Brad Childress Appointed Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing at NanoLumens®

Moving strategically to add enterprise level management experience to its rapidly expanding business development efforts, NanoLumens® today announced the appointment of Brad Childress to the position of Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing.  Effective immediately, according to NanoLumens President & CEO Rick Cope, Childress assumes complete responsibility for developing and implementing all worldwide direct and channel sales programs as well as all national and regional marketing programs. 

“NanoLumens has more than doubled in size in each of the last three years,” Cope said today.  “We have implemented specific sales programs involving a direct sales management team, a systems integrator network, and an international distributor network.  It is now time to bring in a seasoned sales and marketing executive who has the kind of enterprise level management experience to integrate these distinct sales teams into a single, highly productive and motivated sales force.  Brad is just the person to do this and lead all of our sales and marketing teams to the next, higher level of success.”

In accepting his new appointment, Childress noted that, “As the head of sales and marketing for NanoLumens I am responsible for continuing the rapid sales growth of the company for all of our channels worldwide. This is an awesome responsibility that presents all of us with an extraordinary opportunity to participate in the success of this great company. I am extremely fortunate to have a team of experienced, respected sales directors and marketing professionals and to work with some of the best engineering and customer service minds in the digital media industry.”

Brad Childress brings nearly 30 years of sales and marketing experience to his new position at NanoLumens.  Most recently, he was a partner at TechCXO, where he helped large and small technology companies accelerate their sales efforts through sales process design, territory, account and opportunity planning and high-impact go-to-market strategies. Prior to this he served as the Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing for nuBridges, where he played an integral role in the completion of a strategic sale of the company to Liaison Technologies.

Previous sales experience includes serving as the President & COO of The Complex Sale, Inc., where he was responsible for all company operations globally, and worked with dozens of companies worldwide to help them optimize their sales process. He also held the position of VP & General Manager for the Southern Region at Dun & Bradstreet Software, Inc. and served as Vice President of Solutions Marketing for Management Science America, Inc. Childress was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from the Georgia Tech College of Management at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

NanoLumens’ technology has been named ‘Best Large-format LED Display’ of the year by Signage Solutions magazine in its 2012 Product of the Year awards program, as well as being recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as a 2011 future-proof tech trend and cited by The Wall Street Journal in its 2010 Technology Innovations Awards.  NanoLumens’ technology also received the 2011 Breakthrough Technology of the Year Award at the American Technology Awards.  Digital Signage Magazine awarded the NanoLumens NanoFlex a 2011 DIGI Award for “Best New Display Device – Non-LCD or Plasma.”

About NanoLumens:

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, NanoLumens, Inc. (www.nanolumens.com) is a privately held corporation engaged in the research, product development, marketing and sales of unique flexible and fixed large-format LED display solutions in any size, shape, or curvature, that address a yawning technology gap in the $14 billion digital display industry.  Since its founding in 2006, NanoLumens has built a portfolio of more than 20 international families of issued and filed patents on its flexible display technology that effectively address the commercial market void between relatively small flat-panel displays and huge, limited application LED boards. NanoLumens technology is not constrained by standard sizes and shapes, or by the weight, heat, noise and cost issues traditionally associated with commercial LED products.

Walter E. Washington Convention Center Increases Commitment To NanoLumens Display Technology

On its busiest days, as many as 15,000 people make their way into Hall D of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C.  Now, thanks to a new NanoLumens NanoSlim DS Design-Specific LED Display, all 15,000 visitors can stay informed and involved in the event underway as they enter and leave Hall D.  Mounted just above the entrance to Hall D, the 7.5-foot tall by 23-foot wide, 6mm pixel pitch NanoSlim DS display is drawing crowds on its own and impressing prospective event producers, attendees and advertisers, according to St. Elmo Crawford, President of Digital Conventions, which operates all the digital signage at the convention center.

 

“When I first learned about NanoLumens’ display technology in 2011, I immediately thought of Hall D,” Crawford said. “But the size requirements were just too unique at the time.  With the new NanoSlim DS line we were able to have a display built to our exact specifications, giving us a super bright, energy efficient, long-life display that is big enough to be seen clearly from 100 feet away. A projection system wouldn’t work here because of the bright ambient light, and any other manufacturer’s digital display would have weighed 5-10 times as much.  The NanoLumens display provides 170 square feet of signage space and weighs less than 1,000 pounds!  The display needed to be suspended from wires because of space constraints, and hanging a 10,000-pound display where people are walking under it was simply not an option.”

According to Michael Waxer, chief technology officer at Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, this installation sets the pace for the entire industry. “We are proud to unveil our newest and largest NanoLumens LED display at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center,” he said. “Not only are we setting a digital trend by offering an enhanced event experience, but we are distinguishing ourselves as leaders in the hospitality industry by providing our clients with premier digital service including digital signage, high-speed wired and wireless services, mobile apps and web streaming.”

After Digital Conventions began using NanoLumens NanoFlex displays as large mobile signage in 2012, it quickly became clear that convention hall clients, advertisers and visitors were drawn to the displays for their brightness and detail. 

“Our first NanoFlex displays were a hit in areas where we don’t have permanent signage, and they allowed us to sell more services to our clients without massive installation costs,” Crawford remarked. “That enthusiasm carried forward to the new DS display at Hall D, which was installed in early March and used immediately for the 2013 AIPAC Policy Conference.  The organizers used it as an information and overflow video display, so people who were waiting in line to enter the conference could watch the speeches from outside the hall. The immediate response when event organizers see the display is ‘How do we get that as part of our display package?”

Crawford thinks that NanoLumens’ ability to build displays to meet exact space and shape requirements is going to lead more and more convention centers and large public spaces to develop design-specific displays for advertising and informational purposes.

“I’ve spoken with the people in charge of technology at a few other convention centers, and after a short conversation about our signage programs they all realized this is something they will have to incorporate to stay competitive and relevant,” he said. “We’ve had immediate success with this massive display, selling space to several major conventions in the first month after installation. We had a vision that we knew would increase our bookings, revenues and client satisfaction, and NanoLumens took that vision and made it a real, physical display. We look forward to our next NanoLumens purchase and expect to continue spreading their amazing displays throughout the convention center.”

NanoLumens’ NanoSlim DS Series is a bold departure from the traditional one-size-fits-all design paradigm that has been a mainstay of the display industry for decades.  Available in 4mm, 5mm and 6mm pixel pitches, the NanoSlim DS Series allows customers to specify truly unique displays in their designs and open the door for corporations, retailers and venue operators to create a completely original digital experience.

NanoLumens displays are extremely slim, ultra-lightweight, energy efficient, and feature a bright, seamless, high resolution picture quality that can be viewed from any angle throughout the display horizon without color shift or image distortion. The company’s patented display technology, promises to transform the way marketers engage their customers in every type of trade show, retail, hospitality, stadium, arena, transportation and public event environment.

All NanoLumens displays accept input from nearly any device or content management system. There is no need for special software, hardware or special personnel to display content beautifully.  With a profile of only a few inches, NanoSlim DS and NanoFlex DS can be installed on virtually any surface without being obtrusive, adding the ‘WOW’ factor to any environment without taking up precious space.  NanoLumens’ patented display technology is optimized for indoor use, operating with virtually zero heat or noise while producing bright, rich, consistent color as well as superior off-axis viewing with no color shift or image distortion throughout the display horizon.

NanoLumens’ technology has been named ‘Best Large-format LED Display’ of the year by Signage Solutions magazine in its 2012 Product of the Year awards program, as well as being recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as a 2011 future-proof tech trend and cited by The Wall Street Journal in its 2010 Technology Innovations Awards.  NanoLumens’ technology also received the 2011 Breakthrough Technology of the Year Award at the American Technology Awards.  Digital Signage Magazine awarded the NanoLumens NanoFlex a 2011 DIGI Award for “Best New Display Device – Non-LCD or Plasma.”

About Events DC:
Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, delivers premier event services and flexible venues across the nation's capital. Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District's hospitality and tourism economy that generated more than $3.3 billion in direct attendee spending in its first decade (2003-2013), and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC also manages the Stadium-Armory campus, which includes Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium and surrounding Festival Grounds, the non-military functions of the DC Armory and Maloof Skate Park at RFK Stadium. In addition, Events DC built and now serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com.

About NanoLumens:

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, NanoLumens, Inc. (www.nanolumens.com) is a privately held corporation engaged in the research, product development, marketing and sales of unique flexible and fixed large-format LED display solutions in any size, shape, or curvature, that address a yawning technology gap in the $14 billion digital display industry.  Since its founding in 2006, NanoLumens has built a portfolio of more than 20 international families of issued and filed patents on its flexible display technology that effectively address the commercial market void between relatively small flat-panel displays and huge, limited application LED boards. NanoLumens technology is not constrained by standard sizes and shapes, or by the weight, heat, noise and cost issues traditionally associated with commercial LED products.

HFP Acoustical Consultants Helps HOK Visual Communications Bring Imagination To Life With NanoLumens Display "Sculpture"

The February 2013 installation of a one-of-a-kind 5.5-foot tall by 13-foot wide NanoLumens®-powered digital sculpture at a Fortune 500 company’s headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana was the direct result of an intense collaboration between a client receptive to new ideas, a graphic design firm with a big technological vision, a technology consultant with the smarts to execute that vision, and a manufacturer with the technology to provide design-specific digital displays for literally any environment. 

What’s more, according to Bill Schuermann, Senior Associate Design Consultant at Houston, Texas-based HFP Acoustical Consultants, it’s a collaboration that is likely to grow and expand as visual displays become an increasingly important part of large scale commercial design projects.  “We are standing on the threshold of an entirely new era of interior design,” Schuermann reflected today, “and visual displays are at the center of these designs.  This era is being made practical by a new generation of technology from NanoLumens that makes it possible to design and deploy specific display solutions of any shape, size, or curvature, in virtually every type of environment.  Before today, technology didn’t allow you to think in terms of sculpted digital display letters, but now that technology is here, thanks to NanoLumens.”

The concept for the NanoLumens digital sculpture came from Hal Kantner at Houston-based HOK Visual Communications, who envisioned a unique display landscape that would allow the client to tell their story in brilliant video across the lifesized letters U-S-A. HOK’s team of designers then turned to HFP Acoustical Consultants to create the technical specifications and installation design, at which point it was determined that NanoLumens was the only manufacturer who could build this display and make the vision a reality.

Increasingly, innovative digital signage projects require the marriage of an architectural design firm, a technology design firm and a display manufacturer that can build displays to the unique specifications of a never-seen-before design, no matter the size or shape. With this type of project becoming more common, HFP is in the midst of transitioning the services it provides from pure AV, architectural acoustics, and industrial acoustic design to include all things technology.

“Working directly with HOK Visual Communications has allowed us to create some amazing graphic designs that include, and are often centered around, modern technology,” Schuermann said. “When HOK was developing the U-S-A design for this project, they asked themselves what they could do that hasn’t already been done. The result is this sculpture that isn’t so much a digital signage display as it is a piece of modern art that is fluid, patriotic and futuristic all at the same time. This project is proof that with NanoLumens, if you can imagine it, they can build it.

“We’re always looking for new ways to express our creativity and excite our clients,” Schuermann continued, “and projects like this one are becoming highly desired because digital displays can finally capture the imagination and be used to create truly unique, awe-inspiring environments. At HFP we are beginning to see more and more uses for novel technologies in both public spaces and corporate environments. Making a lasting impression with a digital sculpture, or a visual palette that can exhibit an ever-changing video presentation, comes down to combining the right design with the right engineers and the right technology. With this project we’ve busted open the doors for digital signage to become an entirely new and different product, and with our mindset for design combined with NanoLumens manufacturing abilities, the possibilities are endless.”

Since 2009, HFP Acoustical Consultants has been working closely with HOK Visual Communications to bring dozens of HOK’s designs to life. As for the future, HFP Acoustical Consultants is looking at a new project in Saudi Arabia that will have 650 digital signage displays connected to a single network!

About NanoLumens:

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, NanoLumens, Inc. (www.nanolumens.com) is a privately held corporation engaged in the research, product development, marketing and sales of unique flexible and fixed large-format LED display solutions in any size, shape, or curvature, that address a yawning technology gap in the $14 billion digital display industry.  Since its founding in 2006, NanoLumens has built a portfolio of more than 20 international families of issued and filed patents on its flexible display technology that effectively address the commercial market void between relatively small flat-panel displays and huge, limited application LED boards. NanoLumens technology is not constrained by standard sizes and shapes, or by the weight, heat, noise and cost issues traditionally associated with commercial LED products.

NanoLumens® Named A Technology Association of Georgia Top 10 Innovative Technology Company

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), the state’s leading association dedicated to the promotion and economic advancement of Georgia’s technology industry, today announced NanoLumens as one of its Top 10 Innovative Technology Companies in Georgia.  It is the second time in four years that NanoLumens has been cited by TAG for its ground-breaking LED display technolgy.  TAG will recognize this prestigious group at the 2013 Georgia Technology Summit (GTS) on March 20, 2013, at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

The “Top 10” most innovative technology companies are chosen from among TAG’s “Top 40” 2013 list and were chosen based on a number of criteria, including degree of innovation, scope and financial impact of innovation, likelihood of success, and promotion of Georgia’s innovative efforts nationally and internationally.

“The 2013 Top 10 finalists are an elite group of innovators who represent the very best from Georgia’s technology community,” said Tino Mantella, President & CEO of TAG.  “These finalists are shining examples of what makes our state such a hotbed for technology and we applaud them for standing out as leaders in Georgia’s technology community.”

This year’s Top 10 companies were selected from among over 90 applications submitted by companies from across Georgia.  Each company selected to be in the Top 10 will be given the opportunity to present at the annual Georgia Technology Summit before a crowd of more than 1,000 of the state’s technology leaders.

“Our ninth year of the Top 40/Top 10 was an overwhelming success, based on the number of truly innovative companies that participated in the competition,” said Dennis Zakas, a partner and founder of Zakas & Leonard, LLP, Chair of Group Office Buys, LLC, and the chairperson of the Top 40/Top 10 Selection Committee.  “The Top 40 winners demonstrate the depth and breadth of Georgia’s technology community.”

“We are honored to be named a Top 10 finalist for the second time in four years,” said Rick Cope, President & CEO of NanoLumens.  “Our remarkable LED display technology is helping to revolutionize the entire digital signage industry, and, in the process, we are ushering in an entirely new era in ‘one to many’ communication that will make the visual presentation of information and entertainment a more prominent part of our every day lives.  All of us at NanoLumens are so proud to be buidling this success story here in Georgia.”

The 2013 Georgia Technology Summit is expected to bring together C-level executives, entrepreneurs, technology professionals and academia to celebrate and recognize Georgia’s technology community.  In addition to presentations from some of the top technology influencers in the nation, the newest member of the Technology Hall of Fame of Georgia will be inducted. 

For more information about TAG and the Georgia Technology Summit and to register for the event, visit www.tagonline.org/georgia-technology-summit.php.  Follow the conversation on Twitter through #TAGGTS.

About The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG):

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 18,500 members and hosting over 200 events each year.  TAG serves as an umbrella organization for 32 industry societies, each of which provides rich content for TAG constituents.  TAG’s mission is to educate, promote, influence, and unite Georgia’s technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy.  The association provides members with access to networking and educational programs; recognizes and promotes Georgia’s technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state’s economic climate for technology.  Additionally, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG’s charitable arm) focuses on helping science, technology, engineering and match (STEM) education initiatives thrive.  For more information, visit the TAG website at www.tagonline.org or TAG’s community website at www.tagedonline.org. 

About NanoLumens:

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, NanoLumens, Inc. (www.nanolumens.com) is a privately held corporation engaged in the research, product development, marketing and sales of unique flexible and fixed large-format LED display solutions in any size, shape, or curvature, that address a yawning technology gap in the $14 billion digital display industry.  Since its founding in 2006, NanoLumens has built a portfolio of more than 20 international families of issued and filed patents on its flexible display technology that effectively address the commercial market void between relatively small flat-panel displays and huge, limited application LED boards. NanoLumens technology is not constrained by standard sizes and shapes, or by the weight, heat, noise and cost issues traditionally associated with commercial LED products.

The Stoned Crab, Key West's Hottest New Seafood Restaurant Receives 4 out of 5 Stars On TripAdvisor!

After officially launching in the fall of 2012, Key West’s hottest new fresh seafood restaurant, The Stoned Crab, has been awarded a 4 out of 5 star rating on TripAdvisor, the world’s leading travel and restaurant review web site.  Garnering hundreds of reviews from locals and travelers alike, it’s clear The Stoned Crab is the restaurant the Keys have been waiting for— a fun, zany, family friendly seafood restaurant that specializes in the most delicious of local delicacies, Florida stone crab.  In fact, it’s the first and only restaurant in the Keys to base the majority of its creative menu on the coveted crustacean! 

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the restaurant features the Keys’ freshest stone crab, which is caught daily and brought right to the restaurant’s dock, giving guests a true ‘boat-to-table’ seafood experience. The new restaurant, which sits on the waterfront at IBIS BAY Beach Resort, was a no-brainer, according to owner Chris Holland. 

“It’s no wonder locals and visitors love The Stoned Crab. Florida stone crab tastes phenomenal and it doesn’t get any fresher than straight off our two fishing boats! Plus stone crab comes right from Keys waters and it’s one of our only truly sustainable food resources,” Holland explained.  “The best stone crab claws are harvested directly off the shores of Key West, so I was amazed there wasn’t already a restaurant dedicated to worshippers of the stone crab like “Joe’s” in Miami.  Stone crab is shipped to Miami, New York and as far west as Las Vegas, but it’s pretty clear a lot of other people love stone crab just as much as I do!”

 

In addition to offering locals and visitors the best seafood around, Holland designed The Stoned Crab menu and operations to support a sustainable fishing culture.  Working with local fishermen and serving local seafood, especially the stone crabs, which are returned to the ocean to re-grow their largest claw after removal, the restaurant is helping to promote the area’s delicious seafood resources while helping the community and protecting the local ecosystem.

“Our guests will get a fun, filling waterfront dining experience,” Holland continued. “They can order crab by the ‘Bubba Bucket’ and crack them using our professional-grade cracker arms that are normally only found in the kitchen, and we give big bowls of lemons and limes for each guests to flavor their crab however they love it most.  As our t-shirts say, ‘Everybody Must Get Stoned at The Stoned Crab!’”

Some of the diners’ favorite dishes are derived from the restaurant’s namesake stone crab, including the stone crab shot appetizer, which can be accompanied by a shot of Australian Bombora vodka for the 21+ crowd, the stone crab and royal red shrimp bisque, the 5-lb. stone crab “Bubba Bucket” and the two-person or four-person chilled seafood tower with an assortment of the freshest seafood in Key West, which are perfect for families or larger groups to share.

Other delectable seafood dishes include a delicious whole Florida lobster stuffed with crabmeat, lobster ravioli, a flash-fried whole local yellowtail, lobster mac & cheese, among others.  For crustacean and shellfish aficionados the restaurant offers steamer combinations plates with selections of stone crab claws, Alaskan king crab legs, Alaskan snow crab clusters, mussels and clams.

For those in the mood for land-dwelling fare, the kitchen grills a mean New York strip steak and Angus burger as well as a pesto seared chicken breast. And every meal can start with an assortment of four salads including sesame-crusted ahi wasabi salad, twelve appetizers including crab and conch fritters, flash fried calamari with New Orleans remoulade and Key West bouillabaisse, and three raw seafood dishes including Florida oysters and mango ceviche.

The restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to midnight and features a full bar with all manner of tropical drinks and a wide range of beer and wine, including liquor, beer and wine selections from Australia, where Chris Holland harkens from.  Located at the corner of North Roosevelt Boulevard and Kennedy Drive, The Stoned Crab is a destination in itself—one where the whole family can gather for delicious food, fun, and photo opportunities with the beautiful waterfront views and the restaurant’s unique sea-inspired atmosphere.

Visit us on Facebook for more of the full menu, more information, and more photos from The Stoned Crab.

Photo 1 – The Stoned Crab at night, as seen from N. Roosevelt Boulevard.

Photo 2 – Old Bay steamer with stone crab claws, Alaskan snow crab clusters and Alaskan king crab legs.

Photo 3 – Stone crab shot, served in a shot glass with homemade tangy tartar sauce and cocktail sauce, plus a lemon slice.

Photo 4 – The Ahi wasabi salad includes sesame-crusted seared rare ahi tuna, crisp greens, seaweed salad, edamame, roasted red peppers, pickled ginger and cucumber wasabi sauce.

Sound Design Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Grand Opening of New Showroom That Makes Home Control the Main Attraction

Marking 20 years of success and growth as Texas’ premier custom installation firm, Sound Design is opening a new state-of-the-art home technology showroom in the resort community of Horseshoe Bay, Texas on April 1. The new 4,500 square foot showroom puts the ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System on the main stage, according to owner Chris Bean, who wants to make sure that it is the first thing clients experience when they walk into the entrance living room!

“What better way to celebrate our 20th year as Texas’ premier custom installation firm than to open a beautiful new showroom with all the latest home technologies?,” Bean said. “We’ve learned a lot over the years, and our experience helped us design the new showroom in a way that presents a relaxing, luxurious ambience that appeals to our local clientele. We used the best-of-the-best in every category, from the Runco 63-inch plasma TV framed and hidden by a VisionArt motorized art print to the ultra-high-end CAT MBX Sequoia speakers and of course the ELAN g! System. We have another showroom in Lakeway, Texas where we’ve been showing off ELAN g! since the system debuted in 2010. When we first got into custom home installation, multi-room audio and video systems were the biggest client request. Today, we are increasingly finding that homeowners and homebuyers are as interested in complete home control as they are in their TVs and music, if not more so. Expandable, easy to use control systems that utilize mobile devices and simplify home living are going to be major sales drivers of the future for both the CI industry and the home building industry.

“Many of our clients are tech-savvy homeowners who have become mobile tech enthusiasts through their everyday interactions with iPhones and tablets, and they want that same instant satisfaction to apply to their household media and home functions. We’re using the ELAN g! System to show them that home control can be just as easy as using an iPhone,” he continued. “Just a few years ago, the most common client request was for an amazing home theater to enjoy the newest DVDs or Blu-Rays. Consumer culture is now moving beyond just high-quality audio and video and our clients are demanding easy, fast, total control of everything in the home from their touch panels, smartphone or tablet. ELAN g! does it in spades, and for many clients it’s simply the best choice out there.”

The showroom is a veritable candy land of top-of-the-line home electronics, starting with the entrance living room that features AV and lighting control from an ELAN TS10 10-inch in-wall touchscreen, an ELAN TS2 in-wall touchscreen and an ELAN HR2 handheld remote. The system distributes audio and video content to an impressive system consisting of a Runco V63 63-inch plasma display, a Planar 2x3 Matrix Wall with six 46” panels, a Planar Mosaic wall with four 46” panels and four 15” square panels, a two-channel audio system that uses two 7-foot-tall CAT MBX Sequoia’s, and a surround system that includes an Integra DTR 50.4 receiver, Newport speakers and two Sunfire HRS-12 subwoofers.

The most unique part of the new showroom is the 640 square foot Simulation Room. Featuring AboutGolf’s newest three-projector continuous curve screen golf simulator, a LaserShot shooting simulator with five-channel surround and 30 competitive games for two players, and a VRX iMotion triple-LCD display driving & flight simulator, this room is literally a virtual playground. Bean wanted to show that he’s an outside-the-box thinker, and that, in this resort community, there is a custom installation professional that can bring dreams to life.

“The Simulation Room is a step forward for CI showroom design and for our company, and it allows us to open the imagination of our clients to show them that anything is possible. Homeowners in Horseshoe Bay are all about recreation and a luxury lifestyle so we wanted to show the unique ways people could enhance their home’s fun factor. From controlling lighting, heating and surveillance cameras on an iPhone to a hyper-realistic golf simulator that makes you feel like you’re really teeing off on the course, our Horseshoe Bay showroom is as state-of-the-art as it can be.”

 

Sound Design also built a commercial quality home theater that uses a Display Development HD3 projector, a 184” Stewart Filmscreen Luxus Delux screen, A Kaleidescape M300 player connected to a Kaleidescape CinemaOne server in the lobby, a Theta Casablanca III preamp/processor, Theta Compli-blu Blu-ray player, a PrimaCinema server, and a bevy of California Audio Technology speakers, subwoofers and amplifiers.

Since launching in 1993, Sound Design has grown from a car audio and security installation company to become Texas’ premier custom installation firm. Today the company is known for its expertise is designing and installing complete home integration systems, home theaters, surround sound systems, lighting control, central vacuum, security, structured wiring, computer networks and surveillance camera systems. Sound Design specializes in home integration, bringing all of the home’s core subsystems (HVAC, pool control, security, lighting, audio and video, irrigation, garage doors) into one touchscreen control device for every room that can operate all the systems individually. The company currently operates two showrooms to demonstrate the functionalities of its systems.

About ELAN Home Systems:

Founded in 1990, ELAN® Home Systems is an industry leading manufacturer of innovative, award-winning whole-house entertainment and control systems that are distributed through a comprehensive channel of select dealers and distributors throughout the United States, Canada and more than 58 countries worldwide. To learn more, visit www.elanhomesystems.com.

ELAN is part of the Core® Brands division of Nortek, Inc. Core Brands combines the product and marketing strengths of ten iconic audio, power management and control brands into a single business unit that includes ATON®, BlueBOLT®, ELAN®, Furman®, Niles®, Panamax®, Proficient®, SpeakerCraft®, Sunfire® and Xantech® brands.

ELAN is a subsidiary of Nortek, Inc., a global, diversified company whose many market-leading brands deliver broad capabilities and a wide array of innovative, technology-driven products and solutions for lifestyle improvement at home and at work. Please visit www.nortekinc.com for more information.

HomeTech Installs Energy-Efficient ELAN g! System At Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West

Modernizing the vision set forth by legendary American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation has partnered with energy consultant Big Green Zero and custom electronics integrator HomeTech AV Solutions to install advanced energy efficiency technologies and the ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System at the iconic Taliesin West campus in the Arizona desert. With initial design and construction dating back to 1937, this current home of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture continues to advance Wright’s legacy of architectural innovation.

 
The Energizing Taliesin West™ project aims to minimize energy costs and carbon pollution as it works toward creating a grid-neutral campus. The project will provide architectural students with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experiment with state-of-the-art conservation and sustainable energy production technologies. After determining that Taliesin West could benefit from substantial energy and financial savings through the installation of these technologies, Big Green Zero was contracted to manage and develop the project.

HomeTech AV Solutions, in partnership with ELAN Home Systems, has designed a unique control system for a unique piece of American history. The initial installation will take place in the original Wright home theater, dubbed “The Cabaret”. After lacking modern lighting, projection and audio systems for decades, The Cabaret has been revitalized with a Da-Lite acoustic fabric screen stretched across the original frame, a new Digital Projection E-Vision projector with a special long throw lens to accommodate the 65-foot throw distance, and fully integrated audio, video and Lutron Radio RA@2 lighting controlled by the ELAN g! system.  There is no way to run new cabling in the stone and concrete building, so the video signal is transmitted wirelessly from the AV receiver to the projector mounted in the projection room. Frank Lloyd Wright designed The Cabaret’s unique uneven-hexagonal shape to have no right angles and to have 20 feet of open space below the front of the theater, which has led sound engineers to determine the space is 95 percent acoustically efficient! No sound is wasted, and there are no echoes anywhere in the room.

According to Jim Beaumont, president of HomeTech AV Solution, ELAN g! is the only control platform that’s simple enough to allow novices to use the system with zero training. “The space is available to rent for corporate events, so the system will see a lot of use by first-time users with no training or experience. This was a major consideration in our design and product choices, and the ELAN g! system is the easiest control system I’ve ever used.”

Joe Lautner, Core Brands Director of Control Segment, agrees that the project is a natural candidate for control with the ELAN g! system. “The g! system is the ideal choice for the Taliesin West project for several reasons, but most of all because it is simple for first-time users to operate and it is virtually unlimited in its expansion potential. The g! system will be operational very early on in the renovation, and as construction continues the g! system will be available to integrate additional core systems across the Taliesin West campus.”

The Cabaret will be used to treat approximately 110,000 annual guests to a short film about Wright’s life and work. The original projector will be preserved in the projection room for tours as well.

“We are very proud to be selected as a partner for this historic restoration and upgrade of all the technological aspects of Taliesin West,” Beaumont added. “We will certainly face some unique installation challenges due to the concrete and stone construction of the buildings and the 80-year-old wiring throughout the premises, and when we are finished Taliesin West will be a testament to the technological advances of the past century. By combining Frank Lloyd Wright’s legendary architecture with the latest in efficient lighting, AV, solar panels, energy management, security, surveillance and climate control systems, this project will no doubt result in the one of the world’s most historic energy-efficient communities.”

Taliesin West was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1982. In 2008, the U.S. National Park Service submitted Taliesin West along with nine other Frank Lloyd Wright properties to a tentative list for World Heritage Status. The 10 sites have been submitted as one total site.

About HomeTech AV Solutions:
HomeTech AV Solutions and HomeTech Europe LTD\LLC maintains offices in Lausanne, London, New York, Palm Springs, Paris and Seattle. HomeTech works with the celebrated architects and interior designers in the world to provide bespoke smart home solutions. HomeTech’s clients generally have multiple homes and appreciate having one source for their AV and Home Automation needs. For more information please contact HomeTech at info@hometechavsolutions.com or visit www.hometechavsolutions.com.

About Big Green Zero:

Big Green Zero, LLC is a team of sustainable energy engineers project planners and historic preservation enthusiasts. The team provides commercial and institutional property owners with commercial-grade energy audits and sustainable energy project planning and development services. For more information visit www.biggreenzero.com.

The Big Green Zero team was retained by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to conduct a comprehensive energy audit for Taliesin West. Based on the audit’s findings and recommendations, Big Green Zero was additionally retained to develop and manage the 75th Anniversary Energizing Taliesin West™ program.

About the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation:
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation is dedicated to the preservation and stewardship of Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin, Taliesin West and the Taliesin Collections, to shaping the architecture and design at the highest level, and to the transformation of people’s lives through the artistry, principles and values of Frank Lloyd Wright’s body of work. To learn more visit www.franklloydwright.org.

About ELAN Home Systems:

Founded in 1990, ELAN® Home Systems is an industry leading manufacturer of innovative, award-winning whole-house entertainment and control systems that are distributed through a comprehensive channel of select dealers and distributors throughout the United States, Canada and more than 58 countries worldwide. To learn more visit www.elanhomesystems.com.

ELAN is part of the Core® Brands division of Nortek, Inc. Core Brands combines the product and marketing strengths of ten iconic audio, power management and control brands into a single business unit that includes ATON®, BlueBOLT®, ELAN®, Furman®, Niles®, Panamax®, Proficient®, SpeakerCraft®, Sunfire® and Xantech® brands.

ELAN is a subsidiary of Nortek, Inc., a global, diversified company whose many market-leading brands deliver broad capabilities and a wide array of innovative, technology-driven products and solutions for lifestyle improvement at home and at work. Please visit www.nortekinc.com for more information.

Stampede's 2013 Big Book of AV Tour Rolls On In Columbus, Ohio On March 8th!

North America’s largest ProAV dealer tour continues bringing together the best manufacturers and ProAV dealers when Stampede Presentation Products, Inc. brings its Spring 2013 Big Book of AV Tour to Columbus, Ohio, on March 8, 2013.  This stop will be held at the Columbus Airport Marriott, from 9:00AM through 1:30 PM.

“With just two stops so far in 2013, our BBOAV Tour is already shaping up to be one of the best, as we are consistently delivering on our promise to bring the best manufacturers directly to our dealers in their home markets,” Stampede President & COO Kevin Kelly declared today.  “In Columbus, we’re allowing our dealers to experience and interact with even more new products, offering timely product training sessions, and extending more incentives for them to make the time to come out and see what’s new from our exhibiting manufacturers.”

According to Kelly, all attendees at the Columbus stop will receive a $50 AMEX gift card.  In addition, attendees will receive a $100 Restaurant.com gift card for every CTS Certified training session they attend!  Additionally, all attendees will receive one $500 Stampede Credit that can be applied to any order over $5,000 that is placed with Stampede before April 12, 2013.

Stampede will provide complimentary continental breakfast from 9:00AM - 11:00AM, and a lunch buffet from 11:45AM - 1:30PM. 

Two CTS Certified trainings, each worth .5 CTS RU, are scheduled to take place from Hitachi and Sony Unified Communications.  Edgar Jimenez, Hitachi Western Zone Manager, will present a training session focused on WHDI and new switchers and doc cameras from Hitachi that allow for wireless content delivery.   Sony Video Conferencing Director of Engineering, Paul Dragos, will present a session that includes demonstrations of Sony Video Conferencing products, MediaPointe streaming, Automated Workflow process for content management, and Radvision United Communications.  These sessions will take place from 9:30AM – 10:15AM, and 12:00PM – 12:45PM, respectively.

Dealer registration is open now at www.bigbookofavtour.com, where they can also find directions and participating manufacturer information.  The Columbus event will be open from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EST.

Remaining stops on the Spring 2013 Tour include:

April 10, 2013               New York, NY

May 16, 2013                Charlotte, NC

About Stampede

Known for its value-added distribution, Amherst, New York-based Stampede is the leading distributor of presentation equipment including LCD/DLP projectors and flat panel displays. Stampede provides a complete range of brand name presentation equipment to a variety of audio/video, computer, and home theater resellers and integrators in the United States, Canada and Latin America. These resellers rely on Stampede for value-added services in distribution, marketing and solution- based sales. Stampede annually produces the “Big Book of AV,” a 1000-page catalog and companion website (www.BigBookofAV.com) providing hundreds of sales, installation and spec tips for Stampede’s dealers in addition to product details on more than 5,000 SKUs. For more information on Stampede, log onto www.stampedeglobal.com.