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Another Favorite Stone Landmark: Machu Picchu

Beautiful view of Machu Picchu ruins on sunny day (Peru)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 the construction of the monument as a testament to a military victory. It served as a royal estate for a ruler and about 750 support staff. However, 80 years later, the city was abandoned, most likely due to the downfall of the Inca empire.

Machu Picchu is located in the Andes Mountains near the basin of the Amazon, 2,430 m above sea-level. It’s a beautiful setting, and one of the most striking things about the structure is how seamlessly it fits into the landscape. Each year, it draws almost 1.5 million visitors.

To learn more about Machu Picchu, check out this article from National Geographic.

Ralph Petrillo Visits New 9/11 Memorial in Greenwich, CT

Ralph Petrillo at September 11th MemorialThis week is the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, and is understandably an emotional time for people across our nation. This is the time of year where we stop to remember the lives lost in those tragic attacks, as well as come together in a show of patriotism. This was especially true when our very own Ralph Petrillo visited the construction site of the new September 11th Memorial in Greenwich, CT in Cos Cob Park.

On September 11, 2001, 32 people with ties to Greenwich, CT were killed. The names of these individuals have been incorporated into the memorial, making it a new place held close to the hearts of community members. Additionally, the new memorial is located in a secluded section of the park overlooking the Indian Harbor, providing a peaceful place for the families of victims to come and reflect. Charles Hilton Architects designed the two glass towers clad with American flags. In each of the flag stripes lays the name of a local victim. Additionally, compass points in the center of the plaza point to Washington DC, Manhattan’s World Trade Center Site, and Shanksville PA.

Ralph was on location because Petrillo Stone Corp was supplying stone for the pavement beneath the glass towers. This stone was Cambrian Black Thermal Finished Granite, meant to mimic the look of the World Trade Center plaza. You can read more about this project and the memorial design on the Petrillo Stone Corp. blog or on the Memorial’s official website. Below are some photos that Ralph Petrillo was able to capture during his visit. He encourages you all to stop by, as well.

Update on the Comcast Building Project

Petrillo Stone work on Comcast BuildingIn this post is a photo of one of the many stones ( Deer Island Granite  ) that Petrillo Stone Corporation fabricated for the Comcast Building (formerly the G E Building). We originally described this project in an earlier blog post. In addition to fabricating the stone, we also gold leafed the carved letters and logo by hand.

Ralph Petrillo was the project manager on this project. He oversaw the fabrication and gold leafing of this project, as well as made sure everything ran smoothly and on time. Although the stones were completed a few months ago, the official unveiling of the new stones was July first. If you’re walking through New York at any point this summer, be sure to keep an eye out for our work! We’ve had the privilege of working on this and many other iconic buildings in the city and are so proud to be part of New York’s history, as it’s been such a positive piece of ours.

For another example of Ralph Petrillo’s project management in New York, be sure to check out Petrillo Stone featured in an article in Building Stone Magazine.