What SHP Leading Design does

SHP Leading Design is a 125-year-old (founded 1901) Cincinnati-headquartered architecture, design, and engineering firm that delivers integrated facility planning, architecture, interior design, MEP engineering, landscape architecture, master planning, visioning/stakeholder engagement, technology, and construction administration services. The firm operates a platform-plus-services model with specialized studios across K-12 Education, Higher Education, Libraries, Athletics, Community, Workplace, Entertainment, Career Technical Education, and Early Childhood Education, anchored by an integrated multidisciplinary team of architects, designers, and engineers.

The firm generates revenue primarily through professional services fees on a per-project basis — fixed architectural and engineering fees determined by project scope, complexity, and scale, typically structured as a percentage of construction cost or stipulated sum for K-12, civic, commercial, and entertainment clients. Go-to-market is relationship-based enterprise field sales: direct engagement with public school districts, municipalities, universities, and commercial clients, supplemented by thought leadership (whitepapers, blog content), industry conference participation (EDspaces, OSBA Capital Conference), and earned media via design awards. Proprietary differentiation is concentrated in a stakeholder-driven Educational Visioning and master planning methodology, energy modeling/Energy Star expertise (>20% of Ohio K-12 Energy Star schools cite SHP involvement), and specialized MEP capabilities for high-capacity entertainment and theme park ride infrastructure.

SHP's customer base is dominated by Ohio public school districts executing bond-funded capital programs (typically $50M–$130M master plans), with adjacent work for libraries, community facilities, and a small roster of enterprise clients including Six Flags-owned parks (Kings Island, Cedar Point), ad agency Curiosity, and engineering firm Kleingers. The firm operates from offices in Cincinnati (HQ), Columbus, OH, and Greensboro, NC and employs 101–250 people. SHP is privately held with no disclosed external ownership or funding, and its leadership team includes CEO Jeffrey Sackenheim, EVP Charlie Jahnigen, and a deep bench of long-tenured principals and directors.

Name

SHP Leading Design

Legal name

SHP

Website

https://shp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SHP Leading Design is a 125-year-old Cincinnati-based architecture, design, and engineering firm that delivers integrated facility planning, architecture, and MEP services primarily to Ohio K-12 school districts, with additional work in libraries, community, workplace, and entertainment sectors across Ohio and North Carolina.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture & Engineering Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141), Landscape Architectural Services (54132)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC), Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)

Keywords

• Architecture design services
• Educational facility planning
• MEP engineering services
• Master planning services
• Interior design services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellevue

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

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: Professional fees for architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and master planning services on a per-project basis. Revenue generated through project contracts for educational, commercial, and community facilities.
2. Engineering Services: MEP engineering services (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) provided as part of integrated design solutions or standalone engineering projects
3. Construction Administration: Construction administration services during project implementation phase

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SHP Leading Design is a 125-year-old architecture, design, and engineering firm that provides multidisciplinary professional services—including architecture, interior design, MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) engineering, landscape architecture, master planning, visioning/stakeholder engagement, technology infrastructure design, and construction administration—primarily for K-12 schools, higher education, libraries, athletic facilities, community spaces, corporate workplaces, and entertainment venues.

Product overview

SHP is a full-service architecture, design, and engineering firm offering a comprehensive suite of services for educational facilities, workplaces, and community spaces. The firm operates a platform-plus-services model centered on nine interconnected service offerings: Architecture, Interior Design, Engineering (MEP), Landscape Architecture, Master Planning, Visioning, Stakeholder Engagement, Technology Services, and Construction Administration. These services work together as an integrated design delivery model, with specialized studios including PK-12 Education, Higher Education, Workplace, Community, Libraries, and Athletics. The experiential design approach unifies these services to create spaces that enhance lives and strengthen communities. As a 125-year-old firm based in Cincinnati, Ohio with offices in Columbus and Greensboro, NC, SHP primarily serves educational institutions, school districts, and commercial clients across Ohio and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Comprehensive architectural design services for educational, community, workplace, and entertainment facilities, covering the full project lifecycle from concept through construction administration.
• Interior Design Interior design services focused on creating functional, aesthetically engaging spaces that support the intended use and enhance user experience within built environments.
• Engineering (MEP) MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) engineering services including HVAC systems, electrical distribution, lighting design, and plumbing design for buildings and facilities.
• Landscape Architecture Outdoor space design including site planning, hardscape and softscape design, and integration of exterior environments with building design.
• Master Planning Long-range facility planning services that help educational institutions and communities develop comprehensive strategies for campus or district development, including enrollment projections and phased implementation.
• Visioning & Stakeholder Engagement Stakeholder engagement and strategic planning processes to define educational goals, community values, and design priorities before facility planning begins, including public meetings, surveys, and workshops.
• Technology Services Technology infrastructure planning and design services for buildings, including audiovisual systems, data infrastructure, and building automation.
• Construction Administration Construction phase oversight services ensuring design intent is maintained throughout the building process, including site visits and quality assurance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20% market share of Energy Star certified K-12 schools in Ohio
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• TRA DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHP partnered with TRA Design for the Orion Giga Coaster project at Kings Island, contributing MEP engineering expertise for the high-capacity electrical distribution systems required for the ride's peak power loads.
• RSL (Rider Shoemaker Link)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHP partnered with RSL for Siren's Curse tilt coaster at Cedar Point, providing comprehensive MEP engineering for the ride and site infrastructure including power distribution, pneumatic systems, and electrical design.
• The Kleingers GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHP co-authored a whitepaper on athletic facility design with The Kleingers Group, combining expertise from both firms well-versed in athletic facility design.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• HOK: HOK is a global architecture, design, and engineering firm with an education practice serving K-12 and higher education. It overlaps SHP on institutional educational projects and corporate workplace design, but at much broader scale.
• Stantec: Stantec is a global engineering, architecture, and consulting firm with an established K-12 practice among many other verticals. Its broad sector portfolio and M&A-driven growth model compete with SHP for large public-sector education projects.
• Perkins&Will: Perkins&Will is a global architecture firm with significant K-12 and higher education practices as part of a broader portfolio. It competes with SHP for marquee district-level programs, but at substantially larger scale and with a wider sector mix.

Direct peers

• CannonDesign: CannonDesign is a multinational architecture, engineering, and design firm with a prominent K-12 and higher education practice. Comparable to SHP in offering multidisciplinary design services to school districts and serving as a primary competitor for large educational facilities programs.
• TMP Architecture: TMP Architecture is a Jackson, Michigan-based firm focused on educational facility design, offering architecture and engineering services to K-12 districts. It mirrors SHP's K-12 specialization, Midwest footprint, and mid-sized firm positioning.
• BHDP Architecture: BHDP is a Cincinnati-headquartered architecture and design firm with workplace, higher education, and public-sector practices. As a fellow Cincinnati-based multidisciplinary design firm, it competes for talent, civic projects, and the same enterprise clients in SHP's home market.
• Moody Nolan: Moody Nolan is a Columbus, Ohio-headquartered architecture firm with a strong K-12 and community practice, directly overlapping SHP on Ohio school district work. As a fellow Ohio-based multidisciplinary design firm with education specialization, it is one of SHP's closest geographic and segment competitors.
• Huckabee: Huckabee is a Fort Worth, Texas-based architecture and planning firm specializing in K-12 educational environments. Comparable to SHP in its pure-play K-12 focus, integrated design services, and stakeholder-engagement-led planning methodology.
• DLR Group: DLR Group is a national architecture/engineering firm with a top-tier K-12 education practice, and notably acquired SHP's direct competitor Fanning Howey in 2021. It competes head-to-head with SHP on large district bond programs and represents the most directly comparable peer in the K-12 specialty market.
• Legat Architects: Legat Architects is an Itasca, Illinois-based architecture firm with a longstanding K-12 education specialty and design awards pedigree. It is directly comparable to SHP in size, Midwest concentration, and education-focused service mix.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shp-leading-design
• Xx.com/shp_leading
• Facebookfacebook.com/shpleadingdesign

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 SHP Leading Design