History

History

  • The Ludovisi Family
    400 years ago
    The Ludovisi Family

    The Ludovisi family of Rome, Italy began producing expertly crafted clay roof tiles. By the late 1800’s, their descendant, Carl Ludowici, used this unique form of old-world craftsmanship in a roof tile factory of his own based in Chicago, Illinois.  The popularity of his products led to the expansion of several more factories, until Ludowici was eventually consolidated into a single facility in New Lexington, Ohio.

  • The Firm of Carl Ludowici
    1857
    The Firm of Carl Ludowici

    Carl Ludowici founds the Ludowici Tileworks in Ensheim, Germany. Driven by his innovations in manufacturing, it quickly grows and eventually relocates to Jockgrim, Germany.

  • Celadon Terra Cotta Company
    1888
    Celadon Terra Cotta Company

    Ludowici's American roots begin with the formation of the Celadon Terra Cotta Company in Alfred, NY. As the company grows it gains acclaim for its many durable and incredibly intricate designs and patterns of tile.

  • Ludowici moves to Chicago
    1893
    Ludowici moves to Chicago

    One of Carl Ludowici's sons, Franz, travels to the United States and finds American investors to form the Ludowici Roofing Tile Company in Chicago, Illinois. They use that year's Chicago World Exposition to advertise tiles made in the German factory, and quickly gain attention for their adaptable and durable tiles.

  • Ludowici, GA factory
    1902
    Ludowici, GA factory

    The Ludowici company builds a factory in the unincorporated community of Liberty City, Georgia. The community is later incorporated as the city of Ludowici, to honor the company for their local philanthropy.

  • New Lexington, OH
    1905
    New Lexington, OH

    The Celadon Company purchases the Imperial Clay Company and acquires its factory in New Lexington, Ohio.

  • Ludowici-Celadon is formed
    1906
    Ludowici-Celadon is formed

    The Ludowici and Celadon companies consolidate to form Ludowici-Celadon. After the acquisition, the plant is converted into the largest clay roof tile plant in the United States.

  • Coffeyville, KS factory
    1908
    Coffeyville, KS factory

    Ludowici-Celadon purchases a plant in Coffeyville, Kansas and expands it.

  • Alfred factory burns
    1909
    Alfred factory burns

    Because of the processes required in firing clay tile, fire is an ever present danger to the manufacturing facilities. The factory in Alfred, NY burns down and is never rebuilt. The company's legacy survives through the many terra cotta roofs throughout the village, and the college of ceramics at Alfred University, which the Celadon company helped form.

  • Leaving Georgia, Losing Chicago
    1913
    Leaving Georgia, Losing Chicago

    Over the years in Ludowici, GA over two million square feet of roofing was furnished for the government buildings in the Panama Canal Zone. After completion of most tiles for the Panama Canal Zone the Ludowici, GA factory is shut down. About a month later the Chicago Heights plant catches on fire and burns to the ground, never to be rebuilt. The company retains its main office in Chicago through the 1970s.

  • Tuileries Brochures
    1929
    Tuileries Brochures

    Public interest in heritage building styles grows and Ludowici-Celadon responds by releasing the Tuileries Brochures, which feature detailed writings on traditional regional building styles written by leading architects of the era.

  • World War II
    1942
    World War II

    Ludowici-Celadon suffers from loss of workers and domestic construction, but gains a lifeline through contracts for military bases and federal projects. It was around this time that the company made tile for the White House.

  • Pottery
    1944
    Pottery

    Roof tile production during World War II was minimal due to a shift in manufacturing focuses and the U.S. Economy. Factory workers at the New Lexington, Ohio plant instead produced terra cotta cookie jars to stay busy and employed. Both the New Lexington and Coffeyville plants open pottery divisions to help recover from the war. Over the next few years they produce many pieces, including the now-collectable Turnabout cookie jars for Walt Disney.

  • Coffeyville, KS plant closes
    1956
    Coffeyville, KS plant closes

    The plant in Coffeyville, Kansas closes. The next year the New Lexington factory is declared the largest in the world.

  • New York Life Building
    1966
    New York Life Building

    A notable project, Ludowici-Celadon creates gold-plated tiles to replace the failing gilded tower on top of the New York Life Building in New York City. Ludowici tiles remain in use there to this day.

  • CSC, Inc. of Chicago purchases Ludowici-Celadon
    1976
    CSC, Inc. of Chicago purchases Ludowici-Celadon

    The company is purchased by CSC, Inc.

  • Pennsylvania State Capital Building
    1980
    Pennsylvania State Capital Building

    Ludowici was selected to reproduce all the historical terra cotta on the Pennsylvania State Capital Building.

  • Sponsors Exhibition
    1986
    Sponsors Exhibition

    Ludowici-Celadon sponsors a national Contemporary Terra Cotta Competition with the National Building Museum. Six winners are chosen, with winning designs showcased around the country.

  • Ludowici-Celadon sold to CertainTeed, Inc., a division of Saint-Gobain
    1989
    Ludowici-Celadon sold to CertainTeed, Inc., a division of Saint-Gobain

    The company is sold to CertainTeed, a division of Saint-Gobain.

  • Name changed to just Ludowici Roof Tile
    1994
    Name changed to just Ludowici Roof Tile

    Ludowici-Celadon is renamed Ludowici Roof Tile.

  • Management of Ludowici Roof Tile transferred to Terreal, another division of Saint-Gobain
    2003
    Management of Ludowici Roof Tile transferred to Terreal, another division of Saint-Gobain

    Ludowici's management is transferred to Terreal, which is then spun off from Saint-Gobain

  • Ludowici Introduces Impressionist Series
    2003
    Ludowici Introduces Impressionist Series

    Ludowici unveils the Impressionist colors, which use a new glaze application method to apply up to four separate glazes to the same tile. The Impressionist Series was introduced by Ludowici to allow brand new roof tiles to have an aged appearance with a spectacular color range.

  • 2003 Ludowici introduces NeXclad
    2003
    2003 Ludowici introduces NeXclad

    2003 Ludowici introduces NeXclad, the industry's most economical terra cotta wall cladding system.

  • Colorado University at Boulder Hires Ludowici
    2007
    Colorado University at Boulder Hires Ludowici

    Notable project, Colorado University at Boulder is one of many examples of higher learning Institutions that select Ludowici terra cotta tiles to crown their buildings.

  • Grand Opening of the Factory of Ideas Design Center at New Lexington Plant
    2007
    Grand Opening of the Factory of Ideas Design Center at New Lexington Plant

    The company's first showroom is created when Ludowici renovates a former shipping building to create the Factory of Ideas

  • Plaza Hotel Renovation
    2008
    Plaza Hotel Renovation

    The Plaza Hotel was originally built with Ludowici Roof Tile in 1910 and the roof was renovated in 2008 with tiles that were exact replicas of the original.

  • Duke University Renovation
    2009
    Duke University Renovation

    Duke University was originally built with Ludowici Roof Tile in 1927 and the roof was renovated in 2009 with tiles that were exact replicas of the original.

  • Ludowici Introduces First Ever Light-Weight Tile
    2012
    Ludowici Introduces First Ever Light-Weight Tile

    Ludowici introduces the industry first light-weight terra cotta roof tile in a slate and shake texture.

  • Ludowici Introduces First Ever Recycled Tiles
    2014
    Ludowici Introduces First Ever Recycled Tiles

    Ludowici introduces the industry first recycled product that meets and exceeds performance levels of terra cotta tiles produced with 100% virgin clay.

  • Rebranding
    2015
    Rebranding

    Ludowici undergoes major rebranding, drops Roof Tile from name to emphasize wide potential of terra cotta

  • Grand Opening of Ludowici's Dallas Design Center
    2019
    Grand Opening of Ludowici's Dallas Design Center

    Ludowici opens it's first flagship showroom located in the heart of the Design District in Dallas, TX, allowing for architects and customers to see wide range of tiles available.

  • Ciot Atlanta
    2019
    Ciot Atlanta

    Ciot’s newest location opened in October of 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. Ludowici has partnered with CIOT to include a permanent partner wall on display in their Atlanta showroom.

More About Ludowici


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