Material Matters: Themed & Architectural Finishes in Practice

Saturday, February 14, 2026 8:00 AM
Saturday, April 4, 2026 2:00 PM

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Material Matters

Hands-On Education for Themed & Architectural Finishes

Material Matters is a hands-on workshop series created by CASTO Creative to bridge the gap between design intent and real-world construction. Developed in collaboration with ModMan, the program gives participants direct experience with the materials, systems, and techniques used in themed and architectural environments.

Designed for students, emerging professionals, and industry participants, Material Matters moves beyond theory. Each session emphasizes how materials behave, how systems are selected, and how design decisions translate into constructible, durable results in the field.

What You’ll Learn

Across six focused sessions, participants explore a range of core and advanced topics, including:

Concrete fundamentals and surface preparation
Resurfacing, repair, and remediation techniques
Vertical cementitious and sculpted systems
Resinous coatings and performance finishes
Scenic finishes and specialty textures
Mold making and form development

Each workshop combines instruction, live demonstrations, and hands-on application giving participants the opportunity to work directly with materials, tools, and systems under professional guidance.

Why Material Matters

In themed and architectural construction, materials are more than finishes. They are systems that impact performance, longevity, and design integrity. Material Matters was created to help participants understand the why behind the how, empowering them to make informed decisions that align creativity with constructability.

The program reinforces CASTO’s mission to educate, empower, and execute, preparing the next generation of designers, builders, and craftspeople to contribute meaningfully to the built environment.