Destination Outdoors will return to CEDIA Expo 2026, occupying a 22,000-sq.-ft. space directly outside the Colorado Convention Center. This exhibition demonstrates how current hardware advancements bridge the gap between interior smart home environments and exterior living areas. The installation functions as an immersive walkthrough, showcasing systems for lighting, audio, and power control.
The project is presented by Coastal Source in partnership with Lutron. Visitors move through a series of connected residential zones, starting in an indoor living room equipped with automated shading and interior lighting. The path leads into a covered entertaining section and concludes in a garden area illuminated by VIA, a specialized outdoor lighting system developed by Coastal Source and Lutron.
This collaboration merges Lutron control protocols with the engineering specifications of Coastal Source. The hardware is purpose-built to withstand environmental exposure while maintaining the same control interfaces used inside the house. “Destination Outdoors has always been about inspiring the industry to think differently about outdoor living,” said Franco D’Ascanio, Coastal Source founder & CEO. “This year, we’re taking that vision further through our collaboration with Lutron and their Native by Design approach by demonstrating how intelligent lighting can extend seamlessly from inside the home into the setting. When lighting, audio, power and connectivity are designed as one cohesive experience, outdoor spaces become a true extension of the home, and that’s exactly where we see the future of outdoor living heading.”
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Beyond the immersive walkthrough, the activation provides hands-on access to product lines, including Coastal Source’s 1000 Series Bollards, PowerSource, and Uni-Connect cabling. These displays show how system architecture affects long-term reliability and performance for residential clients.
Jason McGraw, group vice president and show director, noted that the event provides experiences difficult to replicate through digital channels. The show director described the installation as a way to bring brands together in a functional, real-world setting. The exhibition serves as a physical example of how integrated solutions perform at scale.
The event is one of many features at the show, which hosts more than 300 exhibitors. Following the floor hours on Wednesday, a gathering takes place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the site. The full CEDIA Expo runs in Denver from Tuesday, Sept. 1 through Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.
