Friends of Build Magazine

How Strategic Partnerships Fuel High-Profile Projects With Mark Johnson of Architectural Stone

Episode Summary

Ted speaks with Mark Johnson, a fourth-generation stonemason and the owner of Architectural Stone. Through diligence and hard work, Mark has managed to impress all the right people and is internationally recognized for his team’s incredible skill.

Episode Notes

Ted speaks with Mark Johnson, a fourth-generation stonemason and the owner of Architectural Stone. Mark shares his journey from working with his father's masonry business to establishing his own company that specializes in high-end stonework. He discusses notable projects, including the restoration of the Parthenon and collaborations with famous clients like T. Boone Pickens and George W. Bush. Mark emphasizes the importance of quality, education, and innovation in the construction industry, as well as his excitement for future endeavors, including new product lines featuring petrified wood.

TOPICS DISCUSSED

01:10 Introduction to Mark Johnson and His Journey
02:10 The Evolution of Mark's Career in Stonework
04:15 High-Profile Projects: Rockefeller and Ralph Lauren
08:36 Restoration of the Parthenon: A Unique Challenge
16:15 Working with Notable Clients: T. Boone Pickens and George W. Bush
27:25 Innovations in Stonework and Engineering
40:50 The Importance of Quality and Education in Construction
51:00 Future Endeavors and New Product Lines

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Mark Johnson

KEY QUOTES FROM EPISODE

"I'm a fourth-generation stonemason."
"It was pretty much hush hush and we couldn't really tell anyone. And they didn't want anybody to think there were American people working on the Parthenon."
"There was no such thing as a single shaft monolithic column that big in the world that we know"