Introducing Becker’s Blog With 26 years in the stone business, Joe Becker is TCTM’s resident expert in everything stone. Now he’s active in technology too…. as the writer of ‘Becker’s Blog’ for Stone Business Online. In Joe’s blog you’ll read his monthly take on the renovation and restoration of the magnificent St. Joseph Cathedral in Sioux Falls, SD. TCTM is collaborating with design architect Duncan Stroik on the stone work for this 32-month long $28 million project. Click here to read Joe's blog: www.stonebusiness.net Also, be sure to read the articles on the Shrine for Our Lady of the Guadalupe at the bottom of this page. Photos for the Guadalupe Project also appear here. January 2010 Vein Cuts and Vino November 2009 Pricing the Job > October 2009 The Job Defined August 2009 The Beginning   LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT THROUGH THE FOLLOWING LINKS: St. Joseph’s Cathedral Restoration and Renovation St. Joseph’s Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Diocese of Sioux Falls. Designed by noted French artist and architect Emmanuel Masqueray, it is a unique blend of Romanesque and French Renaissance architecture. The 100-year-old Cathedral is undergoing a $28 million artistic and architectural renovation that will continue through May of 2011. Twin City Tile and Marble is the primary stone contractor for the project. St. Joseph’s Cathedral Restoration and Renovation Italmarble Pocai Italmarble Pocai is a prominent Italian stone distributor specializing in rough and polished marble slabs and flooring. TCTM is sourcing 21 types of marble from Pocai for the Cathedral project. Pocai will fabricate all the stone in Italy and ship it to Sioux Falls, where TCTM will handle the install. Pocai website Duncan G. Stroik Architect, LLC Duncan Stroik is known for his exceptional ecclesiastical building designs. His portfolio includes cathedrals, parish churches, shrines and university chapels, also residential, commercial and educational buildings. He is also an Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame. View Mr. Stroik’s designs at the links below. St. Joseph Cathedral Renovation – Sioux Falls A $28 million renovation and reclamation is in progress, with completion scheduled for May, 2011. Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe – La Crosse Twin City Tile and Marble collaborated with Duncan Stroik on this project, installing 20 different types of Italian marble . Nearly 12,000 square feet was flooring with intricate design inlays. Marble was also used on the communion rail, columns, the altar and for wainscot and steps. This majestic parish was completed in the summer of 2008. (See photos 10,11,12, 16, 17 and 18). Traditional Building – 12/2008 article on Our Lady construction Stone Business Online – 3/2009 – article on Our Lady construction