CEDIA Members Triumph in Debut Awards

At this year's CEDIA Expo, CEDIA (the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association) has revealed the category winners and finalists in the inaugural CEDIA Awards, designed to recognise excellence amongst its members.

Winners and finalists were:

Best Installation Under £20,000
1st Laservision - Art Deco Cinema
Finalist Definitions - Stevens
Finalist Definitions - Piercy One Touch Simplicity

Best Installation Over £20,000 and Under £100,000
1st Audiofile - Doherty (Basement)
Finalist Chew & Osborne - Penthouse, New Providence Wharf
Finalist Pounds - Morley Hall

Best Installation Over £100,000
1st SMC - Ad Astra
Finalist Smartcomm - Firoka (Kings Cross Apartment)
Finalist Dawsons - Dorchester House

Best Multi Dwelling Installation
1st Icon Connect - The Knightsbridge
Finalist Intelligent Home Systems - Fountainhall
Finalist SMC - The Phillimores

The winners received their CEDIA Award trophy in an informal ceremony at the Chairman's Reception on Tuesday 20th June.

"I am delighted to announce the winners and finalists in the first-ever CEDIA Zone 1 Awards" said CEDIA Chairman, David Hyman, speaking at the Chairman's Reception, held on the Expo show floor on Tuesday 20th June. "We received over 40 high quality entries for the four main installation categories open to ESP members, from members working in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. The judges then went through a very difficult process to select the final three and an eventual winner in each installation category".

The inaugural CEDIA Awards featured six categories in total. 'Best CEDIA Installation under £20,000', 'Best CEDIA Installation over £20,000 and below £100,000' and finally 'Best CEDIA Installation over £100,000' recognised the quality and innovation in the design and installation skills of CEDIA members at both the lower and upper end of custom installation market, whilst the 'Best Multi-Dwelling Installation' category rewarded the talents of CEDIA members working with property developers and house builders.

These four Awards were judged by an expert panel, comprising Julian Wilkinson, from award-winning residential architects, Wilkinson King, Diana Yakeley, Chair of the British Interior Design Association (BIDA), Garry Mason, Editor of idFX, Chris Price and Dave Murphy, freelance technology journalists.

The 'CEDIA Award for Best Supplier' was given to Pulse Marketing. Judged by CEDIA ESP members in an online vote, via the CEDIA website (www.cedia.co.uk), this category was open to all CEDIA Trade Supplier members and recognised the top manufacturer or distributor in the industry. Judging criteria included the standards of service, support, product innovations and training provided to members. The final category, 'Best Stand at CEDIA Expo 2006' did not require a formal entry, and Linn was judged at Expo as the winner by Phil Jones, Director of the AEO (Association of Exhibition Organisers).