Zonca Terrazzo wins NTMA honor for Calvary Baptist Church project

By AI, Created 10:36 PM UTC, June 01, 2026, /AGP/ – The National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association has recognized Zonca Terrazzo & Mosaic for its installation at Calvary Baptist Church in Midtown Manhattan. The project blends terrazzo floors, stairs and sculptural elements into the church’s new interior inside a 30-story tower base.

Why it matters: - The Calvary Baptist Church installation shows how terrazzo can do more than cover floors. The material now shapes stairs, seating, reception areas and other interior elements. - The project also highlights how a historic house of worship can remain at its longtime Midtown Manhattan address while moving into a fully new building base. - The NTMA Honor Award signals industry recognition for craftsmanship, design and technical execution.

What happened: - The National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association named Zonca Terrazzo & Mosaic of Armonk, N.Y., a 2026 Honor Award recipient for work at Calvary Baptist Church in New York City. - The award was presented May 13 at the NTMA annual convention. - The project was one of 17 selected from international entries. - Calvary Baptist Church has been at its West 57th Street location since 1883. - Adjacent properties were assembled for a new 30-story curtain-wall office tower, and the church’s new home was built into the tower’s base.

The details: - FX Collaborative principal Alex Leung, AIA, led the design. - Leung said the project was his first experience using terrazzo on vertical surfaces. - The reception desk uses a poured-in-place terrazzo form that curves outward as it rises. - A monochromatic epoxy terrazzo system with zinc divider strips runs across the entry level and through multiple floors. - The terrazzo layout traces the geometry of floors, stairs and seating. - Public circulation areas use terrazzo to draw visitors inward and connect the building’s levels. - Two precast terrazzo staircases continue the design language. - One stair connects the first and second floors. - A U-shaped stair links the second and third floors. - The finish also extends into the elevator cabs. - The installation specified Venetian terrazzo, an NTMA classification for aggregate chips larger than standard size but smaller than the irregular stone slabs of Palladiana. - At a distance, the surface reads as unified. Up close, the aggregate adds depth and texture. - Leung said terrazzo was selected for durability and ease of maintenance in a public church interior inside a new building. - Leung described terrazzo as a proven material for high-traffic circulation spaces when properly designed, detailed and maintained. - Zonca Terrazzo & Mosaic was founded in 2014. - The company specializes in epoxy and cementitious terrazzo systems and provides installation and restoration services across the New York metropolitan area.

Between the lines: - The project pushes terrazzo into a more architectural role, using the material as a spatial and sculptural tool rather than only a finish. - The award also reflects a broader industry preference for materials that can combine visual impact, durability and long service life. - The church project pairs heritage preservation with contemporary construction, which can help explain why a traditional material was chosen for a modern interior.

What’s next: - NTMA said a full list of this year’s Honor Award recipients is available at ntma.com. - The association continues to offer resources, specifications support, technical guidance and AIA-registered continuing education for design professionals. - Zonca Terrazzo & Mosaic will likely continue pursuing commercial and residential terrazzo work in the New York region.

The bottom line: - Calvary Baptist Church’s new interior turns terrazzo into a defining design element, and the NTMA award places that craftsmanship on an industry stage.