Miami University recently opened the doors to a new $53M student union aimed to meet the needs of 21st century college students while also paying respect to the school’s 200 years of history and tradition. Nearly 60% of the Armstrong Student Center was funded through donations from alumni and loyal Miami University supporters. The school wanted to give thanks to those who made this remarkable achievement possible by recognizing them within the building. Miami University in Oxford, Ohio is the tenth oldest public university in the country and has amassed strong alumni support over the years. This is an important and unique element of the school that needed to be showcased throughout the design of the building. The 200,000 sq. ft. facility was designed to stay true to the university’s renowned Georgian architectural style. Overall, The Armstrong center needed a customized look to honor the past while also serving the future of Miami University students.      

Etching the names in tile of those who donated money to the project was a perfect way to deliver a personal and customized thank you. It serves as a rare opportunity for individuals and families to show their Miami pride by having their donation be honored. These transformational tile units can be found along the iconic Slant Walk and around the university seal which serves as the focal point for the entire building. The personalized tile offered Miami University a timeless manner to recognize its past and stay true to its history. Reading Rock members personally provided the water jetting service, radius cutting, and took the tile to an engraver.

The Pietre Native collection from Casalgrande is modeled after natural stone and seamlessly fit in with Miami’s Georgian style campus. This product has an all gray color pallet and complimentary tile colors with over ten different shades and sizes. The Italian manufacturer had the depth of product availability to quickly deliver the tile to Oxford, Ohio. The flexibility of the tile is showcased in the main dining room where three colors are combined to create a fun, three-dimensional design. The amazingly detailed tile throughout the building provides a dramatic and playful entrance for students, alumni and visitors.

Pietre Tile was an attractive choice for this project and Reading Rock was able to assure the most affordable option through value engineering, providing tile at under $4 per foot. This great deal resulted in a material and installation cost 25% under market value. With the product’s ease of maintenance additional savings will continue to be seen.