Ceramic Tiles of Italy at AIA 2009
San Francisco, April 30 - May 2
The Moscone Center

In its continuous effort to promote Italian tiles in the US, the Italian Trade Commission, together with Confindustria Ceramica, the industry association, participated at the AIA 2009 National Convention and Design Exposition, an event organized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The convention took place in San Francisco from April 30 to May 2. The state-of-the-art exhibit, designed by Italian architects Dante Donegani & Giovanni Lauda and launched for the first time at AIA 2008 in Boston, featured the latest trendsetting tiles and technical achievements from Italy. The design of the booth with its inventive concept of an open space, allowed guests to easily navigate the area and experience the carefully chosen selection of products. Company catalogs and educational materials were available for guests to take along with them for reference.

In addition to the institutional presence at AIA, on April 30, the opening day of the show, speakers Michael P. Johnson, Michael P. Johnson Design Studio and Paul Shahriari, Green Mind, Inc., addressed the AIA audience on the topic of ceramic ventilated facades and their sustainable characteristics. The AIA accredited seminar "Ceramic Ventilated Facades On the Rise: Design/Cost Impact of Innovative and Energy-Efficient Exterior Porcelain Facades" .