BBI Engineering
BBI Engineering is a San Francisco-based audiovisual systems integrator founded in 1984 that designs and installs complex AV, multimedia, and electromechanical interactive exhibit systems for museums, performance venues, and corporate clients across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What BBI Engineering does
BBI Engineering, Inc. (DBA BBI Installed Systems) is a San Francisco-based audiovisual systems integrator founded in 1984 by Phil Bailey and Mark Roos. The company designs, engineers, and installs complex, high-end audiovisual, multimedia, and teleconferencing systems across three primary customer segments: museums and cultural institutions, corporate and enterprise clients, and theatre and performance venues. BBI holds California Contractor's License No. 582743 (C-7 and C-10), and operates as both designer and installer on projects that are typically won through design-build competitions and direct procurement from facility owners, exhibition designers, and architects.
The company's technical platform spans three integrated service lines. AV Installation is executed via design-build or build-to-specification engagements, specializing in electro-mechanical exhibits, video-tracking interactives, custom sensors, and projection mapping. AV Consulting provides system evaluation, design, acoustical modeling, and bid-document preparation, frequently in coordination with Tier-1 architecture firms and AV consultants (notably Arup) and using tools such as EASE acoustical models. Product Engineering is an in-house capability delivering audio DSP, embedded control systems, circuit design, PCB layout, and firmware development on Xilinx FPGA, microcontroller, Texas Instruments, and ARM platforms—a vertical stack that most AV integrators outsource. Marquee installations include the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum, SFMOMA, the Walt Disney Family Museum, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center, Salesforce, Qualcomm, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, SFJAZZ Center, and the San Francisco Symphony.
Revenue is generated almost exclusively through project-based, one-time engagements ranging from individual exhibits to multi-million-dollar AV systems, with pricing determined per-project through consultative proposals tied to scope, complexity, and equipment specifications. The firm operates privately with no external investors and no disclosed funding rounds; in 2019 ownership transitioned to a next-generation leadership team of Jim Sallee, Sasha Harris-Cronin, and Emily Roos while founders and early principals remained involved. BBI carries Women Business Enterprise (WBE) and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) certifications that support access to government and institutional procurement, and serves clients across at least ten U.S. states.
BBI Engineering firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BBI Engineering
- Legal name
- BBI Engineering, Inc
- Website
- https://bbinet.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- BBI Engineering is a San Francisco-based audiovisual systems integrator founded in 1984 that designs and installs complex AV, multimedia, and electromechanical interactive exhibit systems for museums, performance venues, and corporate clients across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BBI Engineering industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Audiovisual System Integration and Installation
- NAICS
- Engineering Services (541330)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Audio-Visual (AV) Systems & Rentals (Audio, Video, Projection, LED Walls) (THAHAEAA)
Keywords
Where BBI Engineering is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
BBI Engineering business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- AV Installation Services: Design-build and build-to-specification AV installation projects ranging from small single exhibits to multi-million dollar systems for museums, visitor centers, theaters, and corporate campuses. Revenue is project-based and typically one-time per engagement.
- AV Consulting Services: System evaluation, system design, and design-build consulting services including document preparation for bid, budget development, equipment specifications, and coordination with architects. Consulting fees are project-based.
- Product Engineering Services: Custom product engineering specializing in audio DSP and embedded control systems. Creates custom sensors, electronics, and firmware for specialized applications. Revenue is typically project-based engineering engagements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based pricing varies by scope |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
BBI Engineering product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BBI Engineering designs and installs complex, high-end audiovisual, multimedia, and teleconferencing systems for museums, performance venues, and commercial clients. The company executes design-build and build-to-specification AV installation projects, provides system evaluation and design consulting services, and offers product engineering specializing in audio DSP, embedded control systems, custom sensors, and firmware development. Projects range from single exhibits to multi-million dollar AV systems including interactive exhibits, video walls, projection mapping, and electro-mechanical installations.
Product overview
BBI Engineering is an audiovisual system design and installation company offering three interconnected service areas: AV Installation (executing design-build and build-to-specification projects for museums, theaters, and corporate clients), AV Consulting (system evaluation, design, and design-build consulting), and Product Engineering (specializing in audio DSP and embedded control systems). The company is known for creating electro-mechanical exhibits, video-tracking interactives, custom sensors, and projection mapping systems. They hold California Contractor's License No. 582743 in C-7 and C-10 classifications and operate as a Women Business Enterprise and Small Business Enterprise.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AV Installation Design-build and build-to-specification audiovisual system installation for facility owners, operators, and exhibition designers. Specializes in high-end and unique systems including electro-mechanical interactives, video-tracking exhibits, custom software and control systems, sensors, and projection mapping. Projects range from single exhibits to multi-million dollar AV systems.
- AV Consulting System evaluation, system design, and design-build consulting services for AV projects. Includes preparation of bid documents, infrastructure drawings, EASE acoustical models, equipment specifications, budget development, and coordination with architects and other trades.
- Product Engineering Custom product engineering specializing in audio DSP and embedded control systems. Services include circuit design, printed circuit layout, audio measurement using Audio Precision System Two Cascade Plus, DSP algorithm and code development for Xilinx FPGA firmware, microcontrollers, Texas Instruments, and ARM platforms. Creates custom sensors and firmware for specialized applications.
Companies that use BBI Engineering
Customer profileNamed customers21 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
BBI Engineering technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
BBI Engineering partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ArupcoreBBI frequently partners with Arup on complex AV projects. Notable collaborations include Lighthouse for the Blind, SFMOMA, and KQED Headquarters. Arup serves as AV consultant on many BBI projects.
- Meyer SoundcoreBBI works closely with Meyer Sound on audio systems, including Constellation acoustic systems and voice lift systems. Notable installations include SFMOMA Wattis Theatre and Exploratorium Kanbar Forum.
- Storyline StudiominorExhibit design partner for Annenberg PetSpace project.
- Belle & Wissell CominorMedia production partner for Annenberg PetSpace.
- Olson Kundig ArchitectscoreArchitecture partner for Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center.
- Rockwell Group ArchitectsminorArchitecture partner for Walt Disney Family Museum.
- GenslercoreArchitecture partner for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Executive Briefing Center in Palo Alto.
- Lundberg EHDDcoreArchitecture partner for KQED Headquarters renovation.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
BBI Engineering competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mechdyne: Mechdyne provides AV integration, visualization, and immersive technology solutions for enterprise, research, and experience center clients. It overlaps with BBI on briefing centers and immersive venue installations.
- Electrosonic: Electrosonic is one of the largest specialty AV integrators globally, with deep roots in museums, theme parks, control rooms, and corporate briefing centers. It is the most direct competitor to BBI on flagship museum and visitor center projects.
- Whitlock: Whitlock is an AV integration and collaboration solutions provider focused on corporate, government, and education environments. It overlaps with BBI's enterprise and higher education segment on presentation and briefing center builds.
- Avidex: Avidex is a national AV integration and managed services firm serving corporate, healthcare, and government clients. It is comparable to BBI on enterprise AV installation and ongoing maintenance engagements.
- Conference Technologies Inc: Conference Technologies is a mid-market AV integrator serving corporate, education, and government clients across the US Midwest and beyond. It is comparable to BBI on multi-state corporate and institutional AV integration projects.
- Ford Audio-Video: Ford Audio-Video is a commercial AV integrator serving houses of worship, corporate, education, and government clients across multiple US regions. It overlaps with BBI on large-scale institutional AV installations and design-build engagements.
- AVI Systems: AVI Systems is a large enterprise AV integrator serving corporate, education, and government clients across the US. It competes with BBI on corporate briefing centers and complex installation projects, though at greater scale and with broader geographic reach.
- Design and Production (D&P): D&P is a museum, exhibit, and themed-environment AV integrator that designs and builds interactive exhibits and media systems. It directly competes with BBI in the cultural institution segment and has comparable custom electronics capability.
- Presentation Services Group (PSG): PSG is an AV integration and event technology firm serving corporate, financial, and government clients. It directly competes with BBI on high-end executive briefing centers and presentation facility installations.
Emerging players
- Ideum: Ideum designs and fabricates interactive touchscreen exhibits and custom hardware for museums and cultural institutions. It overlaps with BBI on interactive museum exhibits, though with a stronger product/offering tilt versus BBI's services-led model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
BBI Engineering social profiles
Digital presenceBBI Engineering financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BBI Engineering leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
BBI Engineering funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BBI Engineering 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 BBI Engineering
What does BBI Engineering do?
BBI Engineering designs and installs complex, high-end audiovisual, multimedia, and teleconferencing systems for museums, performance venues, and commercial clients. The company executes design-build and build-to-specification AV installation projects, provides system evaluation and design consulting services, and offers product engineering specializing in audio DSP, embedded control systems, custom sensors, and firmware development. Projects range from single exhibits to multi-million dollar AV systems including interactive exhibits, video walls, projection mapping, and electro-mechanical installations.
Is BBI Engineering a public or private company?
BBI Engineering is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was BBI Engineering founded?
BBI Engineering was founded in 1984. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is BBI Engineering based?
BBI Engineering is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does BBI Engineering make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. AV Installation Services are the primary driver. The others are AV Consulting Services and product Engineering Services.
Who are BBI Engineering's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mechdyne, Electrosonic, Whitlock, Avidex, Conference Technologies Inc, Ford Audio-Video, AVI Systems, Design and Production (D&P) and Presentation Services Group (PSG). Ideum is listed as an emerging player.
Does BBI Engineering have an API?
No public API is recorded for BBI Engineering.
What industry is BBI Engineering in?
BBI Engineering's product category is Audiovisual System Integration and Installation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHAEAA, Audio-Visual (AV) Systems & Rentals (Audio, Video, Projection, LED Walls). Its NAICS code is 541330 and its SIC code is 7373.