Developers getting re-acquainted with lath and plaster construction.

Local 46, New York's Lather's Union, sponsored a Symposium on Lath & Plaster Construction in the 21st Century recently at its Learning Center in Queens, New York.

"The goal of our symposium was to reacquaint architects and developers on the benefits of lath & plaster construction, demonstrate that there is a ready supply of available skilled craftsmen, and showcase the extraordinary design flexibility," said Robert Ledwith, Business Manager of Local 46. "I believe we succeeded on all counts."

The symposium featured presentations by materials suppliers, developers and contractors speaking on recent lath & plaster applications ranging from low-income housing, to Park Ave. apartments, to public spaces like the recently completed Jazz Performance Space at the AOL Time Warner center. The event also featured speakers from Plasterers Union Local 530 and Lathers Local 46. Both unions declared their commitment to a working partnership with New York's design and development community.

"A recent study of real estate prices in New York conducted by the New York Lath & Plaster Institute reveals that for less than a 1% increase based on cost per square foot you can enjoy all the advantages of genuine lath & plaster construction and people are willing to pay the difference," said Local 46's Ledwith. "People are sick and tired of the poor performance and design limitations of sheetrock. They're sick and tired of hearing their neighbors sneeze next door as well as the mold problems. There is definitely a niche market we can build on. People want the quality, durability, safety and elegance of lath and plaster and are willing to pay more for it."

After the presentations, attendees were invited to view a display of wall and ceiling treatments at Local 46's learning center. The displays, constructed by Local 46 & Local 530 craftsmen included domed, arched, serpentine ceilings, indirect lighting designs, moldings, and fluid wall systems. In addition to the fluid design possibilities, several exhibits highlighted the outstanding fire ratings possible with lath & plaster.

Ledwith said the event was the first of an ongoing series of symposia intended to reach out to designers, developers and the academic community. "In the meantime, we would encourage our architect, designer, contractor, developer partners and their clients to visit the Lath & Plaster Design Showcase at our Learning Center to view the extraordinary range of designs and treatments possible," said Ledwith.