Architect Sassan Gharai on IceStone Recycled Glass and Concrete Surfacing
By Staff
IceStone surfacing, made from recycled glass and concrete, can help earn LEED credits because of its high recycled content and Cradle-to-Cradle certification.
Strong and heat-resistant like granite while not as porous as marble, IceStone’s chemical composition is benign and 99.5% inorganic, making it toxic-free and fire-resistant.
IceStone can be mounted vertically or horizontally, and be used as flooring, wall surfacing, or countertops. Fabrication, installation, and maintenance are similar to methods used for natural stone, and the material can be shaped, cut water jet, and inlaid.
Each precast IceStone slab weighs about 14 pounds and measures 52½ inches wide, 96 inches long, and 1¼ inches thick. There are 24 standard colors; custom colors are available.
Sassan Gharai specified IceStone for Ecco Park, a green mixed-use project he designed and is developing in Washington D.C. The four-story complex has 6,000 sf of retail space and 85 condominium units that will use recycled materials, natural daylighting and ventilation, and be topped with a green roof. Finish options include natural, salvaged, and recycled materials.
Why Sassan Gharai Specified IceStone for Ecco Park:
“I like IceStone because it’s eco-friendly. The surface is made from 75% recycled glass and concrete and is very durable. They fit perfectly into our eco-friendly Ecco Park condominium development.”
“For us, as architects specifying products, it is nice that we don’t have to choose between eco-friendly and design aesthetics. IceStone comes in several different colors, and the pieces of glass in it give it a depth and texture that is different from other kitchen countertop materials.”
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