FOCUS ON: MAPEI Participates in AEC Cares Project in New Orleans

MAPEI helped the community while participating in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Convention in New Orleans earlier this year. On May 11, the day before the convention began, MAPEI joined a unified AEC Cares team, spearheaded by Reed Construction Data, the AIA Council of Architectural Component Executives (CACE) and Hanley Wood, working to restore parts of the New Orleans, LA, community.

AEC Cares is a service project designed to enhance the lives, safety, and security of the parish community and its residents. It also provides the opportunity for industry professionals to meet and engage within meaningful and organized non-business environments.

MAPEI contributed mortars and grouts for installing the tile floors in five homes that are being renovated after Hurricane Katrina’s original devastation and subsequent storms. Mike Daniels and Wilbert Adams, MAPEI employees with extensive tile-setting experience, were on hand to volunteer at the work sites. MAPEI also provided caps for all the volunteers on the project.

“This outreach project, facilitated by New Orleans Operation Helping Hands, serves as a reminder that, as we go about our daily lives, there is still work to do,” said Steve Ritchie, vice president of Marketing and Business Development for Reed Construction Data. “New Orleans is still in the process of rebuilding a community and culture that have been so profound in shaping this country. We are grateful to the partners, sponsors-Old Castle, Hunter Douglas, PGT, Bluewolf, MAPEI, Naylor and Vinyl Institute-and volunteers that have made it their business to get involved and join in a solution to help restore homes within New Orleans.”

Directly after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast in 2005, MAPEI sent 14 truckloads of floor preparation and tile-setting materials to aid in rebuilding 300-400 homes.

“This opportunity to work with AEC Cares affords us the chance to help out on a more personal level,” said Luigi Di Geso, president and CEO of MAPEI Americas. “We believe every action helps, and we look forward to the day when the recovery in this area will be complete.”

About AEC Cares

AEC Cares-ProjectNOLA is a service project designed to enhance the lives, safety, and security of the parish community and its residents. ProjectNOLA provides a non-business environment where industry professionals can meet and engage in work that is meaningful, generating new and lasting relationships. For more information about AEC Cares-ProjectNOLA, visit www.aeccares.com.

About MAPEI

MAPEI Group, including 67 subsidiaries with 58 plants in 27 countries, is a world leader in the production of adhesives and complementary products for the installation of all types of floor and wall coverings. The company also specializes in manufacturing other chemical products for building, from waterproofing products to special mortars and admixtures for concrete, products for the restoration of ancient buildings, and special decorative and protective coatings for walls.

Eighteen MAPEI manufacturing facilities are located in the Americas, with headquarters in Deerfield Beach, FL. For more information, visit www.mapei.com.