05. "Terrazzo." Universal Atlas Cement Company; Chicago, IL; c.1932.

Terrazzo (from the Italian word for “terraces”) was first developed by 15th century Venetian artisans as low-cost flooring for outdoor spaces. Originally a repurposing of marble remnants from upscale commissions, terrazzo is created by pouring a composite material (which may now include also quartz, glass, or granite) into place, smoothing the mixture with a grinder, and then setting it with a binder and sealer. Terrazzo had long been valued for its durability and lack of heat absorbance.

"Tools of the Trade: 19th- and 20th-Century Architectural Trade Catalogs," Case 8, Ryerson & Burnham Libraries, August 4, 2015-October 12, 2015.

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