Last week during ISE 2018 in Amsterdam, Crestron announced the winners of its annual Integration Awards for the EMEA region. Now in their 11th year, the awards exist to celebrate the technology, engineering skills and excellence of integrators, consultants and programmers in projects featuring Crestron technology.
The manufacturer received 128 entries from 21 countries, with 57 integrators entering in total. Crestron's CEO and president of Crestron EMEA, Robin van Meeuwen, highlighted the quality of this year’s entries; “Each year we are astounded by the level of entries and their inspiring projects showcasing the versatility of Crestron solutions,” he commented.
“These awards celebrate the achievements of our partners as they embody Crestron’s goal to simplify and enhance the lives of millions of people around the world with intuitive technology. This year’s judging panel had a very hard task to choose just one winner from the vast range of entries.”
Joining Robin van Meeuwen on the judging panel this year was technology and interiors freelance journalist Emily Peck, online editor of luxury lifestyle magazine Oracle Time, Sam Kessler, editor of AV Technology Europe, Michael Garwood, ISE managing director Mike Blackman and Petra van Meeuwen, media relations director at Crestron.
The winners are as follows:
• Best Corporate Application: Omega Digital – PwC HQ Waterfall Tower, South Africa
The judges unanimously praised this project for delivering an innovative productivity boost at the new headquarters of global auditing giant PwC. Omega Digital was tasked with creating a smart workplace to drive business and increase efficiency, connecting PwC employees and customers via a network of Crestron collaboration technologies.
• Best Educational Project: Studio Hamburg Media Consult International (MCI) – RWTH Aachen C.A.R.L Lecture Hall, Germany
Recognised as one of the most elite technical universities in Germany, this impressive educational project by MCI was the frontrunner thanks to state-of-the art facilities that make teaching and learning at the new site a future-proof interactive experience.
• Best Lighting Application (Commercial): Knektd Ltd – Isabel Mayfair, UK
Knektd’s solution for this high-end London restaurant is impressive. Crestron DMX lighting creates stunning effects to roll and spiral across 300 individually controlled LED pendants. Each light can be controlled individually or combined to create every effect imaginable, from lights that pulsate with the beat of the music, to mimicking a sunrise throughout a long period of time.
• Best Showroom (Commercial): Anaconda Visual Oy, Finland
This showroom presents integration at its best, expertly showcasing Crestron technology and the benefits of automated buildings, meetings, conferences and events.
• Best User Experience (Commercial): Focus 21 Visual Communications – Bayer, UK
Employees of the new Bayer UK HQ have noticed an increase in productivity thanks to the simplicity of the USB connections, Skype conferencing, Crestron technology and integration with BayerHub digital signage. Calls in to the IT/AV support desk have dramatically declined and the use of Skype virtual meetings has risen across the workforce, becoming the new norm.
• Most Unique Application (Commercial): McKeon Group – Mount Jerome Cemetery & Crematorium, Ireland
Mount Jerome has become one of the most advanced crematoriums in Ireland. With Crestron at its core to provide heating, lighting control and monitoring, a user-friendly AV solution was rolled out across the facility with the aim to deliver a respectful experience to bereaved families.
• Best Incorporation of Crestron Pyng: Custom Sight & Sound Ltd (CSS) - Bishops London, UK
This high-end residential development was recognised for its skilled application of Crestron smart technology, which has been integrated by CSS Ltd to effortlessly enhance the lifestyle of its residents with the incorporation of Crestron Pyng.
• Best Integrated Home: The Next Level with Chelsea Residence, UK
This Chelsea project instantly caught the eye of the judges for the sophistication behind the discreet use of Crestron home automation.
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• Best Lighting Application (Residential): McAllister AV Ltd with Park Place, UK
The extensive property required a convenient, high-end solution which included not only lighting, but also daylight control through automated blinds, audio and video, HVAC, CCTV and door entry. The intricate lighting design, seamlessly managed by Crestron Pyng, controls 160 lighting circuits as well as automated blinds, all of which can be controlled via 48 Crestron Cameo keypads throughout the home.
• Best Marine Project: Icon Connect with PLVS VLTRA
The judges were impressed by the incorporation of Crestron technology on the luxury vessel. The PLVS VLTRA superyacht is one of the largest ‘limited edition’ Amels launched to date. ICON Connect completed a system which not only works technically, but also aesthetically to complement Winch Designs’ luxurious interior.
• Best Multi-Dwelling: Smartcomm Ltd with Riverwalk House – Luxuriously Opulent, UK
Smartcomm ensured this stunning development of 116 apartments and duplex penthouse incorporates a high quality, sophisticated smart home system that is stylishly discreet and easy-to-use.
• Best Residential Upgrade: ComPeri with ChaletB, Switzerland
This Swiss chalet has been upgraded with technology hidden within the floors and ceilings to ensure it was as unobtrusive as possible. The technology is seamlessly integrated: speakers are invisible, and televisions are hidden within the ceilings, out of sight until in use. With full control of various elements around the chalet, this home allows for the ultimate in relaxed living in its tranquil surroundings.
• Best Showroom (Residential): HENRI with La Maison HENRI, France
Designed to replicate both a smart home and an integrated hotel environment, the intuitive features of this showroom have been built upon a sophisticated Crestron DigitalMedia system, and appeals to a wide variety of clients including home owners and hotel managers.
• Best User Experience (Residential): SMC with West London Home, UK
This project from SMC has transformed the client’s experience of smart home technology, by creating a fully integrated solution combining Crestron’s 3-Series control processor and the current generation of TSW touch screens.
• Most Unique Application (Residential): Ultamation, Crestron through the Looking Glass, UK
An alternative way for users to interact with their intelligent Crestron controlled home or workspace. It provides a mechanism by which visual features, such as a painting or a display, can be recognised through the camera on a device; these are then identified by the Crestron processor and information or controls can be displayed over the camera image.
The winners of the Crestron EMEA Integration Awards 2018 were presented with their trophies during a special ceremony at the Crestron stand at ISE on Wednesday 7 February, 2018 at the RAI in Amsterdam.