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There are only a few months to go until the CEDIA Awards ceremony 2016, to be held at the Guildhall, London on Friday 1st July. By James Hunt:
This coming July, the digital and connected domestic technologies industry will be getting together to celebrate the best in design, installation and integration excellence in the home technology sector. And they will be doing it – perhaps slightly ironically - in one of Britain’s most ancient, illustrious, celebrated and iconic public buildings, the 13th century Guildhall.
CEDIA, which is a Voltimum partner, is the international trade organisation for the home technology industry and claims to be the ‘leading global authority’ in it. The organisation, which is expert in topics such as smart and connected homes and the Internet of Things (IoT), has nearly 4,000 member companies worldwide. Built upon a strong volunteer foundation, CEDIA provides access to industry-leading education, certification, research and raises consumer awareness.
The London Guildhall, on the other hand, has links to the 12th century and is an esteemed historical setting. The present building, built in 1411, is the only non-ecclesiastical stone building in the City to have survived through to the present day, though it was damaged in the Great Fire of London. With its magnificent gothic interior, this wonderful building is still the ceremonial and administrative centre of the City of London and its Corporation, and is home to the Lord Mayor’s Banquet.
CEDIA’s Awards guests, therefore, will be immersed in this magnificent medieval Grade I listed landmark for an evening of festivity and grandeur that has hosted Heads of State, royal occasions and major historical anniversaries since it was built.
So, says CEDIA, the Guildhall is a fitting place to commemorate the industry’s finest home technology projects – despite the building itself being very ancient and ‘low technology’.
An evening to treasure
“We are very happy to announce the Guildhall as the venue for the CEDIA Awards,” comments Wendy Griffiths, Executive Director of CEDIA EMEA.
“Having celebrated,” she said, “the 10th anniversary last year at the Natural History Museum, we were under great pressure to find another memorable venue that wows CEDIA members as much as their projects amaze us. With the Guildhall’s extraordinary history, stunning vaulted ceilings and impressive setting, we know it’ll be an evening to treasure.”
This black-tie event will begin with a drinks reception, where attendees can enjoy networking with their peers, before enjoying a three-course meal. CEDIA will reveal the winners in the grand setting of the Great Hall, watched over by monuments of national heroes, including Admiral Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and most recently Sir Winston Churchill. An after party will conclude the evening.
The CEDIA Awards is free to enter and strictly open to CEDIA member companies only. The deadline for entries is Monday 18th April 2016. For more information, visit www.cediaawards.org. To book your place, please use the link below.
More about CEDIA
Established in the USA in 1989, CEDIA (http://www.cedia.co.uk) was founded in the USA in 1989 by a group of professionals dedicated to the advancement of the up-and-coming electronic systems industry. Their vision was to advocate the needs of the home technology professional by becoming the leading resource, promoting commerce, offering training and aiding in the assembly of a legitimate industry that was, at the time, considered more of a hobby.
The Association was introduced to the UK in 1996 and has grown into an international association that ‘has come to be recognised as the universal mark of professionalism for businesses within the industry’.
The organisation aims to advance the industry by developing timely education and certification, launching research initiatives, advocacy on legislative issues, building relationships with architects, builders, and interior designers, educating the consumer and recognising industry achievement.