The newly unveiled welcome center at Graycliff Estate marks a significant milestone for the historic site originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The space, which recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony, includes not only an expansion of visitor amenities, but also a thoughtful integration of modern technology—delivered in large part by Southtown AV (SAV)—that enhances the guest experience without compromising the Wright’s vision and the architectural integrity of the space.
Perched on a bluff overlooking Lake Erie, Graycliff was commissioned in the late 1920s by industrialist Darwin D. Martin and his family, who had previously collaborated with Wright on his famed Buffalo residences. Completed in 1931, the estate is one of Wright’s most refined examples of organic architecture, with its low horizontal lines, natural materials, and careful siting designed to connect the built environment with the surrounding landscape. Today, Graycliff stands as a National Historic Landmark and a vital cultural destination, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience Wright’s vision in a lakeside setting that remains remarkably intact.
From the outset, the project demanded a delicate balance between innovation and preservation. “The biggest challenge was fitting a significant amount of technology into the space without taking away from the architecture,” Heather Sidorowicz, owner of Southtown AV, told Connected Design. “The building is very intentional—clean lines, wood slat ceilings, and a strong Frank Lloyd Wright influence—so anything that looked like ‘tech’ would immediately stand out.”
To meet this challenge, SAV leaned heavily into design-forward solutions. Audio, for example, was carefully considered within the context of the building’s geometry. Rather than forcing speakers into the wood slat ceiling, the team selected square in-ceiling models that align naturally with the room’s visual rhythm. In the conferencing area, a Shure beamforming microphone bar was seamlessly integrated into the ceiling, eliminating the need for visible tabletop microphones and preserving the space’s clean aesthetic.
Beyond infrastructure, the technology plays a central role in storytelling. SAV collaborated closely with the Graycliff team and exhibit content developers to design interactive elements that feel intuitive and immersive.
“We worked closely with both the client and the content team to design the interactive exhibits, making sure the technology supported the experience rather than competing with it,” Sidorowicz said.
To that end, visitors will encounter touchscreen displays embedded within the architecture, offering educational and interpretive content that blends into the environment. A 98-inch display doubles as digital signage and a presentation screen, activated effortlessly by guides via a wireless control system. The result is a space where technology remains largely invisible until it’s needed.
That level of collaboration proved to be one of the defining factors in the project’s success, according to Sidorowicz. Over its three-year development, SAV coordinated with architects, the general contractor, and multiple stakeholders to ensure alignment at every stage.
“This was a true team project,” she said. “Everyone stayed focused on the same goal, which made it a very successful team effort.”
Perhaps most impressive is how seamlessly the technology disappears into the background. “It’s a lot of technology, but you don’t see it—you just experience it,” she adds.
For integrators and designers alike, the Graycliff welcome center stands as a compelling example of how thoughtful AV integration can elevate historic spaces—enhancing engagement while honoring the vision of one of architecture’s most iconic figures.
