Innovative System or Solution

Liquid Automation

There are two finalists in this CEDIA Awards category of Innovative System or Solution, which CEDIA defines as “a unique, innovative, or creative installation solution or use of technology that that meets the homeowner’s unique requirements”.

In the case of the project from New Zealand’s Liquid Automation (who we know best from their world-class marine work) the ‘homeowner’ is the whole of Auckland! The job was to upgrade and refresh the audio-visual technologies within three key spaces of Auckland Town Hall — the reception lounge, the main Chamber, and the pictured Boardroom. Although the tender had indicated preferred systems, Liquid Automation engineering a customised solution to meet the challenges of the complex spaces, as there was not an off-theshelf solution they felt met the criteria. Their solution consisted of Crestron for control, video and audio switching, DSP and user interfaces, as well as two high-definition optically-enhanced PTZ cameras paired with a Polycom Group Series 700 Video Conference system. It’s quite the matrixing system, with a Crestron 16×16 Digital Media Matrix Switcher routing presentations that are shared either via wired HDMI inputs or wirelessly, plus 32 Bosch push-to-talk wireless microphones and Shure handheld and lapel microphones. Unusual requirements include 16 XLR audio outputs available for the media and press representatives to extract audio from the meetings, as well as two HDMI outputs in order to capture presentations and stream to a live council YouTube channel.