing materials that help impress and wow prospective clients.
With more than 37,000 guests from over 50 countries at Coverings, Spectrum and Prism honorees are automatically thrust into the global spotlight. Whats more, they benefit from the shows tremendous marketing muscle as news of the winners and their projects appears not only in nearly all the top North American industry publications, but also in those based overseas. A handsome, keepsake booklet profiling the winning projects is published by Coverings, and it has been a proven sales asset for past winners.
The 2008 Spectrum and Prism Awards are sponsored by Coverings and coordinated by the five sponsoring organizations of the show including ASCER (Spains Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Association), Confindustria Ceramica (Italian Association of Ceramics), CTDA (Ceramic Tile Distributors Association), NTCA (National Tile Contractors Association) and TCNA (Tile Council of North America).
About Coverings
Coverings is the stage for introducing some of the most innovative tile and stone products in the world. The exposition also serves as a valuable resource for continuing education for all categories of attendees, with informative, accredited seminars and live demonstration sessions conducted throughout the four days and all free of charge. For more information on attending or exhibiting at Coverings, please visit www.coverings.com or contact NTP at 703.683.8500
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