Roman Mosaic wins NTMA honor for Franciscan University chapel terrazzo

By AI, Created 9:21 PM UTC, June 01, 2026, /AGP/ – Roman Mosaic & Tile Company earned a 2026 National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association Honor Award for its terrazzo work at Christ the King Chapel at Franciscan University of Steubenville. The project turned a 1969 Brutalist chapel into a liturgically ordered worship space while navigating complex geometry, budget limits and a highly detailed installation.

Why it matters: - The award spotlights how terrazzo can solve both design and liturgical challenges in complex renovation projects. - The Franciscan University chapel project shows terrazzo can deliver a traditional, hierarchical worship space without sacrificing budget or durability. - NTMA Honor Awards recognize craftsmanship, design complexity and material innovation among member contractors.

What happened: - Roman Mosaic & Tile Company of Ephrata, Pa., won a 2026 National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association Honor Award for terrazzo at Christ the King Chapel at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. - NTMA presented one of 17 awards to members at its annual convention on May 13. - The chapel was originally completed in 1969 as an elliptical Brutalist structure with sweeping concrete curves, a one-ton steel crucifix and a 56-foot tower.

The details: - The installation covers 7,500 square feet of three-eighths-inch epoxy terrazzo in eight colors. - The project includes an integrated ramp, precast terrazzo treads and risers, and two-color radius steps with poured-in-place treads leading to the sanctuary. - A two-inch accent band runs along the perimeter and continues through stair nosings for visual continuity. - Brass divider strips and accents were used throughout instead of aluminum. - A dimensional terrazzo rosette at the baptismal font anchors the main processional aisle. - Brass divider strips and four waterjet-cut brass inlays mark the beginning of the liturgical journey at the font. - An inlaid Tau cross at the entry references St. Francis’ call to continual conversion. - Two additional brass crosses mark the sanctuary, including one in deep purple terrazzo at the foot of the elevated sanctuary and one within the sanctuary itself. - The project required solutions for an oval plan, radial curves, columns and complex transitions. - Marble was rejected because of cost. - Tile was rejected because the chapel’s geometry made a grid-based material impractical. - Terrazzo was selected after a lunch-and-learn with an NTMA supplier member expanded the design team’s understanding of its flexibility and customization. - MCF Architecture, a division of McKinley Architecture and Engineering in Pittsburgh, worked on the renovation with liturgical designer Steven Baker. - MCF Architecture has worked with Franciscan University for about 35 years, and Matthew Radican has been part of that relationship for seven years. - General contractor Mosites of Pittsburgh coordinated the renovation.

Between the lines: - The project reflects a broader shift from treating flooring as a finish to treating it as part of the worship experience. - Radican said terrazzo gave the team liberty to bring in art and create cohesiveness across the chapel. - The award judges cited cohesiveness and precision, especially in the steps, radius work and complex transitions. - The material choice also aligned with Franciscan University’s Italian Renaissance influences because terrazzo uses genuine cut stone and glass materials. - Radican said terrazzo allowed a traditional, hierarchical layout without sacrificing beauty, integrity or budget. - The supplier’s role mattered because precast versus poured-in-place decisions, aggregate selection, color selection and divider strip options affected both design and cost. - Radican described Roman Mosaic as a sub that cared about the integrity and artistry of the installation.

What’s next: - NTMA says a full list of this year’s Honor Award recipients is available at ntma.com. - NTMA continues to offer resources and AIA-registered continuing education for architects and design professionals. - Roman Mosaic & Tile will continue operating from offices in West Chester and Ephrata, Pa.; Linthicum, Md.; and Braintree, Mass., with work across religious, civic, educational and institutional projects in the eastern U.S.

The bottom line: - The Franciscan University chapel project shows how terrazzo can bridge architecture, ritual and budget in a way few other materials can.