Latest News


  • ~ CSI 2023 DESIGN & MANUFACTURING EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS ~
    The following winners were chosen by a panel of judges.

    Commercial
    Name of Project: West Campus Dining Hall, University of Tennessee
    Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
    Producer Member:
    Midwest Cast Stone - Kansas City, Kansas
    Architect: Architect: Johnson Architecture Inc.

    Name of Project: Cook Children’s Medical Center
    Location: Prosper, Texas
    Producer Member: Advanced Architectural Stone - Fort Worth, Texas
    Architect: David M. Schwarz Architects, Inc.

    Name of Project: St. Phillip the Apostle Catholic Church
    Location: Flower Mound, Texas
    Producer Member: Advanced Architectural Stone - Fort Worth, Texas
    Architect: Scott A. Martsolf Architect


    Single Family Residence
    Name of Project: Village of West Clay Residence
    Location: Carmel, Indiana
    Producer Member:
    Custom Cast Stone - Westfield, Indiana
    Architect: James L. Holly

    Restoration
    Name of Project: Church of Saint Lukes & Saint Matthews
    Location: Brooklyn, New York
    Producer Member:
    Vestacast - Maspeth, New York
    Architect: Saltzman Architects

    Name of Project: 49 Grove Street
    Location: Brooklyn, New York
    Producer Member:
    Vestacast - Maspeth, New York
    Architect: Christine Locke / EDG Design + Restore

    Everyday Excellence
    Name of Project: Midlothian Heritage High School
    Location: Midlothian, Texas
    Producer Member:
    Advanced Architectural Stone - Fort Worth, Texas
    Architect: VLK Architects

    Hardscape
    Name of Project: N Tranquil Path West Wing
    Location: Houston, Texas
    Producer Member:
    Siteworks, Inc. - Houston, Texas
    Architect: Todd Rice / Rice Residential Design

    Unique Architectural Feature
    Name of Project: River Crossing Feature Wall
    Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
    Producer Member:
    Custom Cast Stone - Westfield, Indiana
    Architect: Indy Custom Stone

    Manufacturing
    Name of Project: Church of Saint Lukes & Saint Matthews
    Location: Brooklyn, New York
    Producer Member:
    Vestacast - Maspeth, New York

    Name of Project: Stamford Central School District
    Location: Stamford, New York
    Producer Member:
    Sun Precast Co., Inc. - Beaver Springs, Pennsylvania

    Name of Project: University of North Texas Joe Green Residence Hall & Visitor Center
    Location: Denton, Texas
    Producer Member:
    Advanced Architectural Stone - Fort Worth, Texas

    Craftsmanship
    Name of Project: West Campus Dining Hall, University of Tennessee
    Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
    Producer Member:
    Midwest Cast Stone - Kansas City, Kansas
    Mason: Gentry & Painter, Inc. / Blaine Construction Corporation

    Name of Project: 49 Grove Street
    Location: Greenwich Village, New York City
    Producer Member:
    Vestacast - Maspeth, New York
    Mason: M Group Management Corp.

    Name of Project: Fannin County Court House
    Location: Bonham, Texas
    Producer Member:
    Advanced Architectural Stone - Fort Worth, Texas
    Mason: GG & S Construction / Turner Construction Company


    The Awards winners can be viewed anytime on the
    Photographs section of the website.


  • ~ CSI 2023 SAFETY AWARD WINNERS ~
    The following winners were recognized during the Annual Convention Dinner.

    PLATINUM
    In Recognition of Zero OSHA Recordable Injuries During Calendar Year 2022.
    Producer Member: Vestacast
    Associate Member:Dynamic Color Solutions, Inc.

    GOLD
    In Recognition of the Best Non-Zero OSHA Recordable Injuries During Calendar Year 2022.
    Producer Member: Custom Cast Stone, Inc.

    SILVER
    In Recognition of the Second Best Non-Zero OSHA Recordable Injuries During Calendar Year 2022.
    Producer Member: Sun Precast Co., Inc.


  • ~ 2020 CSI PUBLISHED ARTICLE ~
    Masons Guide to Job Site Handling and Maintenance of Architectural Cast Stone
    Published in Masonry Magazine June 2020
    View article as PDF View a pdf of the latest Cast Stone Institute article



  • ~ 2019 CSI PUBLISHED ARTICLE ~
    Architectural Cast Stone - Technical Resources At A Glance
    Published in Masonry Magazine June 2019
    View article as PDF View a pdf of the latest Cast Stone Institute article



  • ~ CSI TECHNICAL RESOURCES BROCHURE ~
    View a PDF View a pdf of the latest Cast Stone Institute brochure of our latest brochure with valuable information for architects and masons. This beautiful 12 page brochure highlights the new CSI Technical Bulletins as well as other technical references.


  • ~ CSI INFORMATIONAL BROCHURE ~
    View a PDF View a pdf of the latest Cast Stone Institute brochure of our informative brochure for the latest information on Cast Stone, how it varies from other products, and the benefits of choosing one of our Certified Cast Stone Institute® Producing Members.


    OTHER CSI PUBLISHED ARTICLES
  • Architectural Cast Stone - What You Should Know Now
    Published in Masonry Magazine May 2017
    View as PDF


  • Cast Stone – a Quality Masonry Product Simulating Natural Stone
    Published Article
    View as HTML View as PDF


  • Architectural Cast Stone – Versatile, Robust & Sustainable
    Published Article
    View as HTML View as PDF


  • Restoring Historic Structures with Cast Stone
    Published Article
    View as HTML View as PDF


  • Cast Stone Institute® Education Opportunities
    Published Article
    View as HTML View as PDF


  • Specifying Cast Stone
    Published Article
    View as HTML View as PDF


  • Cast Stone Dilemma
    Published Article
    View as HTML View as PDF


  • Difference Between Cast Stone and Adhered Manufactured Stone Masonry Veneer
    Published Article

    View as HTML View as PDF



     
  • CAST STONE INSTITUTE PRODUCER MEMBER 10 YEAR LIMITED PRODUCT WARRANTY

    As of January 1, 2011, all Certified Cast Stone Institute Producing Members will provide a 10 year Limited Product Warranty for the Cast Stone they supply on projects.


    Continuing to lead the industry, the Cast Stone Institute (CSI) Producer Members voted on October 8, 2010 to adopt the language for a 10 year Limited Product Warranty. CSI Institute Producer Members are aware of the evolving environment for products in the marketplace that demand sustainability, durability and useable service life. This warranty demonstrates that CSI Producer Members embrace these principles and produce product that will stand the test of time.

    WHO IS The Cast Stone Institute?
    The Cast Stone Institute®, founded in 1927, is an organization of certified Cast Stone Manufacturers and related professionals committed to developing standards and promoting the use of cast stone. We continually strive to encourage, through research, development and member training, the continual improvement of cast stone’s unique characteristics and educate designers and users of cast stone on the inherent value, quality and best practices in the use of cast stone.

    Certified Producer Members of the Cast Stone Institute are engaged in the relentless pursuit of excellence in manufacturing. Prior to admission, each potential producer member must submit to a rigorous examination of product quality, safety, testing (including freeze thaw) and meticulous record keeping. They must submit test data twice a year and undergo the recertification process every other year with unannounced inspections. The results of these efforts include consistently high product quality, through continuous improvement in manufacturing methods and materials, and the assurance that Cast Stone Institute Certified member plants are “on the job” keeping cast stone a premier building material. The Cast Stone Institute, through its standing committees, disseminates current information and standards regarding the design, manufacturing, installation and use of cast stone.
    As of January 1, 2011, all Certified Producing Members of the Cast Stone Institute will provide a 10 year Limited Product Warranty for the cast stone they supply on projects. This is yet one more way to showcase the commitment to quality product for the customers. A copy of the warranty is available via the link below.

    What is Cast Stone?
    Cast Stone is a premier masonry product that provides ornamental or functional features to buildings and other structures as per ASTM C1364-10. It is made from fine and coarse aggregates, Portland cement, mineral oxide color pigments, chemical admixtures and water. Cast stone products are available in virtually any color, and will give the appearance of a variety of natural building stones including but not limited to limestone, granite, slate, travertine or marble. Applications for Cast Stone range from the simplest windowsills to the most complicated architectural elements.

    Properly manufactured, Cast Stone has the same or stronger physical properties as most dimensional building stone. Properly selected and installed, cast stone can result in an architectural project of enduring beauty to be enjoyed for decades. Care and installation of cast stone are referenced in many of the Cast Stone Institute publications and tech bulletins available on this website.

    View Warranty as PDF
     

  • IMPORTANT!
    CAST STONE AS PER ASTM C-1364 IN BUILDING CODES
    The International Code Council (ICC) Family of Building Codes, including those for all structures, residential and others, have now been adopted in most States. These Codes are legally binding and supersede any other specification unless referenced in these documents.

    Most all materials in the Codes are referenced by definition and as per their ASTM number. In the past, Cast Stone has been referenced by definition only as a material that replicated natural stone with no ASTM requirement. This allowed for other products to be referenced in the Code under Cast Stone when it was not the same material.

    The Institute, through the efforts of the Masonry Alliance for Codes and Standards, forwarded a Code Change proposal to the ICC to require that Cast Stone be defined by, and comply with the requirements of ASTM C1364. This proposal was voted at the final action hearings in May 2010 and adopted. It will be included in the 2012 International Building Code (IBC) which will be available for distribution in April 2011.

    This is important for the Cast Stone industry as our product will be clearly defined and separated from other products, such as adhered veneer and lesser quality precast/masonry products. An architect or designer who specifies Cast Stone will indeed get what they have intended.

    All of our Cast Stone Institute members are supplying product that complies with ASTM C1364 so this is a win for us. All of the Cast Stone industry does not necessarily comply with all of the requirements of ASTM C1364 (which includes a freeze thaw component). It is our hope that this and other measures we are taking in the standards arena - note related article – will increase the product quality and therefore reduce failures from inferior Cast Stone product in the future.

    This initiative is yet one more benefit of being a Cast Stone Institute Member. We are looking out for our members and the industry and being proactive in this very important topics.