COMMUNICATES
Mike Chorney of La Scala was grinning — he’d taken a finalist nod in a CEDIA Awards category for Best Integrated Home in the Americas region. Sure, it wasn’t a first-place win, but he waxed philosophical: “Glass is glass,” he said, hoisting his company’s award. “And we’ll be back stronger next year.” He’ll need to be, as the competition is tough. Dozens upon dozens of entries had been sifted through and judged on their various merits. With entries from 18 countries around the world, technology integrators, manufacturers, and distributors from the Asia Pacific, Americas, and EMEA regions were all vying for first place. Following rigorous technical assessment from the judging panels, it was time for the industry to gather together to find out who the winning companies were. First up was the Asia Pacific Awards ceremony.
AWARDS ALL ROUND
PUTTING THE “GREAT” IN INTEGRATE
Around 120 industry professionals attended the Asia Pacific awards ceremony on August 30 in Australia. Hosted immediately after Integrate 2017 in the Pan Pacific Hotel next door to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, attendees enjoyed a cocktail reception before CEDIA announced the 11 winners. The event began with the two hosts, Wendy Griffiths, CEDIA’s VP of Global Development and Geoff Meads, Managing Director of Presto AV, celebrating what the awards stand for, and recognising that those who have won the awards are the best of the best. Queensland-based integrator, Digital Picture won the first award of the night: Best Home Cinema Level I. This was for a project that described as “an incredible installation for the price.” The second winner of the night, Electronic Living, was delighted to walk away with Best Home Cinema Level I, but it didn’t stop there for them, as they were back up on stage just a few minutes later when they were announced as the winner of Best Integrated Home Level III. Everyone enjoys the Best Dressed Rack category, especially when the winning rack is described as “artful.” Not only did Beijing-based integrator, Zene Private Theater get the credit they deserved for this piece of work, but they were also awarded Best Showroom, for a space that includes a karaoke demo room — something which would’ve gone down well at this awards celebration. The awards ceremony was certainly enjoyed by everyone who attended.
29
30
COMMUNICATES
BIG SHIP, BIG NIGHT, BIG HONOURS In front of a crowd of over 400, the Americas Awards were handed out on 6th September in San Diego, U.S. on the deck of the massive, iconic, and breathtaking aircraft-carrier-turnedmuseum, the USS Midway. Giant screens flanked the opening act: three women mimicking the vocal styles of the Andrews Sisters — fitting, since a statue memorialising the LIFE magazine cover of a sailor kissing a nurse on VJ-Day stands near the vessel. TODAY show technology correspondent, Carley Knobloch and a group of rotating co-hosts from CEDIA’s Board of Directors — Dennis Erskine, Dave Humphries, Omar Hikal, and Giles Sutton — handed out the trophies to the industry’s best. Paradise Theater’s Sam Cavitt, whose company won top honours for a home cinema project, noted the importance of the trophy when
speaking with potential clients: “It helps to let them know we’ve been celebrated for exceptional work.” Nick Mark, whose DC Home Systems project also won a home cinema nod, saw the benefits of competition. “It makes everyone strive to be their best, giving everything they’ve got to provide the client with everything they want and need.” The depth of talent in the CEDIA universe is broad, and member integrators are up to any challenge — as was proven by the crew at Admit One Home Systems, whose client desired a media room that mimicked the look of a luxury railroad car from the era when the house was constructed: 1906. The integrator found very early radio gear and speakers, pulled the guts out, refurbished the exterior, and inserted modern electronics. According to
the team, the biggest challenge was adapting ancient rotary switches and knobs to control the modern audio components within. The result: first place in the Best Innovative Solution category. CEDIA’s judges were equally impressed with the showroom entered by Starpower. A sprawling experience designed to give the end user a look at smart tech installed in nearly every room of the home. Starpower’s Brandi Thompson was thrilled with the win. “It’s amazing — we’re ecstatic.” Greg Applejohn’s reaction was one of pure satisfaction when his team at Home Concepts won a Best Integrated Home award for a multiyear, 22,000-square-foot project: “It was just great to see all of this come to fruition. Steve Riley of Atlantic Control Technologies channelled a famous fictional San Diegan after his
COMMUNICATES
team’s win in the same category: “It’s kind of a big deal.” A few companies made several trips to the stage. Casaplex had barely finished having their backstage photos shot before they were called back up for a second prize. The team at Land & Sea had an especially big night, picking up three trophies: Best Integrated Home $450,000 and Over, Best Documentation, and Best Dressed Rack. The man responsible for that rack, Ken Penner, was overjoyed — but wasted no time in stressing that the project was a true team effort. “It’s fantastic,” he said, then gestured at his assembled colleagues. “And I got to work with these guys on this one for two-anda-half years.” For pure exuberance, though, one member of Mexico’s Smartlab team was hard to top. After the company won a Best Integrated Home trophy for a project that included a 15-seat dedicated
home cinema, a spa, and a gym with integrated lighting that calls up scenes for every conceivable mood, distributed audio and video, and state-of-theart security and surveillance systems, Smartlab’s Geraldo Santiago raised his hands to the sky and nearly shouted: “This is the first award for us! Thank you all so much!” The evening ended with Eric Bodley, President and CEO of Future Ready Solutions and Bodley and Associates accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award. The audience enjoyed a heartfelt video of Eric, which saw industry peers discuss what he has done for the industry, (and generally what a great guy he is). Eric finished the awards ceremony on a high with a fantastic acceptance speech that was amusing, emotional, and optimistic for the future.
31
32
COMMUNICATES
CELEBRATING THE MAGIC Completing the global tour of award ceremonies was the EMEA Awards gala dinner which took place at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter in Watford, UK. Over 430 guests came together for a black tie event, which began with a drinks reception that was followed by a tour through the renowned Harry Potter set, and ended on Platform 9 ¾ for a threecourse dinner. Adding to the splendour, British actor, presenter, and comedian who is known for his involvement in the Harry Potter films, Warwick Davis, hosted the awards. After sharing some interesting tales from his film and TV appearances, Warwick announced the night’s winners. Andy Jack and the team from TwentyTwo Integration were first up on stage after scooping the opening award — Best Media Room £20,000 and Under. Commenting on their success, Andy said: “Winning an award is always a fantastic feeling and a brilliant boost for the team, who work their socks off to try and be the best at what we do.” A multiple dwelling project from Mosaic Audio & Visual received great praise from the judges, who explained that their project epitomised how
technology should be installed in a project and that they had to actually search for any sight of it. When the awards turned its attention to trade suppliers, Guy Singleton from The Cinema Designer was in for a surprise, as hot on the tail of winning a manufacturer award in San Diego he received the double whammy of being announced as the winner of the Best New Software category for the EMEA region. The Best Home Cinema £40,000 - £120,000 category was the first of two wins for The Pyramid Group, as they also scooped the Best Lighting Control and Installation award. Following a successful evening for the team, Nic Black commented: “CEDIA’s Awards programme recognises technical excellence in the home technology industry, and winning projects demonstrate competence in all aspects of design, installation, and commissioning, while meeting all applicable industry performance standards. We are proud of the teams involved in meeting these exacting standards.” With host Warwick Davis explaining that the winner for the Special Project award had provided technology for horses, the audience was impressed to hear how Clever Association integrated technology into equestrian stables — a first for the CEDIA Awards. Following the EMEA awards ceremony, Warwick also presented the three Global Award winners, with Land & Sea Entertainment from America and Synergy Technologies from Pakistan present at the event to receive the coveted accolades. The last award of the evening was a big one — the Special Recognition accolade. Ian Morrish, founder of Together for Cinema, a UK charity for the home technology industry, was delighted to be presented with the award, and found it very moving. “I wish I had the chance to thank everyone who has helped make it happen. Having said this, we don’t do what we do with Together for Cinema for thanks and recognition, though the award was of course a wonderful personal moment.” The awards ceremony concluded on a high note as Ian celebrated his award win by thrusting his trophy in the air, while the audience gave him a standing ovation.
COMMUNICATES
With thanks… SPONSORS
It is thanks to the CEDIA Awards sponsors that these thoroughly enjoyable and memorable events can take place. The EMEA ceremony was supported by Bowers & Wilkins, Definitive Technology, HEOS, IFSEC International, Meridian Audio, Murideo, and The Cinema Designer. The Americas cocktail reception was sponsored by DISH.
DRINKS RECEPTION SPONSORS U.S. COCKTAIL RECEPTION SPONSOR
33
34
COMMUNICATES
COMMUNICATES
2017 CEDIA Award Winners GLOBAL WINNERS Best Media Room Synergy Technologies, Pakistan
Best Home Cinema DC Home Systems, USA
Best Integrated Home Land & Sea Entertainment, USA
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
CEDIA FELLOWS
VOLUNTEER
NEW VOLUNTEER
Eric Bodley
David Graham Grahams Hi-Fi Julie Jacobson EH Media Len Wallis Len Wallis Audio
OF THE YEAR
OF THE YEAR
OF THE YEAR
Guy Singleton
Owen Maddock
Larry Heuvelman
Imagine This
ConnectedWorks
TheOwnerConsultant
President and CEO of Future Ready Solutions and Bodley and Associates
TRAINING VOLUNTEER
AMERICAS WINNERS
EMEA WINNERS
AMERICAS — HOME TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS
EMEA — HOME TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS
Best Home Cinema Level II – Audio Images, USA
Best Media Room Level I – TwentyTwo Integration, UK
Best Home Cinema Level III – Paradise Theater, USA and AudioVisions, USA Best Home Cinema Level IV – DC Home Systems, USA Best Integrated Home Level I – Atlantic Control Technologies, USA Best Integrated Home Level II – Home Concepts, Inc, Canada Best Integrated Home Level III – Smartlab, Mexico Best Integrated Home Level IV – Land & Sea Entertainment, USA Best Media Room Level II – Casaplex, USA
Best Media Room Level II – Life Emotions, Portugal Best Media Room Level III – Synergy Technologies, Pakistan Best Home Cinema Level I – Philharmonic AV, UK Best Home Cinema Level II – The Pyramid Group, UK Best Home Cinema Level III – Clever Association, UK Best Integrated Home Level I – BrownHen Solutions, UK Best Integrated Home Level I – Highly Commended: CyberHomes, UK Best Integrated Home Level II – Archimedia, Dubai
Best Media Room Level III – Casaplex, USA
Best Integrated Home Level III – Clearly Automated, UK
Best Innovative Solution – Admit One Home Systems, USA
Best Integrated Home Level IV – NV Integration, UK
Best Special Project – DC Home Systems, USA
Best Innovative Solution – Perfect Integration, UK
Best Lighting Control & Installation – ZIO Group, LLC, USA
Best Innovative Solution – Highly Commended: Clever Association, UK
Best Showroom – Starpower, USA
Best Auto, Marine and Aircraft Project – Luxury Engineering, Russia
Best Documentation – Land & Sea Entertainment, USA
Best Auto, Marine and Aircraft Project – Highly Commended: Archimedia, Dubai
Best Dressed Rack – Land & Sea Entertainment, USA
Best Special Project – Clever Association, UK Best Lighting Control and Installation – The Pyramid Group, UK
AMERICAS — MANUFACTURERS
Best Lighting Control and Installation – Highly Commended: Teksclusive, UK
BEST NEW HARDWARE PRODUCTS
Best Multiple Dwelling Unit Design – Mosaic Audio & Visual, UK
Barco Residential — Balder Cinemascope
Best Showroom – Henri, France
FIREFX — Network Guardian Next Generation Firewall Future Automation — CHRST - TV Ceiling Hinge & Swivel with Telescope
Best Documentation – BrownHen Solutions, UK Best Documentation – Highly Commended: Henri, France
Inneos — Real4K™ Optical Adapter and Cables
Best Dressed Rack – Henri, France
Josh.ai — Josh Micro
Life Lived Best at Home – Perfect Integration, UK
Samsung Electronics America, Inc. — The Frame
Technology Meets Design – NV Integration, UK
SnapAV — Visualint™ 2MP IP Dome Outdoor Camera with Starlight and Motorized Lens + Virtual Technician
EMEA — TRADE SUPPLIERS
Sony Home Entertainment & Sound — XBR-77A1E 77” BRAVIA OLED 4K HDR TV
Best New Hardware Product – Meridian: Meridian 218
Z-Wave Alliance — Z-Wave Certified Installer Toolkit
Best New Software Product – The Cinema Designer: The Cinema Designer (TCD)
BEST NEW SOFTWARE PRODUCT
Best Training Course – LILIN UK: Surveillance for Custom Install Best Trade Supplier – Invision UK
The Cinema Designer — The Cinema Designer (TCD)
YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
EMEA — SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Alex Capecelatro — Josh.ai
Ian Morrish — Together for Cinema
ASIA PACIFIC WINNERS Best Home Cinema Level I – The Digital Picture, Australia
Best Media Room Level III – Liquid Automation, New Zealand
Best Home Cinema Level III – Electronic Living, Australia
Best Auto, Marine, and Aircraft – Liquid Automation, New Zealand
Best Home Cinema Level IV – Shanghai AV Style, China
Best Special Project – Zene Private Theater, China
Best Integrated Home Level I – Digital Residence, Australia
Best Showroom – Zene Private Theater, China
Best Integrated Home Level II – Look & Listen, Australia
Best Documentation – Liquid Automation, New Zealand
Best Integrated Home Level III – Electronic Living, Australia
Best Dressed Rack – Zene Private Theater, China
Best Integrated Home Level IV – Liquid Automation, New Zealand
35