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FEBRUA RY 2018 | 25 Audio Visual Systems world's best TV sound. "There has been incredible advances in laser video projection, and with laser video prices declining, the technology is heavily used in the commercial settings as well as in upscale homes," he says. AV companies themselves are evolving to optimize their capabilities in an industry of constant change. In October, AVI-SPL, a leader in transformative audio visual and collaboration technology, announced the acquisition of Canadian integration firm Sharp's Audio Visual, which will make AVI-SPL the first national provider of AV and collaboration technology solutions in Canada. "Our goal was to substantially increase our local presence and resources throughout Canada, to provide best-in-class services and respon- siveness for our customers, while further enhancing our global delivery capabilities to assure a consistent customer experience worldwide," says AVI-SPL CEO John Zettel. With the addition of Sharp's to its exist- ing operation, AVI-SPL will significantly enhance and expand its ability to design, build, manage, and sup- port collaboration technology deployments. Unsurprisingly, service providers such as GAV MGMT Inc. are busy providing everything from AV and automation to digital signage, building illumi- nation, and collaboration solutions to a variety of clients. Donald Nolan, VP of technology integration at GAV MGMT, says, "We're currently doing a lot of work in the corporate, retail spaces as well as the hospitality sector." Specifically, the company is broadening its dig- ital signage services by focussing on the design and implementation of large LED displays, such as the two LED walls it recently installed in Toronto, Ontario. "The walls are 45 foot by 14 foot and 25 foot by 25 foot," says Nolan. "The large one is geared to marketing purposes, and the smaller one, which faces City Hall, offers amazing abstract art content." Not too far away, GAV MGMT has installed a floor- to-ceiling cascade of LED screens in Union Station. "LED is another technology that has advanced dramatically in a short space of time, making it a great and effective marketing tool for brand names," says Nolan. "The beauty is that although these screens are functioning around the clock, their life- time is 100,000 hours to a 50 percent brightness rate – and with walls running only at 20 to 40 percent, display lifespans are able to extend much longer." GAV MGMT continues to differentiate itself by adding emerging technologies once unavail- able to AV integrators. "Companies like Colorbeam NorthAmerica are really spearheading the initia- tive of delivering low voltage, tunable, LED lighting solutions for residential, commercial and hospital- ity applications through the professional AV channel. The future in AV is delivering all things low voltage," adds Nolan. Jin Fan, CEO of ClearLED, presides over a new and unique LED application: transparent LED window posters. ClearLED's series of transparent LED win- dow posters are available in three kit sizes: 42, 55 and 63 inches. Constructed using lightweight engi- neered aluminum and LED technology, the posters boast 60 percent transparency, high resolution, and 5,500-nit brightness. ClearLED Posters can display static and video con- tent, are visible 24/7, and can be seen from a great distance; plus, the poster content can be switched in minutes using intuitive software programming. "We released the posters in March and have been replac- ing print posters with digital ones for a major fast food franchise," says Fan. "The business potential for clear posters is enormous." As if to showcase the potential of clear post- ers, ClearLED designed a giant custom 50-feet-high transparent LED media facade as part of the Ottawa National Arts Centre's multi-million-dollar rejuvena- tion. The architectural "lantern" illuminates the glass building with four additional outdoor light blades that face the street. This customized ClearLED Wall installation has high-resolution, amazing brightness (8,000 nits), and up to 93 percent transparency. "We worked on this project with the architects for three years, and it is the largest installation of its kind in North America," says Fan. The project was also a technical challenge, as the 13 panels comprising the installation had to match the size of the window frames, and the chassis had to align with the steel beams almost invisibly. Last but not least, Lyle Fuller, president of Wallworks Acoustic Architectural Products Inc., notes that the supportive elements that bring out the best in AV technology are finally getting the respect they deserve from the general public. "Most people putting AV into their homes understand they require acoustical treatment, and so do people in the cor- porate and other sectors, as well as commercial architects. This makes our job a lot easier." Wallworks, which is currently providing noise con- trol for new school construction throughout Alberta, offers complete acoustic solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial applications via brands it manufactures and distributes such as Fabri-Lok Trak Systems, Barrisol, and Tavaspan. While technologi- cal advances aren't as rapid in this field of expertise as in other corners of the AV world, Fuller remarks that "our polycore panels, which are made from recycled pop bottles, are being used successfully for differ- ent functions, including acoustic cladding for interior partitions. They can also be hung from ceilings. It's interesting that although the panels have been avail- able for six years, only recently have they been used for acoustic purposes – possible because they're now available in a greater range of colours." A LED walls and displays from GAV MGMT. National Arts Centre LED media facade by ClearLED. Polycore noise control panels from Wallworks Acoustic Architectural Products Inc. 8:52 AM

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