AOA

What AOA does

AOA (Acomb Ostendorf and Associates LLC) is a privately held, full-service design and delivery firm founded in 2009 by former Walt Disney Imagineering leaders, headquartered in Winter Park, Florida with additional offices in Orlando, Burbank, and Nashville. The firm operates 14 integrated service disciplines spanning master planning, concept design, previsualization, architecture, show set design, interior design, scenic paint and fabrication, media production, technical direction and integration, mockups and prototypes, strategic engineering, graphic design, construction QA/QC, and project management — providing end-to-end themed entertainment and immersive experience delivery under a single-firm model that the company describes as "physical storytelling."

The company's revenue model is professional services and project-based, with multi-year engagements priced on a custom scope basis across themed entertainment, hospitality, cultural institutions, healthcare, restaurants, retail, civic infrastructure, and space tourism. Go-to-market is sales-led via direct enterprise engagement and industry referrals, targeting marquee clients such as Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Creative/Marvel, Meow Wolf, BRE Hotels and Resorts (Grand Wailea, Hotel del Coronado), Hines (One Vanderbilt Summit Ascent), Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN/Transformers venues), the Jane Goodall Institute, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Boom Technology, Patina Restaurant Group, and AdventHealth. The company reports $1B+ in delivered projects, 40+ award-winning projects, and over 2,000 collective years of team experience across 101–250 employees.

The business model relies on consolidating fragmented multi-vendor delivery into a single accountable firm — eliminating handoffs between separate architecture, engineering, fabrication, and project management vendors — and applying deep themed entertainment domain expertise to adjacent sectors. The firm operates physical offices and a production shop to support fabrication, has launched the AOA Scholars Program with UCF (Fall 2026) to build a themed entertainment talent pipeline, and is executing ongoing flagship projects including Dolly's Life of Many Colors Museum (June 2026 opening) and SEVEN Transformers venues in Saudi Arabia.

Name

AOA

Legal name

Acomb Ostendorf and Associates LLC

Website

https://insideaoa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

AOA is a private, full-service themed entertainment design and project delivery firm founded in 2009 by former Walt Disney Imagineering leaders, offering 14 integrated disciplines from concept through construction for enterprise clients across theme parks, hospitality, museums, healthcare, and space tourism.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Winter Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Professional Services — Design & Project Management: AOA generates revenue by providing comprehensive professional services across immersive experience design and project delivery. These include master planning, concept design, previsualization, architecture, show set design, interior design, scenic paint and fabrication, media production, technical direction, strategic engineering, construction QA/QC, and project management. Revenue is project-based, tied to the lifecycle of each engagement from concept through construction and closeout.
2. Plug-In / Phase-Specific Services: Clients may engage AOA for specific project phases only (e.g., previsualization, construction QA/QC, or technical direction only), providing modular revenue streams alongside full-service engagements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AOA is a full-service design and delivery firm that creates immersive themed experiences for attractions, resorts, museums, restaurants, retail, healthcare, and cultural destinations. The firm combines narrative strategy, creative design, technical engineering, scenic fabrication, and construction management into 14 integrated service disciplines, taking projects from blue-sky concept through opening day under a single roof. It operates as an owner's representative and project manager for enterprise clients in the themed entertainment, hospitality, and cultural attraction sectors.

Product overview

AOA is a full-service design and delivery firm offering immersive experience design and project management services. The company operates a portfolio of 14 integrated service offerings organized across the project lifecycle: Master Planning & Visioning and Concept Design & Development (upstream planning); Previsualization, Architecture, Show Set Design, Interior Design, Strategic Engineering, Graphic Design, and Media Production (design and creative); Technical Direction & Integration, Mockups & Prototypes, and Scenic Paint & Fabrication (technical execution); and Project Management and Construction QA & QC (delivery oversight). These services are applied across themed entertainment venues, attractions, hotels, restaurants, retail, healthcare, museums, zoos, aquariums, and civic infrastructure projects. AOA was founded in 2009 by former Walt Disney Imagineering leaders and has delivered over $1B in projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1B in delivered projects across diverse sectors
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• UCF (University of Central Florida)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026AOA is partnering with UCF's themed experience program to establish the AOA Scholars Program, beginning in Fall 2026, aiming to prepare students for careers in themed entertainment design and production. The program provides students with practical, real-world industry experience through workshops, site visits, and project exposure. It seeks to enhance Central Florida's reputation as a hub for themed entertainment professionals and address the industry's need for skilled talent.
• Dolly Parton ProductionsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOA is providing nearly all of its 14 service disciplines — concept design, architecture, construction QA/QC, graphic design, interior design, media, mockups, previsualization, project management, scenic paint and fabrication, show set design, and technical direction — for Dolly's Life of Many Colors Museum. The 20,000 sq. ft. museum is the largest exhibit celebrating Dolly Parton's life in the world, located on the third floor of Dolly Parton's SongTeller Hotel in Nashville. Opening June 2026.
• Patina Restaurant GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOA has served as owner representative and project manager for multiple Patina Restaurant Group projects including Via Napoli Epcot (2008–2010, 322 seats), Morimoto Asia (completed 2016, 522 seats), and Space 220 (with Walt Disney Imagineering, 30,000 sq. ft. immersive space dining experience).
• Walt Disney ImagineeringflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOA was founded by former Walt Disney Imagineering leaders and continues to work closely with Walt Disney Imagineering on projects including Space 220 restaurant and Disney's Dynamic Art Display. Craig Russell, Executive Vice President at Walt Disney Imagineering, is quoted praising AOA's dynamic resource capabilities for Disney teams.
• Universal Creative / MarvelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOA developed bid set documentation for show set design for The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal Islands of Adventure, including pre-show, entry marquee and gateway, launch tube, and special effects conception, based on Marvel character storylines.
• Jane Goodall InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOA has partnered with the Jane Goodall Institute for over five years, serving as a transformational partner for world-class exhibits and educational entertainment. Current project includes Dr. Jane's Dream — an experiential conservation center in Arusha, Tanzania — working in partnership with Joe Rohde. Services include master planning, concept development, show set design, and media production.
• Meow Wolf, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOA joined Meow Wolf in July 2019 to support Omega Mart immersive art installations, providing project management, concept design, construction QA/QC, scenic paint and fabrication, show set design, and technical direction. Projects span Las Vegas, Denver, Santa Fe, Dallas, and Washington, DC (19,000–50,000 sq. ft. each, completed 2024).
• Mote Marine Laboratory & AquariumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOA was engaged by Mote Marine Laboratory to oversee early design and contractor on-boarding for the 110,000 sq. ft. Mote Science Education Aquarium in Sarasota, FL (1 million gallons of water). AOA identified cost and budget concerns with the architect's contract value and rebid the design scope, now providing full project management, construction superintendents, exterior skin design, exhibit design, and value engineering.
• HinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOA served as executive producer for the One Vanderbilt Summit Ascent experience — a kinetic glass elevator on the exterior of One Vanderbilt in New York City (fourth tallest building in NYC). Provided creative direction, technical and design planning, and oversight for all guest experiences, including the exterior elevator leading to the observation deck.
• BRE Hotels and ResortscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOA has been a critical partner of BRE Hotels and Resorts, providing project management, design management, construction management, and various design services for Grand Wailea: A Waldorf Astoria Resort (Maui) and Hotel del Coronado (Coronado, CA). BRE's EVP Development describes AOA as a critical component of their project delivery team and credits them with helping achieve tremendous growth.
• AdventHealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOA provided concept design, architecture, interior design, graphic design, show set design, scenic paint, media, technical direction, and project management for the AdventHealth ER at Flamingo Crossings Town Center — an emergency room with Key West-inspired architecture and Disney-inspired patient experience design serving Central Florida and Walt Disney World guests.
• Turtle Bay ResortminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOA provided design management, construction management, and project management for the renovation of Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore of Oahu — 410 keys across 858 acres, including guest rooms, cottages, pools, F&B venues, lobby, stables, and landscape upgrades.
• Boom Technology, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOA contributed architecture, concept design, media production (photorealistic animation, motion graphics, music composition, sound design), previsualization, and technical direction for Boom Supersonic's exhibition chalet at the Paris Air Show 2023, showcasing the Overture airliner. Developed 25 minutes of content across 4 screens and 2 floors.
• 4Roots Farm CampusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOA collaborated with the 4Roots organization to provide master planning, creative writing, narrative development, experiential design, conceptual architecture and interior design, previsualization media, project management, construction management, and scenic paint for the 20-acre Sustainable Farm Campus in Orlando, FL.
• Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn collaboration with Hasbro, SEVEN is developing the world's first Transformers-themed indoor entertainment destinations in Saudi Arabia. AOA is providing pre-concept and concept design, show set design, design management, creative direction, ride and show engineering, and technical direction for all three locations, including a novel Axis coaster in partnership with S&S Worldwide, Inc.
• NASA / Kennedy Space CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOA collaborated with NASA to provide custom media, projection mapping, and laser shows for Yuri's Night at Kennedy Space Center in both 2018 and 2019. AOA was the first to projection map the Atlantis Space Shuttle, using NASA archive content and custom animations. NASA provided sign-off on the projection mapping.
• Disney Corporate Real EstatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOA provided show set design, architectural and structural design, and MEP support for Disney's Dynamic Art Display at Hollywood Plaza Garage on International Drive — a 9,328 sq. ft. LED screen (341 ft. long, 3.7M+ pixels), the first dynamic art installation permitted in Orange County, Florida, and the 41st largest LED screen in the world.
• Mars Retail GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOA served as project manager and owner representative for the 10,000 sq. ft. M&M Store at Disney Springs, a flagship immersive retail experience featuring a customized graphics printer for personalized M&M's candies and exclusive co-branded merchandise.
• Coca-ColaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOA provided project management and technical direction for the Coca-Cola Store at Disney Springs — an 18,000 sq. ft. groundbreaking concept in an iconic green-glass building, featuring a rooftop beverage bar and dynamic guest meet-and-greet experience. AOA later revisited the front exterior with new renderings and design/technology solutions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stoke (formerly Thinkwell Group): Stoke (formerly Thinkwell Group) is a leading full-service design, production, and project management firm for the themed entertainment industry. It is the closest direct peer to AOA, offering similar end-to-end capabilities across theme parks, museums, brand experiences, and immersive attractions worldwide.
• Legacy Entertainment: Legacy Entertainment is a themed entertainment master planning, design, and production firm serving global theme park, resort, and casino clients. Its integrated design-to-delivery model for major entertainment destinations directly parallels AOA's offering.
• The Hettema Group: Founded by veteran theme park designer Phil Hettema, The Hettema Group provides concept design, master planning, and creative leadership for theme parks, museums, and immersive attractions. It competes with AOA in narrative-driven attraction design for major entertainment operators.
• Nassal Company: Nassal is a global fabricator and integrator of themed environments, attractions, and scenic elements for theme parks, museums, and entertainment clients. It is a direct comparable on the fabrication, scenic paint, and themed environment production side of AOA's service stack.
• PGAV Destinations: PGAV Destinations is a master planning and design firm specializing in theme parks, attractions, resorts, and entertainment destinations. It directly competes with AOA in master planning and concept development for theme park and resort clients.

Broad incumbents

• Cuningham Group: Cuningham is a global architecture firm with an entertainment practice spanning theme parks, resorts, and experiential venues. It offers overlapping architectural and master planning capabilities for themed entertainment clients but as part of a broader architecture portfolio rather than a niche specialist.
• Rockwell Group: Rockwell Group is an award-winning architecture and design firm with a dedicated theater, entertainment, and immersive experiences practice (e.g., Cirque du Soleil, themed restaurants, theatrical venues). It competes with AOA on immersive hospitality and entertainment design as part of a broader design practice.
• Gensler: Gensler is a global architecture and design firm with significant work in entertainment, hospitality, and experiential environments. While it does not specialize exclusively in themed entertainment, it competes with AOA on resort, hospitality, and large-scale entertainment venue projects worldwide.
• Arcadis (CallisonRTKL): Arcadis acquired CallisonRTKL, a major architecture and design firm with substantial entertainment and hospitality practices (including theme park, resort, and mixed-use entertainment work). It competes with AOA on large-scale hospitality and entertainment architecture projects as part of a global consulting platform.

Emerging players

• SmartMonke Studios: SmartMonke Studios is an emerging immersive experience design and production firm focused on themed entertainment, museums, and brand activations. It represents a smaller, emerging competitor with overlapping service offerings in previsualization, media production, and themed environment design.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@insideaoa906
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/insideaoa
• Instagraminstagram.com/insideaoa
• Xx.com/insideAOA

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AOA