JUNE 6, 2006 PITTSBURGH PA –
A national design competition has named two local firms as Grand Prize winners for their renovation of the historic Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the nation's first free public library.

The Sextant Group, a national consulting and design firm specializing in audiovisual technologies, information technologies and acoustics, and EDGE Studio architects received the honor from Archi-Tech Magazine at an awards ceremony held in Orlando FL on June 6th. The award for “Best Project Under $1 Million” was presented at the InfoComm Conference and Exhibition, the largest event for the professional AV and information communications industry.

Archi-Tech AV Awards honors outstanding examples of the creative and effective integration of technology into otherwise traditional construction projects. The awards recognize the accomplishment of all members of the project team for their work in bridging the gap between design and technology to create highly functional buildings that integrate the latest in modern technology.

The design, dubbed Interactive UX (“User Experience”), is a dynamic, information-rich environment, featuring displays that enable digital content and projections to be easily updated throughout the library, encouraging the user to explore and engage in library content and services. Multiple projectors, large-format LCD monitors, bank of PC’s and total of 70 feet of LED boards blend educational, retail, cyber café and experiential environments into public destination. “I’ve traveled the world surveying current and proposed libraries, and this team is doing something truly groundbreaking,” says Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Director Herb Elish. The design has since become a prototype to be implemented system-wide.

The Sextant Group and EDGE Studios have teamed together for a number of local projects with significant audiovisual, information technology and acoustics challenges, including the historic Hazlett Theater on Pittsburgh’s Northside, and a research/ office building for Carnegie Mellon University’s Computer Science Department. Other local firms participating in the library project include Maya Design Group, AZCAR Procom LLC, LAM Partners, Loftus Engineering and Burchick Construction.

The Sextant Group is known in the industry for expertise in connecting education with technology in the learning space, from crafting sophisticated audiovisual systems, to the design and engineering of robust information technology infrastructure, to creating high performance acoustical environments and solutions. Projects include design for institutions of higher education, medical, corporate, government, institutional, performing arts, broadcast, and sports & recreation.