Leon’s Design Excellence Award Winners of 2025

Each year, Leon’s Design Excellence Awards celebrate standout installations that merge performance with intentional design. From immersive commercial environments to highly tailored residential spaces, this year’s winners demonstrate how thoughtful integration can elevate both the function and feeling of a space.

Here are the 2025 winners whose work exemplifies the art of integrated AV:

Best Art + Audio: High-Tech Network

HTN Experience Center – High-Tech Network
Designed as a multiuse collaboration hub, the HTN Charlotte Experience Center brings together integrators, designers, and specifiers to explore what’s possible in today’s luxury home. Featuring a wide range of Leon solutions—including Ente Sound Tiles, Studio Frame for BRAVIA, Media Décor, and acoustic treatments from Maison Toukkani & ASKIA—the space demonstrates how technology can be seamlessly concealed while enhancing the overall environment.

“The numerous solutions that we deployed have given us the ability to show some of the best examples of how to conceal technology and blend art with audio.”

— Chris Cowdrey, High-Tech Network

Best Commercial: Mera Studio Architects

The Kenrick Hotel – Mera Studio Architects

A full-scale reimagining of a legacy property, The Kenrick Hotel blends modern design with layered materiality to create a bold, design-forward hospitality experience. Leon’s Mera SoundSconce integrates audio directly into architectural lighting, allowing sound, light, and form to work as one cohesive system throughout the space.

“Leon’s SoundSconce played a critical role in achieving the Kenrick Hotel’s design-forward vision by seamlessly integrating high-performance sound with architectural lighting.”

— Tara Marshall, Mera Studio Architects

Best Custom: Sound Xperience

Salvato – Sound Xperience

In this bar and theater installation, Leon’s Mera Sound Sconce solutions were used in unconventional ways—integrated into a custom mirror and deployed throughout a multi-display theater—alongside a custom Horizon Ultra Soundbar. The result is a system that solves both acoustic and aesthetic challenges in a highly tailored environment.

“No other speaker would work in the bar, and the sconces fit perfect in the theater.”

— Mark Sandquist, Sound Xperience

Best Custom: Modtronics, Inc.

Parisicago – Modtronics, Inc.

This downtown condo project highlights how Leon solutions can elevate compact, design-sensitive environments. Edge Flex Frames and custom Timbre speakers were used to complement finishes and create a cohesive visual language across living and bedroom spaces.

Best Edge Flex Frame: Digital Installers

Residential: Sawyer C – Digital Installers

Built around a clean, modern design philosophy, this home integrates Samsung Frame TVs with Leon Edge Flex Frames, creating cohesive, architectural focal points. Each display blends seamlessly into fireplaces, millwork, and feature walls.

Best Edge Media Frame: iTEC Consultants / Hi Solutions

River Retreat – iTEC Consultants / Hi Solutions Company

Set along the Hudson River, this modern retreat required technology that complemented its clean architectural lines. Leon’s Edge FIT Media Frame, paired with a Sonos Arc, transforms the TV into a design feature that feels intentional—even when not in use.

“Instead of it being a TV above the fireplace, it became a unique piece of art.”

— Joe McNeill, iTEC Consultants, a Hi Solutions Company

Best Soundbar + Frame Pairing: Smart Systems

Sleek Custom Soundbar – Smart Systems

When standard solutions didn’t meet spatial constraints, Smart Systems collaborated with Leon to create a custom-sized FrameBar and Studio Frame pairing—perfectly matched in material and proportion to the display and surrounding architecture.

Best FrameBar: Mission Digital

Living Room Makeover – Mission Digital

A full living room refresh replaced traditional AV furniture with a clean, wall-mounted solution. Leon’s FrameBar for Samsung Frame TV, paired with Sonos amplification, eliminated visual clutter while enhancing sound performance.

Best Horizon Soundbar: iTEC Consultants / Hi Solutions

Jersey Shore Ocean Front Villa – iTEC Consultants / Hi Solutions

This 16,000 sq. ft. oceanfront home integrates Leon Horizon Series soundbars and Aaros Ultra-Thin subwoofers throughout, delivering powerful, high-performance audio while maintaining a refined, architectural aesthetic across every room.

Best Indoor-Outdoor: Advanced Integrated Controls

Framed in Timber – Advanced Integrated Controls

Designed for a covered outdoor living space, this project uses a custom-finished Studio Frame for Sony OLED TV to match surrounding timber, transforming the display into a natural extension of the architecture.

“Leon’s Studio Frame was essential in achieving a finished result that felt intentional, cohesive, and architectural rather than purely technological.”

— Curt Hubner, Advanced Integrated Controls

Best Showroom: Strateres

Strateres Design Studio – Strateres

More than a showroom, this immersive environment demonstrates how technology can disappear into design. Leon solutions—including Rolling Art, Moving Art, Edge Media Frame, Studio Frame, and Ente Mini—are integrated throughout to show how AV, lighting, and control systems can coexist seamlessly.

Best Sidemount/Profile: Digital Installers

Residential: Anthony D – Digital Installers

This coastal California project improves audio performance while maintaining visual balance. Leon Profile 44UX Speakers were used to enhance sound while integrating naturally into the room’s composition.

Best Sound + Lighting: Mannarino Designs

The Screening Room – Mannarino Designs

Inspired by classic Hollywood cinema, this screening room blends rich materials and layered textures with Mera Sound Sconces, creating a refined environment where lighting and audio are fully integrated into the design language.

Best Studio Frame: Advanced Integrated Controls

Framed from the Same Stock – Advanced Integrated Controls

This whole-home approach uses Studio Frames in custom-matched wood species to align with surrounding millwork—ensuring each display reads as a natural extension of the architecture.

Best ToneCase/Sonos Solution: Innovative AVD

NJ Shore House – Innovative AVD

A retrofit with no pre-existing AV infrastructure, this installation uses Leon ToneCase speakers, TC Bar, and an Edge Frame to seamlessly integrate Sonos throughout the home.

“Leon helped make every A/V selection look like it had been planned for years, even though it was added at the end of the project.”

— James Hathaway, Innovative AVD

Best Video Wall: Petrone Technology Group

Building the Largest Ever Leon Edge Media – Petrone Technology Group

What began as a simple club room evolved into a large-scale entertainment hub anchored by a 15-foot-wide video wall. Leon engineered a custom Edge Media system and a 15-foot Horizon HZUltima soundbar to match the scale while maintaining a clean, architectural look.

“Leon made it possible to deliver theater quality sound and performance without compromising the architectural vision of the room.”

— Anthony Petrone, Petrone Technology Group

Best Whole Home System: Liberty Bell Smart Home

Liberty Bell Showroom – Liberty Bell Smart Home

This historic remodel showcases a wide range of Leon solutions across lighting, audio, and AV concealment—creating a cohesive, design-forward environment that resonates with both clients and the design-build community.

“We get constant compliments from the design-build community and clients that tour our space.”

— Mark Buzzard, Liberty Bell Smart Home

Non-TV Frame/Most Creative: AVDG, LLC

Maine Project – AVDG, LLC

AVDG demonstrates creative applications beyond traditional TV framing with this expansive custom home. The project features multiple Leon Edge Frames across a wide range of display sizes—including a unique digital sign/security monitor.

Thank You to This Year’s Entrants

We’re continually inspired by the creativity and craftsmanship of our integration partners. These projects demonstrate what’s possible when design and technology are considered together from the start.

Submissions for the 2026 Design Excellence Awards open next year. Stay tuned.