Chicago-based GI Stone, a stone supplier, fabricator and installer for major commercial real estate and luxury residential projects, celebrated its 30th anniversary Aug. 20 at the iO Theatre in Chicago.
The evening brought together more than 340 well-wishers for a night of laughs courtesy of an improv comedy performance and a tribute by GI Stone President Sandya Dandamudi to her mother and company founder, Rani Dandamudi.
“This milestone is a tribute to the strong relationships we’ve built along the way,” Sandya Dandamudi said as she addressed the crowd. “Seeing so many of our clients, collaborators and friends together in one room reminded me that while stone is our medium, people are our foundation.”
Founded in 1995 by renowned Chicago interior designer, Rani Dandamudi, GI Stone has earned a national reputation among notable developers for precision craftsmanship, ingenious solutions and excellent client service. Its extensive portfolio of projects ranges from five-star hotels like The Peninsula Chicago and Four Seasons Chicago to the Obama Presidential Center and historic landmarked buildings like The Tribune Tower Residences.
This year, GI Stone launched its Luxury Residential Division, bringing the firm’s services to private homeowners and their design teams for the first time. Recent residential projects include a high-rise condominium on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, a large-scale renovation in Hinsdale, Ill., and a Lake Michigan vacation home in Three Oaks, Mich. GI Stone also recently expanded into the Nashville market, recently completing the stonework for Aspire Gulch, a 10-story Class A apartment community.
To support this growth, GI Stone recently acquired a 24,000-square-foot building adjacent to its longtime headquarters and workshop at 1420 W. Hubbard St. in Chicago’s Kinzie Corridor. The new property will be transformed into a showroom and dedicated event space, scheduled to open in mid-2026.
“Honoring my mother’s legacy of creativity, integrity and craftsmanship means not only preserving those principles but also pushing them forward into new markets and new lines of business,” Dandamudi said. “The past 30 years have shaped who we are, and the next chapter is about expanding what we can do and where we can make an impact.”
