Knippershelbig

What Knippershelbig does

Knippershelbig is an international engineering consultancy specializing in structural and facade planning for architecturally ambitious, structurally complex, and sustainability-focused building and infrastructure projects. Founded in 2001 in Stuttgart, the firm operates from four offices (Stuttgart, Berlin, Munich since September 2025, and New York since 2009) with a team of approximately 100 professionals from over 27 nations, delivering projects across Central Europe, North America, the Far East, and Africa. Service lines span structural engineering, facade engineering, bridge construction, specialty structures (including adaptive/kinematic structures, tensile membranes, and complex geometries), sustainability consulting, digital design/BIM, and an active R&D practice focused on innovative low-carbon materials. The client base comprises architecture firms, real estate developers, public authorities, and contractors; a representative marquee portfolio includes the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the Ontario Court of Justice, Bloomberg Student Center at Johns Hopkins, The Cradle in Düsseldorf, Study Pavilion Braunschweig, and the Franklin Steg integral timber bridge.

The firm differentiates on digital planning methodologies — parametric design, Building Information Modeling, and computational geometry optimization using Rhinoceros, Grasshopper, Revit, Sofistik, ANSYS, and custom code — and on a research-driven innovation pipeline that has produced "world's first" or "Europe's first" structures in 3D-printed steel nodes, carbon-fiber-reinforced textile concrete bridges, fiber-reinforced composite bridges, and frameless all-glass envelopes. Revenue is generated through professional, project-based engineering services priced per scope and complexity, with no SaaS, platform, or productized revenue stream. The firm is privately held (knippershelbig GmbH in Germany and knippershelbig Inc. in the US), partner-led, with no disclosed external investors or funding rounds, and has built market presence through trophy-project reputation, industry awards (DAM PREIS, EU Mies, CTBUH, AIA, ENR), professional association memberships (buildingSMART, DGNB, IABSE, IStructE, USGBC), and a network of recurring research collaborations with institutions including TU Delft, TU Darmstadt, and HTW Berlin.

Name

Knippershelbig

Legal name

knippershelbig GmbH

Website

https://knippershelbig.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Knippershelbig is an international engineering consultancy providing structural and facade planning for complex buildings, bridges, and specialty structures, serving architects, developers, and public authorities from offices in Stuttgart, Berlin, Munich, and New York.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Structural Engineering Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)

Keywords

• Structural engineering services
• Facade engineering consulting
• Bridge construction design
• Building information modeling
• Sustainable construction consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Structural and Facade Engineering Services: Knippershelbig generates revenue through professional engineering services in structural design, facade engineering, bridge construction, and specialty structures. Projects are typically commissioned by architects, developers, public authorities, and contractors. Revenue is project-based, with engagements ranging from early concept phases through construction supervision.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Knippershelbig is an international engineering consultancy that designs, engineers, and supervises construction of structurally complex and climate-friendly building projects worldwide. Its core services cover Structural Engineering (Tragwerksplanung), Facade Engineering (Fassadenplanung), Bridge Construction (Brückenbau), Specialty Structures (kinetic/membrane constructions), Sustainability Consulting, Research & Development in innovative materials, and Digital Design (parametric/BIM).

Product overview

Knippershelbig is an international engineering firm (approximately 100 employees across 4 locations) providing specialized engineering services in structural and facade engineering. The company operates as a single unified service offering rather than a platform with discrete products. Their core services include Structural Engineering and Facade Engineering as primary offerings, complemented by Specialty Structures (adaptive/kinematic constructions, tensile membranes, complex geometries), Bridge Construction, Research & Development (materials innovation including 3D printing, textile concrete, fiber-reinforced composites), and Digital Design/BIM services (parametric design, visual programming with Grasshopper, custom programming). Projects span high-rise buildings, cultural buildings, bridges, stadiums, and specialized structures globally, with a focus on sustainable and innovative construction methods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Structural Engineering (Tragwerksplanung) International engineering services for the structural design and construction of buildings of any size and complexity, including high-rises, cultural buildings, bridges, airports, and sports stadiums.
• Facade Engineering (Fassadenplanung) Engineering services covering facade consulting, facade engineering, and facade design for complex building envelopes, including thermal and performative facade systems.
• Bridge Construction (Brückenbau) Design and engineering of pedestrian and cycle bridges, including integral timber bridges and sustainable bridge typologies (e.g., Franklin Steg integral timber bridge, Stuttgart timber bridge, world's first steel-free carbon-fiber concrete bridge).
• Specialty Structures (Sonderkonstruktionen) Innovative special designs and constructions including adaptive/kinematic structures, tensile membrane structures, complex geometries, temporary installations, art objects/sculptures, exhibition structures, cable car constructions, observation towers, and helipads. Includes the world's largest membrane roof covering 65,000 m² with a 100 m span.
• Research & Development (Forschung und Entwicklung) Materials research and innovative construction materials development for emission- and resource-efficient structural and facade projects, including 3D printing for steel nodes, integral solid wood bridges, clay construction, textile concrete, bamboo panels, cold-cast ceramic, fiber-reinforced composites (GFRP, CFRP), and frameless all-glass structures.
• Digital Design / Parametric Design and BIM Parametric design and BIM services using digital tools for geometry optimization and form-finding, with capabilities including 2D/3D modeling (Rhinoceros, Revit, AutoCAD), visual programming (Grasshopper), custom programming (C#, Python, VB Script, JavaScript), BIM coordination (Revit/Solibri/BIMcollab), model-based structural analysis (Sofistik, ANSYS), and digital manufacturing workflows (3D printed steel nodes).
• Sustainability Consulting (Nachhaltigkeit) Sustainability consulting focused on emission- and resource-efficient construction, climate-friendly structural planning, and sustainable urban transformation projects (e.g., Munich LOVT Vision).

Quantifiable outcome

• World's first completely steel-free, carbon fiber-reinforced concrete bridge
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TU DelftcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Research collaboration on 3D printing technologies for steel nodes in grid shell structures. Partnered with Jansen and MG Metalltechnik GmbH on this initiative.
• JansencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Industry partner in 3D printing research for steel nodes in grid shell structures, alongside TU Delft and MG Metalltechnik GmbH.
• MG Metalltechnik GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Industry partner contributing to 3D printing research for steel nodes in grid shell structures.
• Materialprüfanstalt Universität StuttgartcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Research collaboration on integral solid wood bridges, initiated in 2013, alongside architects, timber construction experts, and specialized companies.
• Solidian / AlbstadtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient and research partner for the world's first completely steel-free, carbon fiber-reinforced textile concrete bridge. Partner in material development for carbon fiber-reinforced concrete.
• TU DarmstadtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in ZIM project for frameless all-glass structures with cold-cast ceramic, alongside Yachtglas and others.
• YachtglasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in ZIM project for frameless all-glass structures with cold-cast ceramic, alongside TU Darmstadt.
• Berlin University of Applied Sciences (HTW Berlin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on bamboo panel materials with core layer of bamboo rings for wall and ceiling structures, alongside Dunkel Toolmaking and Cordes Timber Construction.
• Dunkel ToolmakingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner in bamboo material research project with HTW Berlin and Cordes Timber Construction.
• Cordes Timber ConstructionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner in bamboo material research project with HTW Berlin and Dunkel Toolmaking.
• buildingSMARTcoreOthersActive membership in buildingSMART organization supporting open BIM standards and digital planning methodologies.
• DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für nachhaltiges Bauen)coreOthersActive membership supporting sustainable building certification and standards in Germany.
• IABSE (International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering)coreOthersActive membership in international association for bridge and structural engineering.
• IStructE (Institution of Structural Engineers)coreOthersActive membership in UK-based institution for structural engineering professionals.
• USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council)coreOthersActive membership supporting LEED certification and green building standards.
• Fachverband Konstruktiver Glasbau e.V.coreOthersActive membership in German association for structural glazing.
• Wüstenrot StiftungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiated the feasibility study for heritage-sensitive restoration of the Sonnensegel (Westfalenpark sun sail) in Dortmund, demonstrating potential for restoration versus demolition.
• Baden-Württemberg ArchitektenkammerminorOthersActive membership in the Chamber of Architects in Baden-Württemberg.
• ING Bau (Institut für Bauingenieure)minorOthersActive membership in German civil engineering association.
• INGBW Security DivisionminorOthersActive membership in the security division of the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Engineers.
• Fairtrag e.V.minorOthersActive membership in Fairtrag association for fair construction practices.
• Building CultureminorOthersActive membership supporting building culture initiatives.
• Stiftung der schweizerischen Register RegminorOthersActive membership in Swiss standards organization.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Werner Sobek: Stuttgart-based structural engineering firm founded in 1992, similarly focused on innovative lightweight and sustainable structures with an in-house R&D capability. Directly comparable to Knippershelbig by city, size, philosophy, and emphasis on parametric design and emission-efficient construction.
• Schlaich Bergermann Partner: Stuttgart-headquartered structural and civil engineering consultancy specializing in complex bridges, lightweight roofs, and long-span structures. Highly comparable in geographic base, project typology (signature bridges, stadiums, cultural buildings), and reputation for engineering-driven design partnership with leading architects.
• Bollinger + Grohmann: Frankfurt-based structural engineering firm with offices across Europe and Australia, focused on complex buildings, facades, and timber construction. Closely comparable to Knippershelbig in size, multi-office European model, and emphasis on integrated structural and facade engineering for ambitious architecture.

Broad incumbents

• Arup: Global multidisciplinary engineering consultancy with thousands of staff and full-service structural, facade, MEP, sustainability, and advisory capabilities. Overlaps with Knippershelbig on structural and facade engineering for cultural and signature buildings but operates at vastly larger scale and broader service breadth.
• Buro Happold: International engineering consultancy delivering structural, facade, infrastructure, and sustainability services with strong cultural-building credentials. Competes with Knippershelbig on signature cultural and academic projects but at much larger organizational scale and global footprint.
• Thornton Tomasetti: US-headquartered structural engineering firm with strong presence on complex cultural, sports, and high-rise projects in North America. Comparable to Knippershelbig's New York operations in client base and project typology, though materially larger and more diversified across building typologies.
• WSP: Global professional services firm with large structural and facade engineering practices, frequently engaged on complex buildings and transportation infrastructure. Overlaps with Knippershelbig on engineering services for ambitious built environment projects, but competes across a much wider service portfolio.

Regional players

• Ramboll: Denmark-based engineering, design, and consulting firm with significant Northern European structural and sustainability practices. Comparable to Knippershelbig in emphasis on sustainable design and complex structural work, but anchored in Nordic markets with a different geographic focus.

Emerging players

• Front Inc. Specialist facade engineering consultancy delivering high-performance building envelope design for complex architectural projects. Comparable to Knippershelbig's facade engineering service line, but narrower in scope (facade-only) and smaller in scale.

Others

• Snøhetta: International architecture and design practice with integrated landscape, interior, and product design that frequently commissions complex structural and facade engineering. Not a direct competitor but a recurring client/collaborator profile for Knippershelbig on cultural and signature projects.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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• Xx.com/KnippersHelbig

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Knippershelbig