What Chicago Scenic Studios does

Chicago Scenic Studios, Inc. is a privately held, full-service scenic fabrication and design studio founded in 1978 in Chicago by Bob Doepel and Gary Heitz, originally as a small theatre set building shop. Over four decades the company has expanded into custom fabrication and installation for museums, corporate branding and events, theatre, TV and film, and themed entertainment, and now operates from a 165,000 sq ft Chicago headquarters in the Pilsen/Chinatown area plus a regional office and prototyping space in Orlando, Florida opened in July 2022. The studio runs a complete in-house production stack spanning carpentry, metals, electrical and automation, scenic painting, soft goods, CNC computerized fabrication, UL508A-certified custom control panel engineering, and licensed General and Electrical Contractor work, and is both UL and ETL certified. It also operates a rentals and automation business that supplies scenic elements (cycloramas, scrims, drapes, turntables, lifts, winches) including the largest Steeldeck inventory in the Midwest.

The company generates revenue primarily through project-based custom fabrication contracts (design-build delivery for museums, broadcast studios, cruise ship attractions, immersive IP experiences, and corporate brand activations) supplemented by a rentals and automation line that monetizes scenic inventory and stage automation equipment on a transaction basis. Pricing is quote-based and bid individually per project, with no publicly disclosed pricing; secondary revenue comes from project management, technical design, permitting assistance, and value engineering services delivered alongside fabrication. The business is enterprise-led, with direct field sales targeting corporate clients, museums, theme parks, TV/film production companies, and event agencies, augmented by long-standing design firm partnerships (JRA, Provost Studio, Amaze Design, Architecture is Fun) and technology integration partners (Bowen Technovation, Angle Park, Local Projects). Named customers include Royal Caribbean, Nike, Ford, NFL Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Cubs, Warner Bros./Superfly (FRIENDS Experience), the Prince Estate, American Writers Museum, Field Museum, Big Ten Network, WGN/NewsNation, William Blair, and Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital; marquee wins include two THEA Awards (St. Louis Aquarium 2020; Disney's Animal Kingdom 2018) and two NewscastStudio Set of the Year awards (2017).

Name

Chicago Scenic Studios

Legal name

Chicago Scenic Studios, Inc.

Website

https://chicagoscenic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Chicago Scenic Studios is a Chicago-based scenic fabrication and design studio founded in 1978 that designs, builds, and installs custom immersive environments, exhibits, broadcast and theatre sets, and themed attractions for museums, corporate clients, TV/film producers, theme parks, and entertainment IP holders from its 165,000 sq ft Chicago HQ and Orlando facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scenic Fabrication Services

NAICS

Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Scenic Fabrication & Set/Stage Carpentry (MPAGAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event Fabrication & Scenic/Set Build (Custom Builds, Installations) (BPAFAGAK), Production Design & Art Department Services (Sets, Props, Scenic) (MPADAFAG), Staging, Scenic & Set Fabrication (Stages, Backdrops, Scenic Builds) (THAHAEAC)

Keywords

• Scenic fabrication services
• Museum exhibit design
• Theatre set construction
• Corporate event production
• Broadcast studio design

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Scenic Fabrication Projects: Project-based custom fabrication for museums, corporate events, theatre, TV/film, and themed entertainment. Revenue generated through design, fabrication, and installation services with pricing based on project scope, materials, and complexity.
2. Scenic Rentals: Rental revenue from inventory of scenic elements including cycloramas, scrims, turntables, drapes, staging, lecterns, portable staging units (largest supplier of Steeldeck in the Midwest), and stage automation equipment.
3. Project Management & Consulting: Services including permitting assistance, equipment & maintenance training, material training, design interpretation & charrettes.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Chicago Scenic Studios is a scenic fabrication and design studio that designs, fabricates, and installs custom immersive environments for museums, corporate branding and events, theatre, TV/film, and themed entertainment clients. The company offers end-to-end project delivery including design collaboration, technical engineering, prototyping, carpentry, metals, electrical/automation, scenic painting, soft goods, and on-site installation from a 165,000 sq ft Chicago headquarters and an Orlando, Florida prototyping facility.

Product overview

Chicago Scenic Studios is a scenic fabrication and design studio offering a comprehensive suite of services centered around immersive experience creation. The company operates two primary divisions: custom fabrication services (museum exhibits, corporate branding/events, theatre sets, TV & film sets) and a rentals division (scenic rentals and automation equipment). Supporting these core offerings are technical design/engineering capabilities and full-service project management. The company maintains a 165,000 sq ft Chicago headquarters and a new Orlando facility, serving clients across museums, theme parks, corporate events, theatre, broadcast, and sports industries globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Testimonial rating of 10 out of 10 for value of solutions from Sr. Producer at Leo Burnett Advertising
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and standard.

• Superfly XcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2020Experiential event producer partnership for FRIENDS Experience (third version in Chicago) and Prince: The Immersive Experience, in partnership with Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and The Prince Estate.
• Local ProjectsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020Award-winning exhibition and media design firm designing DuSable Museum's The March VR experience.
• Jack Rouse Associates (JRA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2018Cincinnati attraction design firm collaborating on Mascot Hall of Fame and multiple other museum projects including Bush's Beans Visitor Center, Children's Museum of Eau Claire, and Corvette Museum Education Gallery. Long-time design partner providing exhibit design while Chicago Scenic handles fabrication and installation.
• Puzzle BreakmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2018First American escape room company and creator of first escape games on the high seas, designing puzzles and game play for Royal Caribbean's Observatorium escape rooms. Responsible for puzzle concepts, overlapping clues, and path tracing to solution.
• Designduo (Gerry Hariton and Vicki Baral)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2018Production designers who crafted specific elements for Royal Caribbean escape rooms and brought Puzzle Break's vision to life, coordinating with Chicago Scenic on materials and concepts.
• David Warfel Lighting DesignstandardTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2018Lighting design partner for Royal Caribbean escape rooms and other projects.
• Creative TechnologystandardTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2018Chicago-based tech company integrating digital components into escape room puzzles for Royal Caribbean.
• Provost Studio / Peter ProvostcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time design partner for broadcast studio projects including Big Ten Network, Chicago Bears Halas Hall Broadcast Studio, William Blair Investments Webcast Studio (NewscastStudio Set of the Year winner), and Minnesota Vikings TCO Studios.
• Amaze Design / Andy AnwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign firm for American Writers Museum (opened 2017) and Chicago History Museum's Richard M. and Shirley H. Jaffee History Trail. Ongoing collaboration on temporary exhibits at American Writers Museum.
• Architecture is Fun / Kimberly StullcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago design firm collaboration on DuPage Children's Museum projects including Questioneers book series exhibit and post-flood redesign/rebuild in 2015.
• Teammates for Kids FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Garth Brooks, partnership developing Child Life Zones in medical centers. Chicago Scenic has created zones for UCLA Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital of San Antonio, and Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital.
• Bowen TechnovationstandardTechnology or IntegrationInteractive hardware and integration partner for Child Life Zones and other interactive exhibits.
• Angle Park, Inc.standardTechnology or IntegrationInteractive exhibit development partner for Reno Discovery Center's Future City game and other projects.
• Thinc DesignmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign powerhouse collaborating on Skydeck Chicago revitalization project with Clark Construction and Chicago Scenic.
• Clark ConstructionmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for Skydeck Chicago revitalization project.
• Momentum WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExperiential agency partner for Nike Just Do It HQ at the Church project and other brand activations.
• Various Automation PartnersstandardTechnology or IntegrationPartners for stage automation systems including lifts, drops, traveling curtains, large/small turntables, lifts, winches, and mobilator systems.
• IATSE UnionstandardOthersLabor union providing skilled workers for installations at various project sites including Nashville, Virginia, and other locations.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BRC Imagination Arts: Design-build firm creating immersive brand and cultural experiences, including museums, brand attractions, and themed environments. Direct peer in the immersive experience creation space with similar end customers (museums, brands, cultural institutions).
• The Nassal Companies: Florida-based scenic fabricator specializing in themed entertainment, museums, and aquariums. Direct competitor for theme park and museum fabrication work, including projects comparable to Chicago Scenic's St. Louis Aquarium and Disney's Animal Kingdom work.
• Splitbeam Studios: Scenic fabrication studio specializing in theatre, broadcast, themed entertainment, and corporate events. Direct peer for theatre set construction, broadcast studio builds, and custom scenic work.
• Thinkwell Group: Experience design and production studio creating theme parks, museums, and branded attractions worldwide. Comparable end-to-end design-build capabilities and customer base (Universal, Warner Bros., museums, corporate brands).
• Themeworks: Themed entertainment fabrication studio with comparable capabilities in scenic fabrication, theming, and immersive environments. Directly competes for the same theme park and attraction projects that CSSI's Orlando office targets.
• 1220 Exhibits: Exhibit design and fabrication house serving museums, visitor centers, and corporate environments. Direct peer in the custom museum and visitor experience fabrication market with comparable interactive and interpretive exhibit capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• FreemanXP: Experiential marketing and event services division of Freeman, offering brand experience design and fabrication at scale. Competes with CSSI for enterprise brand activations; Jim Thornton joined CSSI from this firm.
• GES (Global Experience Specialists): Major global event and exhibition services provider with integrated design, fabrication, and logistics capabilities. Competes for large-scale trade show and corporate event projects; one of CSSI's own sales leaders (Renée Mancino) came from GES, signaling direct competitive overlap.
• Sparks (The George P. Johnson Experience Marketing): Large global experiential marketing agency with in-house fabrication capabilities for trade shows, brand activations, and corporate events. Competes for the same corporate branding and event projects as CSSI but operates at significantly larger scale across the full marketing services spectrum.

Regional players

• Cinnabar California Inc. California-based scenic fabrication shop serving theatre, opera, themed entertainment, and corporate events. Provides comparable theatre set construction and scenic fabrication services but primarily serves the West Coast market rather than competing head-to-head with CSSI's Midwest base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/chicago-scenic-studios-inc-264980773545770

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

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 Chicago Scenic Studios