6 Types of Stone We Commonly Use for Our Projects

As you might guess, not all stone is created equal. Certain varieties of stone are not as useful for building materials. At Petrillo Stone, we commonly use these 6 materials in our projects: Basalt: This stone is usually between medium and fine grain. It’s commonly used to build roads, bridge piers, dams, and river walls. Granite: Granite has a crystalline structure, and the grain can be anywhere from fine to coarse. This stone is mostly made up of quartz and feldspar, with a little bit of mica and amphibole. Sandstone: When combined with silica cement, this material is used to…

Working on an Exterior Wall at Fordham University

Ralph Petrillo and the rest of the Petrillo Stone team enjoyed working on the exterior of Fordham University’s Lincoln Center. Built in the 1950s, this beautiful masonry building is home to the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Ballet. It’s located a block east of Broadway, also near Central Park, in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen.

14 Stone Carvings at Fordham University

Petrillo Stone has been contracted for work on 14 stone carvings at Fordham University. So far, we’ve finished the first carving, with the second following close behind. The carvings depict the life of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Check out these photos of Ralph Petrillo and carver Michael Orekunrin: The final 14 carvings will be put in a new building to be constructed this year at the Rose Hill Campus.

Recent Project at An Office Building in Times Square

We enjoyed this recent project, maintenance work on an office building in Times Square. New York is home to so many interesting places, and nothing is more iconic than Times Square! We were so excited to restore the beautiful floor and columns in this lobby. Besides the exquisite stone work, we appreciate this beautiful space, especially its natural light and interesting art sculpture on the ceiling.

Ralph Petrillo Celebrates 40 Years in the Family Business, Continuing a 111 Year Legacy

Ralph Petrillo, the co-owner of Petrillo Stone, recently celebrated 40 years in business, while his business is celebrating year 111. Petrillo’s grandfather, Antonio T. Petrillo, founded the company in 1907 after emigrating to Mount Vernon, NY from Italy. With him, he brought knowledge of traditional masonry techniques–the type of time-honored methods that set the craft apart. Even as masonry evolves, many of its aspects remain, some withstanding for longer than a century. Ralph Petrillo describes his business as “a glue that binds three generations and their technologies, workmanship, and ideologies.” After founding the company, Antonio Petrillo passed his knowledge onto…

Another Favorite Stone Landmark: Machu Picchu

It’s impossible to study masonry without falling in love with some of the ancient stone landmarks. These breath-taking, iconic structures withstand the test of time, many are hundreds of years old. Not too long ago, I wrote about one of my favorite stone buildings, Edinburgh Castle. Another of my favorites is Machu Picchu, located in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru. An Ancient Incan Artifact From Quechuan, an ancient indigenous language, Machu Picchu translates to “old peak.” Historians believe it was built between 1450 and 1460, during the rule of two Inca rulers, Pachacutec Inca Yupanqui and Túpac Inca Yupanqui.  Most archaeologists agree that Pachacutec ordered…

Custom Desktop and Countertop Project

We really enjoyed this project! We had the chance to customize a countertop and desktop in a client’s home. Both are made of custom-fabricated slabs of stone. The counter is quartzite, and the desktop is marble. These custom surfaces are functional and elegant, the perfect touch to this beautiful home.

Stations of the Cross

The stations of the cross and carvings were found in a Jesuit Monastery in Shrub Oak, NY which later became the Phoenix house. The property was recently sold and the marble carvings were a gift to Fordham University. Petrillo Stone dismantled, warehoused, stored, restored and installed at McGinley Hall, Fordham University Rose Hill campus. This project was overseen by both Frank and Ralph Petrillo.

Ralph Petrillo Visits Lincoln Quarry

Earlier this year, Ralph Petrillo took a trip out to Lincoln Quarry in Colorado to choose blocks for a project with the Knickerbocker Club in New York. This quarry received its name after sourcing the stone used in the Lincoln Memorial. In the gallery below, you will find photos of Ralph Petrillo with the architectural team, the owner’s representative, the fabricator and the installer of the project. And your eyes are not fooling you — those are the Rocky Mountains in the background.

A Petrillo Stone Celebration

Our company Petrillo Stone Corporation recently celebrated a major milestone — the 80th anniversary of our work with Fordham University. Over the years, we’ve completed a wide variety of jobs ranging from assisting in the building of Keating Hall back in 1936 to the new 16 ft Fordham University Seal at the Lincoln Center campus. You can read more about business relationship and the iconic projects we’ve been a part of in this press release. As Ralph Petrillo is quoted, “It is nice to know that we have been a small part of Fordham’s history and Fordham University has been a…

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