Award-winning terrazzo restorations keep architectural heritage alive.
Renovating historic buildings transforms underused spaces into functional, attractive environments while avoiding the costs and environmental impact of demolition. Terrazzo is ideal for this purpose: it can be repaired, refinished, or poured over existing surfaces, allowing matches to original patterns and colors. Its durability, versatility, and low-maintenance profile make it a sustainable, long-lasting solution for preserving architectural heritage.
Unlike pre-manufactured flooring, terrazzo is poured in place, giving designers flexibility to adapt patterns to floors, walls, stairs, and panels. Existing cementitious or epoxy terrazzo can be patched or refinished with exact color matches, and new terrazzo poured over existing substrates requires minimal surface preparation—saving time, costs, and landfill waste while keeping the original floor intact.
Historic projects show how new and old terrazzo can coexist beautifully. At Central High School in St. Joseph, Missouri, built in 1932, architect Creal Clark & Seifert oversaw the replication of original terrazzo staircases. To meet ADA standards, an existing stairwell was replaced with new staircases whose treads, risers, stringers, and continuous three-story balustrade match the original design. The project earned the NTMA Special Renovation Award in 2012, demonstrating how historic craftsmanship can meet modern needs.
The Bottleworks Hotel in Indianapolis, a former 1930s Coca-Cola bottling plant, illustrates terrazzo restoration at scale. NTMA contractors Blakely Corp. and Santarossa Mosaic & Tile contributed to the restoration of more than 70,000 square feet of sand-cushion terrazzo after decades of vacancy, including checkerboards, compass medallions, and other intricate patterns. Epoxy was matched to historic cement terrazzo in 19 colors, and worn surfaces were carefully patched and refinished. Replicating aggregates no longer available from original quarries required expertise to reproduce the historic look using modern materials.
The redevelopment of Bottleworks District, awarded Indiana Landmarks 2023 Cook Cup for Outstanding Restoration, AIA Indiana Merit Award—Historic Preservation/Restoration, and 2024 Americas Awards for Excellence winner with Urban Land Institute, was led by RATIO Design of Indianapolis.
These projects highlight terrazzo’s unique ability to preserve historic character while adapting to today’s functional and aesthetic needs. Its flexibility allows new installations to align with original floors, extending building life, conserving resources, and supporting sustainable adaptive reuse. With terrazzo, historic spaces retain both their artistry and practicality for generations to come.
Elegant Centenarian Avoids the Wrecking Ball
Original cement terrazzo tile is restored and matched with poured epoxy terrazzo.
Abandoned 100-Year-Old Hospital Revived as College Student Center
Historic Terrazzo Indistinguishable from New in Chicago Board of Trade Upgrade
Four Historic Courthouses Showcase 100-year-old Original Terrazzo Floors
Original 1929 Terrazzo Restored and Matched in Auditorium’s Radical Transformation
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