Madison, Wisc. -- Quarra Stone has launched a database that identifies dimensional stone quarries throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The database is designed to enable architects who are specifying natural stone in their projects to earn points towards LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. Current guidelines call for the award of one point towards LEED certification for builders who use dimensional stone that is quarried within 500 miles of construction.

 "T "The use of natural stone in buildings is one of the most interesting options in sustainable design today---nature has given us a material that has embodied energy of the highest level, "said Dr. George Skarmeas, AIA, AICP, principal director of preservation architecture, RMJM, an international architectural practice with offices worldwide. “For us as designers, knowing how we can access natural stone within the guidelines of sound sustainable principles and best practices is an important tool and a valuable resource that Quarra’s new data base is engineered to provide."

According to James Durham, president of Quarra Stone, taking a lead in providing the building industry with strategic resources to help stimulate measurable environmental benefits is a natural for his company:

  “We specialize in natural stone –an inherently earth friendly building product,” remarked Mr. Durham.  “Quarra has a deep commitment to the goals of sustainability and we are excited to be on the leading edge of providing our customers the services and resources they need to help them create environmentally sensitive architecture,” he added.

To create the quarry database, Mr. Durham engaged a task force of business school interns who worked on the initiative in consultation with LEED accredited professionals. During this project, the team also worked with the Deutsche Naturstein-Archiv-- the world’s largest collection of dimensional stone samples--- to help them increase the size and scope of their North American collection.

Over 500 quarries in the U.S. Canada and Mexico were identified for inclusion in the inventory which is slated to be updated quarterly. Quarra also established a “library” of samples from each quarry as well as accompanying data, photo images and product descriptions.

The new database will initially be made available exclusively to Quarra’s current clients and prospective clients who are specifying stone for major building projects. A Quarra team member will be assigned to help guide the data retrieval process and work closely with customers to strategically utilize the database in combination with Quarra’s other resources to help identify a range of appropriate Leed-qualified stone selections for interior or exterior application.