Apeiro Design
Apeiro Design is a privately held design consultancy specializing in theatre and performance environments, architectural lighting, and AV technology for complex venue projects worldwide. Founded in 1972 and headquartered in San Francisco, the firm serves enterprise clients across entertainment, education, hospitality, and commercial real estate.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Apeiro Design does
Apeiro Design is a privately held professional services design consultancy specializing in theatre and performance environments, architectural lighting, and audiovisual (AV) technology for complex venue projects. Founded in 1972 by S. Leonard Auerbach as Piacentini/Auerbach and rebranded to Apeiro Design around 2019–2020 after consolidating predecessor entities (Auerbach Pollock Friedlander and Auerbach Glasow), the firm operates four US studios in San Francisco (headquarters), New York, Minneapolis, and Washington D.C., and delivers projects globally across North America, China, Mexico, and Macao.
The firm's core offering is an integrated design service that combines theatrical systems consulting (rigging, automation, show control, water effects, projection mapping), architectural lighting design (facade, interior, and programmable color-changing LED systems), and AV technology design (audio, video, broadcast, and networked media infrastructure). These disciplines are typically bundled per project, allowing the firm to serve as a single point of accountability for the experiential and technical systems within performance venues, cultural institutions, corporate campuses, educational facilities, cruise ships, and large commercial developments. Proprietary expertise includes show control system architecture, tracking-camera-based projection mapping, sustainable LED retrofit design, and aquatic theatrical pool systems.
Apeiro generates revenue through project-based professional services fees tied to scope and complexity, secured through direct enterprise engagement with architects, developers, entertainment producers, and institutions. Its GTM motion is enterprise field sales driven by industry reputation, repeat flagship clients (Cirque du Soleil, Franco Dragone, MGM Mirage, Walmart, Vornado, Virgin Voyages, CDFG, ASU, and others), and an award track record spanning AIA, IES, USITT, Architizer, and CTBUH. With 11–50 employees and no external investment, the firm operates as a partner-led boutique consultancy competing on specialized domain expertise rather than scale.
Apeiro Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Apeiro Design
- Legal name
- Apeiro Design
- Website
- https://apeirodesign.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Apeiro Design is a privately held design consultancy specializing in theatre and performance environments, architectural lighting, and AV technology for complex venue projects worldwide. Founded in 1972 and headquartered in San Francisco, the firm serves enterprise clients across entertainment, education, hospitality, and commercial real estate.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Apeiro Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Theatre Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Other Specialized Design Services (54149), Architectural Services (54131)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design (BPAHAKAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA), Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Environmental & Experiential Brand Design (Retail/Exhibit/Signage) (MPAAAEAG)
Keywords
Where Apeiro Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Apeiro Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Design Consulting Services: Project-based professional consulting fees for theatre design, architectural lighting, and AV technology services. Fees are determined by project scope, complexity, and scope of services provided.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Apeiro Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Apeiro Design is a design consulting firm providing planning and design services across three integrated disciplines: Theatre/Performance Environments, Architectural Lighting, and AV Technology. The firm collaborates with architects, developers, entertainment producers, and institutions to design immersive performance venues, auditoriums, and entertainment spaces, delivering services from pre-architectural planning through construction administration.
Product overview
Apeiro Design is a design consulting firm offering three integrated service disciplines: Theatre/Performance Environments Services, Architectural Lighting Services, and AV Technology Services. These services are provided together on projects to deliver comprehensive design solutions for performance venues, with the firm collaborating with architects and experience creators to design immersive performance environments that elevate audience engagement. The firm operates across multiple offices (San Francisco, New York, Minneapolis, Washington D.C.) and serves clients globally on projects ranging from Broadway theatres to large-scale entertainment venues.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Theatre/Performance Environments Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100 completed projects globally across multiple decades
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Apeiro Design
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Apeiro Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Apeiro Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- Wētā WorkshopcoreCollaborated with Wētā Workshop on the 'Aura: The Forest at the Edge of the Sky' installation at Haikou International Duty-Free Shopping Complex. Apeiro designed the power, data, and structural infrastructure to support Wētā's forest elements and immersive experience.
- Atelier OneminorCollaborated alongside Wētā Workshop and Atelier One on the Haikou International Duty-Free Shopping Complex installation project.
- Zhejiang Dafeng Industry Co., Ltd.minorContractor for the Haikou International Duty-Free Shopping Complex installation, handling fabrication and installation of the 'Aura' installation components.
- Cirque du SoleilcoreLong-standing strategic partner for Cirque du Soleil venue design, having completed seven permanent venues including LUDÕ at VidantaWorld, Viva ELVIS at MGM, ZAIA at Venetian Macao, and multiple other theatrical venues.
- Franco Dragone / DragonecoreStrategic partner for Dragone immersive theatre productions including Wuxi Taihu Show Theatre (third collaboration), Le Perle at Habtoor City Dubai, and multiple other Dragone show venues globally.
- Grupo VidantamajorDeveloper and architect for VidantaWorld's LUDÕ theatre, working with Cirque du Soleil on the submersive dinner show venue in Nuevo Nayarit-Vallarta, Mexico.
- Vornado Realty TrustmajorDeveloper of PENN 2 (2 Penn Plaza) in Manhattan. Apeiro Design designed the 4,000 SF Town Hall multi-use auditorium suspended above the 33rd Street plaza.
- Virgin VoyagesmajorShip-wide entertainment venue design partner for Virgin Voyages cruise ships, designing the flexible Red Room Theatre and Manor Nightclub with specialized rigging and stage machinery systems.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Apeiro Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fisher Dachs Associates: Theatre planning and design consultancy specializing in performance venue planning, sightlines, and theatrical systems. Highly comparable to Apeiro Design's Theatre/Performance Environments practice and competes for the same institutional and cultural clients.
- Schuler Shook: Theatre planning and architectural lighting design firm with deep performance-venue expertise. Closely overlaps with Apeiro Design's integrated theatre + lighting offering and competes for performing-arts centers, auditoriums, and cultural facilities.
- Theatre Projects Consultants: International theatre planning and design consultancy with significant cultural and entertainment venue portfolio. Direct competitor to Apeiro in theatre consulting, rigging, and performance-environment design for cultural and entertainment clients.
- Jaffe Holden: Acoustics, audio-video, and theatre systems consulting firm serving performing arts centers and cultural venues. Comparable to Apeiro's AV Technology practice and frequently engaged on the same project teams.
- Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design: Architectural lighting design firm with strong cultural, civic, and higher-education portfolio. Direct competitor to Apeiro Design's Architectural Lighting studio and frequently partnered on competing bids.
- Lighting Design Alliance: Architectural lighting design consultancy with significant entertainment, hospitality, and commercial portfolio. Comparable to Apeiro's Architectural Lighting group, particularly in hospitality and themed-environment work.
- Cerami & Associates: AV technology, acoustics, and technology systems consulting firm serving cultural, healthcare, and commercial clients. Directly comparable to Apeiro's AV Technology practice and competes for similar technology integration mandates.
- Pivotal Lighting Design: Architectural lighting design firm serving commercial, hospitality, and cultural markets. Comparable to Apeiro's Architectural Lighting studio in scope and client base, particularly in hospitality and themed environments.
Broad incumbents
- Arup: Global engineering and design consultancy with significant theatre consulting, AV, and lighting practices serving cultural and entertainment venues. A larger, broader competitor offering similar performance-venue capabilities as part of a much wider portfolio.
- Buro Happold: International engineering consultancy with established theatre consulting and performance-environment practice. Competes with Apeiro on complex cultural buildings while offering broader structural and MEP engineering services.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Apeiro Design social profiles
Digital presenceApeiro Design compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Apeiro Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Apeiro Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Apeiro Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Apeiro Design M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Apeiro Design
What does Apeiro Design do?
Apeiro Design is a design consulting firm providing planning and design services across three integrated disciplines: Theatre/Performance Environments, Architectural Lighting, and AV Technology. The firm collaborates with architects, developers, entertainment producers, and institutions to design immersive performance venues, auditoriums, and entertainment spaces, delivering services from pre-architectural planning through construction administration.
Is Apeiro Design a public or private company?
Apeiro Design is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Apeiro Design founded?
Apeiro Design was founded in 1972. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Apeiro Design based?
Apeiro Design is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Apeiro Design make money?
One revenue line is on record: design Consulting Services.
Who are Apeiro Design's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fisher Dachs Associates, Schuler Shook, Theatre Projects Consultants, Jaffe Holden, Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design, Lighting Design Alliance, Cerami & Associates and Pivotal Lighting Design. Broad incumbents are Arup and Buro Happold.
Does Apeiro Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for Apeiro Design.
What industry is Apeiro Design in?
Apeiro Design's product category is Theatre Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAL, Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services. Its NAICS code is 54149.