Sonepar USA, Acuity Brands & OSRAM SYLVANIA Have Brought Technology and Art Together With PIFA Cube

PHILADELPHIA, May 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- From digital projections on the outer wall of the Kimmel Center to a significant social media presence, the first-time, 25 day Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA April 7 – May 1, inspired by the Kimmel Center) has truly been a unique collaboration and melding of art and technology. And a perfect illustration of that was the sponsorship, by Sonepar USA, Acuity Brands and OSRAM SYLVANIA, of the PIFA Cube. Now, with the culmination of PIFA, the Cube becomes a legacy that will live far beyond the event.

"Sonepar USA, in partnership with Acuity Brands and OSRAM SYLVANIA, has been thrilled to be a sponsor of the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts," said Jay Bricker, Executive Vice President of Sonepar USA.   "PIFA's 2011 theme focusing on the excitement, innovation and inspiration of Paris some one hundred years ago, allowed us to pay tribute to both Paris, the global headquarters of our parent company, as well as, Philadelphia, home to Sonepar USA. That legacy of energy, collaboration and innovation continues to inspire us all a century later," Bricker added, "and the Cube itself carries on as the company's legacy for the century to come.

Constructed as both a landmark symbol for the first Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts, as well a way to provide an enticing insider glimpse into Philadelphia's arts community and the city's premier arts destination – the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts – the digital PIFA Cube was formally activated March 1, 2011 and has been  capturing the attention of both drivers and foot traffic along the Avenue of the Arts ever since. In fact, with content that includes a blend of messages about the festival and the slate of programming, video excerpts of performances, artists and participating cultural organizations, including the Kimmel Center resident companies and more, as well as the capability to showcase a virtually limitless array of messages and video content, the PIFA Cube has become an art installation all its own, and will remain as an extension of the Kimmel Center's architecture beyond the duration of the festival.

"The PIFA Cube is a unique opportunity for OSRAM SYLVANIA to collaborate with two industry leaders – Sonepar USA and Acuity Brands – to bring lighting technology and art together," said Tim Lesch, OSRAM SYLVANIA senior vice president of the NAFTA Central Selling Organization. "We are very proud to be part of this effort to raise public awareness about lighting & our new technology."

"We are honored to play a role in the permanent stationing of the PIFA Cube," said Vernon J. Nagel, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Acuity Brands. "The Kimmel Center is a Philadelphia landmark, a testament to architectural brilliance and a regional epicenter for entertainment and the arts. Much as we are focused on bringing the best quality of lighting and energy-efficiency to our customers, the PIFA Cube incorporates the same principles. In this way, we believe the Kimmel Center and the local community will benefit from the PIFA Cube for many years to come," Nagel continued.

Manufactured locally in Delaware County by Universal Service Associates Inc., the Cube is 7.5 ft x 7.5 ft x 7.5 ft. with an 8 ft tall x 16 ft wide video area, and weighs 4300 pounds. The screens are comprised of 72 individual panels which use LED surface mounted diodes.  The total number of LED diodes that make up and image are 93,312. The panels are unique as all of the color changes for the video occur in one diode which allows the bulbs to be placed closer together to form a cohesive video image.  Audio visual engineering and integration was done by Edwards Technologies Inc. and the project management was provided by Peavey Group LLC.  

An energy-efficient product, the computer-based system that runs the Cube makes use of micro form factor PC's that at  rest consume less than 100 watts of power. The control system is web-enabled and the computer-based system is capable of having lighting adjustments and sound adjustments from smart phones or other web enabled devices. Its sound system has an active listening system that makes volume adjustments based on street noise -- it lowers volume during times of low traffic and raises volume as street noise increases. Similar technologies for the control system are in use with the recently-opened Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Honor. The screens used on the Cube are Barco C-11 screens, which are the world's most energy efficient outdoor LED panel.  It consumes 20 percent less energy than competitive brands. Recent applications of the C-11 panels include: World Equestrian Games "Spotlight Lexington" and Carnival Cruise Lines' "Pacific Pearl".

About Sonepar USA

Sonepar USA is made up of the finest locally managed electrical and industrial distributors.  Headquartered in Philadelphia PA, Sonepar USA is a member of the Sonepar group, the world's privately-held electrical distributor. The Sonepar Group is present in 36 countries.  For more information, visit www.sonepar-us.com.

About OSRAM SYLVANIA

OSRAM SYLVANIA is a leader in lighting solutions that feature innovative design and energy saving technology. The company sells products for homes, businesses and vehicles primarily under the SYLVANIA brand name, and also under the OSRAM brand. Headquartered in Danvers, Mass., OSRAM SYLVANIA is the North American operation of OSRAM GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens AG. For more information, visit www.sylvania.com or follow SYLVANIA on Facebook and Twitter.

About Acuity Brands

Acuity Brands, Inc. is a North American market leader and one of the world's leading providers of luminaires, lighting control systems and related products and services with fiscal year 2010 net sales of over $1.6 billion. The Company's lighting and system control product lines include Lithonia Lighting®, Holophane®, Peerless®, Mark Architectural Lighting™, Hydrel®, American Electric Lighting®, Gotham®, Carandini®, RELOC®, Antique Street Lamps™, Tersen®, Winona Lighting®, Synergy® Lighting Controls, Sensor Switch®, Lighting Control & Design™, ROAM® and Sunoptics®. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Acuity Brands employs approximately 6,000 associates and has operations throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Locally, Acuity Brands will be participating at the LightFair International Tradeshow, booth #1801, May 17-19, 2011 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pa. For more information, please visit the Acuity Brands on the web, and Acuity Brands' YouTube Channel.  Become a fan of Acuity Brands on Facebook® and follow Acuity Brands on Twitter®.

PIFA, inspired by the Kimmel Center - Philadelphia's renowned performing arts center - is the city and region's first major international arts festival, celebrating the spirit of collaboration and innovation that characterized Paris from 1910 to 1920. Paris at that time was a center of tremendous creativity and ultimately shaped how we defined the arts throughout the 20th century. Featuring a feast of music, dance, fashion, fine arts, outdoor events, theater, literature, cuisine and more, the festival celebrates Philadelphia's rich and vibrant cultural community.  More than 145 of our region's finest organizations are combining forces to produce more than 30 commissioned works, 135 events, featuring a roster of more than 1500 artists over 25 days.

From classical performances to new works inspired by the avant-garde spirit of that earlier era, from family and children's programming to cutting-edge dance and music, from captivating productions to renowned French chefs and gravity-defying aerial artists, PIFA is truly a banquet for longtime arts lovers and novices. 

The Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts gratefully acknowledges the generosity of its sponsors: lead sponsors the late Leonore Annenberg and the Annenberg Foundation; lead media sponsor Philadelphia Media Network, which includes the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News and philly.com; major sponsors Macy's, Sonepar USA and Wells Fargo, and PIFA Information Booth construction sponsor Citizens Bank.

For further technical information on the PIFA Cube, please contact David Thiele at [email protected]. For press info on PIFA, please contact Nina Zucker Associates at 610.667.0706 or [email protected]. For general festival information, visit www.pifa.org.

The full slate of PIFA programming to date can be accessed both on www.pifa.org and at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Tickets to individual performances and events can be purchased on the PIFA website, in person at the Kimmel Center Box Office, or by phone at 215-546-PIFA. Tickets are priced by individual presenting organizations, ranging from FREE to the public to $125. For the most up to date information, contact PIFA at (215) 790-5800 or visit www.pifa.org.

Kimmel Center, Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit organization, owns, manages, supports and maintains The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which includes Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, Innovation Studio and the Merck Arts Education Center.  Kimmel Center, Inc. also manages the Academy of Music, owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, and the University of the Arts' Merriam Theater. Our mission is to operate a world-class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience from throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. The 2010/2011 season is sponsored by Citi, and the Broadway 2010/2011 season is sponsored by Verizon, and American Airlines.  For additional information, visit kimmelcenter.org. 

For further press information on PIFA, including access to the festival, media appearances or interviews, please contact Nina Zucker Associates, (610) 667.0706 or [email protected]. For information on sponsorship or festival participation, please contact Dawn Frisby-Byers at (215) 670.2324 or [email protected]. For general information about the festival, please call (215) 546.PIFA or visit www.pifa.org.                                

SOURCE Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts