Cambridge, Mass. — Ceramics of Italy will participate in a technical symposium on architectural ceramics in Boston March 22-23. The symposium connects the Italian tile industry with leading architects, engineers, conservators and other professionals responsible for aspects of the built environment from the U.S. and Canada. Organized by Technology & Conservation, the MIT Department of Architecture’s Building and Technology Program and the Boston Society of Architects’ Historic Resources Committee, “Architectural Ceramics in the 21st Century: Design & Preservation of Contemporary & Historic Architecture” will explore the use, performance, maintenance and preservation of terra cotta, porcelain and other architectural ceramics during an intensive two-day conference held in the Wong Auditorium of MIT’s Cambridge campus.
Ceramics of Italy will participate in the conference in several ways including the sponsorship of two key speakers on the conference program. On March 22, Professor Giorgio Timellini, director of the Italian Tile Center in Bologna and Professor at the University of Bologna, Department of Applied Chemistry & Materials Science, will conduct a presentation about European ceramics research and fabrication developments for exterior cladding. On Sunday, March 23, Prof. Timellini will serve on a panel discussion on sustainability issues and recent advancements in the ceramics industry.
On March 23, Giorgio Valentini, president of Atlantic Link, will present an update on new types of porcelain and terra cotta tile suitable for structural and decorative exterior applications in new construction and restoration projects.