What Sink Combs Dethlefs does

Sink Combs Dethlefs was a privately held architecture firm founded in 1962, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, that specialized in Sports, Recreation, and Entertainment Architecture. The firm designed arenas, stadiums, recreation centers, amphitheaters, aquatic centers, and sports complexes, and was described as a national leader in the niche prior to its 2017 merger. Its core offering was professional architecture and design services delivered on a project basis to large institutional clients, with adjacent practice areas in Healthcare, Science & Technology, Higher Education, and Urban Design.

The firm's business model was B2B professional services: project-based design fees generated through enterprise field sales, competitive bidding, and RFPs, with long sales cycles typical of large-scale architectural commissions. Pricing was custom-quoted per project and not publicly disclosed. The firm operated with 11–50 employees under a partner-led structure, with key principals including Don Dethlefs and co-founder Richard "Dick" Combs (1945–2024).

On October 4, 2017, Sink Combs Dethlefs merged with Perkins&Will, a global architecture and design firm with 30+ studios worldwide. Post-merger, the practice was integrated into Perkins&Will's Denver studio and the firm's Sports, Recreation, and Entertainment practice. Sink Combs Dethlefs no longer operates as a standalone legal entity; its capabilities and brand have been absorbed into the larger organization.

Name

Sink Combs Dethlefs

Legal name

Sink Combs Dethlefs

Website

https://sinkcombs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sink Combs Dethlefs was a Denver-based architecture firm specializing in sports, recreation, and entertainment venue design, serving institutional and commercial clients. It merged with Perkins&Will in October 2017 and no longer operates as a standalone entity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310)

akta.pro primary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Sports architecture design
• Arena design services
• Recreation facility planning
• Master planning services
• Interior design services

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Project-based professional services revenue from architectural design, interior design, and consulting for sports, recreation, and entertainment facilities. Revenue derived from design fees on completed projects for institutional and commercial clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Sink Combs Dethlefs provided specialized architectural and interior design services focused on sports, recreation, and entertainment facilities, including arenas, recreation centers, aquatic centers, stadiums, and event venues. The firm also delivered architecture services for healthcare, science and technology, and higher education clients, as well as urban design and master planning. Following its October 2017 merger with Perkins&Will, the firm operates as part of Perkins&Will's Denver studio.

Product overview

Sink Combs Dethlefs was a specialized architecture firm focused on sports, recreation, and entertainment architecture. Following its merger with Perkins&Will in October 2017, the firm operates as part of Perkins&Will's Sports, Recreation, and Entertainment practice, providing design services for arenas, stadiums, recreation centers, aquatic facilities, and event venues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sports, Recreation, and Entertainment Architecture Services Specialized architectural design services for sports, recreation, and entertainment facilities, including arenas, stadiums, recreation centers, amphitheaters, aquatic centers, and event venues. Targeted at institutional clients such as sports franchises, universities, and government entities.
• Healthcare Facility Architecture Services Architectural design services for healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and related medical structures. Targeted at healthcare providers and healthcare systems.
• Science and Technology Facility Architecture Services Architectural design services for science and technology facility buildings. Targeted at research institutions, laboratories, and science/technology organizations.
• Higher Education Architecture Services Architectural design services for higher education projects, including university athletic facilities, student centers, and campus buildings. Targeted at universities and colleges.
• Urban Design and Master Planning Urban design and master planning services. Targeted at municipal, institutional, and development clients needing comprehensive planning for districts, campuses, and large sites.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Perkins&WillflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 October 2017Sink Combs Dethlefs merged with Perkins&Will on October 4, 2017. The merger combined Sink Combs Dethlefs' national leadership in Sports, Recreation, and Entertainment Architecture with Perkins&Will's broader design portfolio. Post-merger, Sink Combs Dethlefs operates as part of Perkins&Will's Denver studio and Sports, Recreation and Entertainment practice, with Don Dethlefs continuing in a leadership role.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Populous: Premier global sports and entertainment architecture firm (formerly HOK Sport), specializing in arenas, stadiums, and convention venues — directly comparable as a national sports-architecture specialist.
• SH Architecture: Specialty sports architecture firm designing stadiums, arenas, and training facilities — comparable niche focus on sports venue design.
• HKS: Major U.S. architecture firm with a dedicated Sports & Entertainment practice designing arenas, stadiums, and event venues for collegiate and professional clients — directly comparable on project type and client base.
• EwingCole: Architecture and engineering firm with sports, recreation, and higher-education athletics practices — comparable across multiple verticals Sink Combs Dethlefs serves.
• HNTB: Infrastructure and architecture firm with an active sports architecture practice serving collegiate and professional venues — comparable on sports-facility design services.
• ROSSETTI: Architecture firm with a strong sports and entertainment practice, designing arenas and stadiums — closely comparable as a specialty sports-venue architect.
• BBB Architects: Architecture firm with a sports and recreation practice focused on athletic and recreation facilities — directly comparable as a niche sports-architecture specialist.

Others

• Perkins&Will: Global architecture firm that acquired Sink Combs Dethlefs in 2017 — relevant as the parent entity now operating the sports/recreation practice out of its Denver studio.

Broad incumbents

• Gensler: Largest U.S. architecture firm with practices across sports, workplace, and entertainment — comparable as a broad incumbent offering overlapping capabilities.
• AECOM: Global design and engineering firm with a sports architecture practice serving large venue and stadium clients — comparable as a broad incumbent with sports-facility capability.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sinkcombs
• Facebookfacebook.com/sinkcombsdethlefs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sink-combs-dethlefs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Sink Combs Dethlefs