TCAA Tile Talk Monthly

July 2025

Driving Cattle to Driving Tourism

Hotel Drover in Fort Worth, TX. Photo provided by Hotel Drover.

Written by TCAA Tile Talk Monthly Sponsor: Schluter Systems Inc.

By Sean Gerolimatos, Schluter's Director of Research and Development

History

Camp Worth, later renamed Fort Worth, was founded at the fork of the Trinity River in 1849 by Major Ripley Arnold of the United States Army. After the Civil War, cattle drives from South Texas to the Kansas railheads would come through downtown to The Fort Worth Stockyards for the cattle to bed down and for drovers (cowboys) to find supplies, rest, and recruit more men when needed. Thus, the drovers contributed greatly to the growth of the city and The Stockyards became the largest livestock-trading center in the southwest until trucking outgrew rail transportation in the 1950s. The Stockyards were given a historical designation in 1976 but were mostly abandoned by that time.

Renewal

The Stockyards remained in limited use for over 40 years until 2018 when the Stockyards Heritage Development Company announced plans for a $175 million development to the district known affectionately as Mule Alley. The plans included renovation of the historic Horse and Mule Barns, addition of shops, restaurants, and live-entertainment venues, and construction of a Marriott Autograph Collection 4-star boutique hotel called Hotel Drover. The goal was to reinvigorate the district with improvements while maintaining the character that made it special in the first place.

Hotel Drover

The Interior of Hotel Drover. Left photo provided by Hotel Drover. Right photo provided by Tom Atkinson

Hotel Drover is the anchor of the Stockyards and Mule Alley. Mariott describes it as “an urban ranch oasis, embodying a hacienda modern rustic-luxe design throughout.” Visitors are greeted by leather check-in booths, handcrafted blackened steel chandeliers, and cowhide lounge chairs in the lobby. The 200 guest rooms and suites borrow heavily from Texas and the Old West history and culture, from colors and materials to specific elements like oversized bronze soaking tubs, custom boot jacks, and various other accoutrements.

Design & Construction

The building architect was HKS Inc. and the hotel interiors were managed by Kayla Wilkie, creative design and development, Hotel Drover and Craig Cavileer, EVP, Majestic Realty & co-managing partner, Fort Worth Stockyards. Business Flooring Specialists was the flooring contractor and the tile installer was Fine Line Flooring. We spoke to Brandon Sather, Senior Sales at BFS, to gain insight into the planning and execution of the signature design with particular focus on the tile showers in the guest rooms. The showers represent the perfect marriage of design and function or how modern materials and methods can be used to produce historical charm.

The Presidential Suite at Hotel Drover featuring the Schluter Short System behind the tile. Photo provided by Hotel Drover

Matte black profiles and the vintage gold finish grate from Schluter-Systems are in perfect harmony with the rustic design of the bathrooms at Hotel Drover. Photos provided by Tom Atkinson

Regardless of design, a tiled shower is only as good as the waterproofing system behind the tile. One of the ways the contractor accelerated the project completion was using the Schluter Shower System. They were able to complete the waterproofing installation in half a day and turn around each shower, tile included, in two days. All of this was possible despite challenges with the as-built condition of the shower area prior to the installation. Clamping ring drains designed for use with pan liners had been installed by the plumber instead of the Schluter Kerdi-Drain integrated bonding flange designed for use with bonded waterproofing membranes. The installed drains were also off-center relative to the shower base. The contractor used the Kerdi-Drain adaptor kits to convert the clamping ring drains to integrated bonding flanges. This saved an inordinate amount of time and labor that would have been required to replace the drains embedded in the concrete floors. Rather than placing a mortar base to accommodate the off-center drains, the contractor used the Schluter prefabricated foam trays with integrated waterproofing membrane, trimming from the edges and filling gaps as required. Like the adaptor drains, the ability to use the trays saved massive amounts of time and labor. The Schluter Shower System addressed these challenges in a user-friendly package, quite literally. The contractor took advantage of the shower kits to ensure that each bathroom was outfitted with all the products required to install the showers in a single box. There was no need to search for extra membrane, misplaced drain grates, or any other elements. As Brandon told us, “Kits make things as easy as possible.”

The Schluter shower kit containing a shower tray, curb, and KERDI waterproofing membrane simplified having necessary materials in each bathroom, while the Schluter-KERDI-DRAIN adaptor kit allowed the contractor to easily convert the existing clamping ring drains to integrated bonding flanges.

Much like Mule Alley, the shower designs pay homage and respect to the rich history of The Stockyards while incorporating modern materials. The bathroom floors and some of the shower bases feature modern encaustic tiles. Encaustic tiles were in wide use in the Victorian Era from the 13th to 16th century and came back into favor during the Gothic Revival in the 1800s. Showers walls and most shower bases were clad with white subway tile. While subway tile didn’t come into the mainstream until its use in New York City subway tunnels in the early 1900s, hence the name, it is a staple of classic design in America and integrates well in the overall design of the guest room baths. The bathrooms feature gold fixtures, including the brushed vintage gold Schluter Pure design drain grate, and black accents such as the shower glass hardware that are mirrored in the stunning stone vanity tops.

The original design incorporated black ceramic trim to finish outside corners, frame the niches, and provide accent lines within the field of subway tile. The flooring contractor introduced the designer to Schluter profiles as an alternative to the ceramic trim. A mockup was built using the Schluter Quadec square edge profile with powder coated matte black finish and the stakeholders were sold on the change. Using the profiles helped the tile installer ensure straight and uniform accents and faster installation that reduced labor costs and sped up the process. The profiles contribute to the appearance of the showers and finish & protect tile edges against chipping.

1. Schluter-KERDI-BOARD-SN prefabricated shower niche. 2. Schluter-KERDI-DRAIN with Brushed Vintage Gold grate in Pure design. 3. Schluter-KERDI-BOARD-SC shower curb with Schluter-RONDEC profile i matter Black. Photos provided by Tom Atkinson

Resurgence

Today The Stockyards attracts an estimated 3 million visitors every year with a quarter of them coming from out of state. This is proof positive that the renovation of Mule Alley was a massive success for the Stockyards Heritage Development Company and the City of Fort Worth. Honoring the history and culture of The Stockyards while modernizing the area made the area incredibly attractive to tourists from across the country. Hotel Drover is a key feature in the community and Schluter Systems is proud to have contributed to its quality within the framework of the design.

Congratulations to TCAA's 2025 Scholarship Recipients

Family Scholarship

Cassandra Martyniuk

Affiliated with  DTI of Illinois, Inc.,

a TCAA Member Company

Cassandra Martyniuk is a full-time student at Illinois State University pursuing a degree in Management and Organizational Leadership, with an expected graduation in 2025 and continuation into graduate studies through 2026. She maintains a 3.11 GPA and is the daughter of Desiree Martyniuk, a long-time Office Manager at DTI of Illinois, Inc.—a TCAA member company—who has dedicated nearly three decades to the tile industry. Cassandra demonstrates strong leadership and service orientation through her involvement in Phi Sigma Sigma, where she has held multiple leadership roles including Recruitment Chair on the Executive Board. She is also a member of the Order of Omega Honor Society, recognizing her academic and leadership excellence.

In addition to her academic and extracurricular achievements, Cassandra is committed to giving back to her community. She organized donation drives supporting foster children and local students, including filling over 60 backpacks with essential supplies. Her professional skills are further supported by her certification as a Microsoft Office Specialist and as a Notary Public in Illinois. Cassandra embodies the values of the TCAA Family Scholarship Program and is a deserving candidate for this merit-based award.

Architectural Scholarship

Caroline Costigan

University of Notre Dame

Caroline Costigan is a second-year architecture student at the University of Notre Dame, enrolled in the five-year Bachelor of Architecture program and a member of the prestigious Glynn Family Honors Program. With a GPA of 3.88 and consistent placement on the Dean’s List, Caroline demonstrates a strong academic foundation complemented by deep involvement in extracurricular and service-oriented activities. Her leadership extends to roles such as Youth Board Founder at GiGi’s Playhouse NYC, a center for individuals with Down syndrome, and volunteer musical engagement at the Mary Manning Walsh Nursing Home. Through these roles, she has shown a passion for inclusive community design and intergenerational connection—principles she is committed to carrying into her architectural career.

Caroline’s experiences in classical architecture intensives, the ACE Mentor Program, and pre-college design initiatives at Cooper Union and Auburn have shaped her understanding of sustainable materials, the importance of craftsmanship, and the lasting value of tile and natural stone. Her design work—from Habitat for Humanity homes to a studio townhouse project in Bath, UK—reflects her dedication to affordable, dignified, and sustainable architecture. With aspirations to lead her own international firm, she plans to integrate ceramic tile into her future work not only for its resilience and sustainability but also as a tribute to the skilled tradespeople who bring built environments to life. Caroline exemplifies the scholarship’s goals through her academic excellence, design vision, and commitment to social impact.

Schluter Systems

Schluter adaptor kits retrofit existing clamping ring drains to integrated bonding flange systems—fast, cost-effective upgrades for any project.

Flooring Sustainability Summit Recap

IS IT THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG?

John Trendell, Labor Committee Chair

The second annual Flooring Sustainability Summit was held in Washington DC, July 16 & 17.  There were almost 250 attendees representing all different types of flooring and all aspects of the industry from architects to manufacturers to installation. Once again, the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) put on a first-class program of experts, workshops, and speakers.  In attendance representing TCAA were Ed Conners, president of the Greater NY and NJ Tile Contractors Association and myself.  Our partners, IMI and IUBAC, were well represented with four participants.

The first portion of the program was a discussion of the changing landscape of sustainability.  While there was common agreement that market driven forces are always the preferred impetus to providing well-built healthy buildings using sustainable materials and practices, public policy certainly can provide additional help in meeting these goals.

Right now there are federal initiatives for less regulations but that does not preclude state and local interests in sustainability.  There is also the AIA materials pledge which adheres to good sustainable practices.  And most encouraging, private practices in sustainability are growing.

During one of the panel discussions I heard, at least for me, the most interesting comment of the entire program from a gentleman representing union labor.  He pointed out that labor represents anywhere from 40-60 percent of the cost of flooring.  So, without a qualified well-trained workforce, green initiatives and proper design fail.  Absolutely!

The final keynote speaker was an architect with both a cautionary and positive outlook for the future of sustainability practices going forward.  We have not done enough.  But a simple question he poses to all his clients, do you want a safe, secure, and healthy building for the people and for our environment?

So, as I suggested in the title, how do we go about reaching our goals?  Of course, it doesn’t matter how or what methods we use.  In fact, a multi-pronged  set of actions, taken on by all of us, will help insure that we are doing the right things to build great buildings the right way.

I look forward to our continued efforts and to next year’s Flooring Sustainability Summit!