What Silhouette Design Architecture does

Silhouette Design Architecture is a Chicago-based integrated architectural and design firm founded in 2005 by Scott Costello and Tara Carmichael, specializing in non-traditional hospitality environments with a dominant focus on airport concession design. Over 20 years the firm has delivered more than 800 designed environments across 75 airports worldwide, serving enterprise clients that include Delaware North, OHM Concessions Group, Jackmont Hospitality, Bambuza Hospitality Group, Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, Faber Coe & Gregg, Gameway, and WH Smith North America. Service lines span architectural design (tenant build-outs, ground-up construction, architect of record), interior design, brand development and proprietary concepts, RFP preparation, branding and graphics, rendering generation, strategic planning, and construction administration, with architects licensed in 35 states plus Washington DC and NCIDQ-registered interior designers on staff.

The firm operates a B2B professional services model with project-based pricing, acquiring engagements through direct relationships with airport concession operators, celebrity chef brands, and concessionaires, as well as through competitive RFP processes. Technology usage centers on AI-assisted creative tooling (AI-driven Photoshop), photo-realistic rendering generation, and 3D animations and motion renderings to support visualization and client presentations. The firm has expanded its international footprint to include projects in Austria and India alongside its US core, and celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025 with the addition of Michele L. Larimer as a third equity partner.

Customer acquisition is heavily reliant on industry recognition, with the firm accumulating 14 AXN and FAB Award shortlists over the last two years, including a historic first-ever FAB Award win for an American restaurant in the Best Airport Casual Dining category. Marketing channels are predominantly earned media, industry events, and a portfolio-driven website. The firm has no disclosed outside investors, no parent company, and no publicly available revenue figures, operating as an independent partnership.

Name

Silhouette Design Architecture

Legal name

Silhouette Design Architecture

Website

https://silhouetteinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (541410)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Airport hospitality design
• Architectural design services
• Interior design
• Restaurant concept design
• Commercial concession design

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural and Design Services: Silhouette provides comprehensive architectural and interior design services including tenant build-outs, ground-up construction, architect of record services, base building and tenant setup. The firm also offers brand development, concepts, RFP preparation, branding and graphics, rendering generation, strategic planning, and construction administration services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Silhouette Design Architecture is a Chicago-based architectural and interior design firm specializing in airport hospitality and concession environments. The firm delivers architectural design, interior design, brand development, RFP preparation, branding and graphics, photo-realistic rendering generation, strategic planning, and construction administration services for restaurant, bar, retail, coffee, food court, and gaming lounge operators and concessionaires worldwide.

Product overview

Silhouette Design Architecture is a Chicago-based integrated architectural and design firm founded in 2005 that provides a comprehensive suite of design services. The company operates as a single unified offering with multiple specialized service lines including Architectural Design, Interior Design, Brand Development + Concepts, RFP Preparation, Branding + Graphics, Rendering Generation, Strategic Planning, and Construction Administration. These services are applied across industry verticals including QSR, Retail, Full Service Restaurants, Bars, Coffee Concepts, Food Courts, and Gaming Lounges, primarily within airport and non-traditional hospitality environments. The firm has completed over 800 projects in 75 airports worldwide and recently expanded to include full RFP preparation, graphics, branding, packaging, and web design services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Full architectural design services for hospitality and concession environments in airports and commercial venues, delivered for airport concessionaires, restaurant operators, and brand clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ environments designed in 75 airports worldwide over 20 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Delaware NorthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time strategic partner for whom Silhouette has designed multiple airport hospitality concepts including Kardea Brown's Southern Kitchen and Ashley Cooper Provisions at Charleston International Airport, and 10 concepts at Boise Airport expansion. Delaware North is a global hospitality and entertainment company.
• Wolfgang Puck WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal strategic design partner for celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck's airport locations. Silhouette has designed Wolfgang Puck's airport locations in Boston, Washington DC, Vienna, Richmond, and Punta Gorda, with consultations on Shanghai, Singapore, and Bali locations.
• Faber, Coe & Gregg, Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcessionaire for Punta Gorda Airport engaging Silhouette for the $43M Bailey Terminal Expansion. Silhouette has previously worked with Faber, Coe & Gregg at Missoula Airport and Destin Airport.
• Vantage Airport GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVantage Airport Group develops and manages the concessions program at Kansas City International Airport and spearheaded the Kansas City-focused project that led to The BBQ Experience's historic FAB Award win.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Margulies Hoelzli Architecture: Long-established specialty architecture and interiors firm focused on airport terminal and concessions design; serves many of the same concessionaire clients and competes head-to-head on airport hospitality RFPs.
• OTJ Architects: Washington, DC-based architecture and interiors firm with a defined airport concessions practice (Hudson, SSP, Areas USA), overlapping directly with Silhouette on airport hospitality RFPs and program rollouts.
• ForrestPerkins: Hospitality-focused interior design firm with extensive airport F&B and lounge work; directly comparable in deliverable mix (interiors-led, hospitality-specialist, project-based).
• Chipman Design Architecture: Chicago-based hospitality and restaurant interior design firm serving brands and operators with multiple locations; comparable boutique scale and hospitality-specialist positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Rockwell Group: Major hospitality and experiential design firm with significant airport, restaurant, and hotel projects; competes in the same airport hospitality RFP space with broader portfolio and larger bench.
• Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (WATG): Large global hospitality architecture and interiors firm with airport and travel-related hospitality projects; comparable integrated offering but at much greater scale.
• Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA): Global leader in hospitality interior design with extensive airport hotel and lounge work; competes in the same RFP pool but is far larger and broader in geographic reach.
• Cooper Carry: Multi-disciplinary architecture firm with established aviation and hospitality practices; overlaps with Silhouette on airport concessions work as part of a broader portfolio.
• Gensler: Largest global design firm with aviation practice and dedicated hospitality studios; competes on large-scale airport terminal and concession programs though not specialized in this niche.

Emerging players

• AvroKO: Hospitality design and brand studio with growing footprint in restaurants, hotels, and select travel venues; partial overlap with Silhouette on the brand-plus-space integrated model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/silhouette-design-architecture-inc.

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 Silhouette Design Architecture