Parallel Development

What Parallel Development does

Parallel Development is a Brooklyn-based design and fabrication studio founded around 1999 that specializes in custom electronic media systems and large-scale LED installations for artists, architects, museums, galleries, and corporate clients. The firm delivers end-to-end project execution spanning design, engineering, fabrication, installation, and maintenance, operating from a vertically integrated facility at 810 Humboldt Street in Greenpoint equipped with 6-axis robotic milling, 3-5 axis CNC machining, AWS-certified structural welding, electronics assembly, and rapid prototyping capabilities.

The company's underlying technology includes proprietary LED emitter boards with 16-bit color depth and no visible flicker, FPGA-based video control systems (the Roxie board), an open-source embedded multimedia platform (Rosie, built on Gumstix), custom capacitive touch sensing, and an extensive Python computational design library that enables rapid iteration on complex geometry beyond CAD capabilities. These tools are deployed across signature installations including The Prow (250,000+ pixels, 65-foot ellipsoidal chandelier at 30 Hudson Yards for WarnerMedia), The Beacon (1,536-panel data-display chandelier at PNC Tower), Volume installations for Leo Villareal at the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery and the Durst Organization, Jenny Holzer's For SAAM at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and Aviary at Dubai Mall.

Parallel Development generates revenue through three streams: project-based custom installation contracts with enterprises and cultural institutions, direct sales of made-to-order proprietary LED lighting products (Spingere pendant, Polyhedra geometric pendant, Tokamak wall-mounted luminaire), and engineering consulting services for projects led by other firms or artists. The company is privately held, independently owned with no disclosed institutional investors or venture capital backing, and maintains long-standing strategic partnerships with elite design firms including ESI Design, Höweler + Yoon Architecture, and Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Geographic reach spans the United States, the UAE, Spain, and the UK.

Name

Parallel Development

Legal name

Parallel Development Ltd

Website

https://parallel.nyc

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Parallel Development is a Brooklyn-based design and fabrication studio founded around 1999 that specializes in custom electronic media systems and large-scale LED installations for artists, architects, museums, galleries, and corporate clients across the U.S., UAE, and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom LED Display Fabrication and Lighting Systems

NAICS

Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (3351)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640)

akta.pro primary industry

Lighting Controls & Building Integration (Drivers, sensors, dimming, lighting control panels, networked lighting) (IMAGAIAI)

Keywords

• Custom LED fabrication
• Electronic media systems
• Architectural lighting installations
• LED control systems
• Design fabrication studio

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Installation Projects: Design, engineering, fabrication, installation, and maintenance of custom electronic media installations for artists, architects, and corporate clients. Revenue generated through project-based contracts ranging from gallery installations to large-scale public and corporate commissions.
2. LED Lighting Products: Sale of proprietary LED lighting fixtures including Spingere (pendant luminaire), Polyhedra (geometric pendant), and Tokamak (wall-mounted luminaire). Products are made to order with customization options for LED temperature, finishes, and software.
3. Engineering Consulting Services: Technical consulting services including design, engineering consulting, and fabrication for projects led by other firms or artists. Includes software development and integration support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Parallel Development designs, engineers, fabricates, and installs custom electronic media systems and LED installations for artists, architects, museums, and corporate clients. The studio also manufactures and sells three proprietary made-to-order LED lighting fixtures (Spingere, Polyhedra, Tokamak) and provides engineering consulting and software integration services. All work is supported by an in-house Brooklyn fabrication facility with CNC machining, robotic milling, structural welding, and electronics assembly.

Product overview

Parallel Development is a design and fabrication studio specializing in electronic media systems and custom LED displays. The company offers a portfolio of three proprietary lighting products—Spingere (pendant luminaire), Polyhedra (geometric pendant), and Tokamak (wall-mounted luminaire)—alongside underlying technology subsystems including custom LED technology and video control systems. Beyond product sales, the company provides comprehensive project-based services for collaborative installations with designers, artists, and architects, encompassing project management, design, engineering, fabrication, installation, and maintenance. Their in-house fabrication studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn supports both manual and CNC machinery including 6-axis robotic milling and AWS certified structural welding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Spingere A cord-suspended pendant luminaire with dynamic LED media for illumination. Features no flicker, complete digital dimming, and high color rendering. Controlled over Wi-Fi from any browser, it displays both static and moving content while maintaining constant light output. Made to order in Brooklyn, NY with typical 8-week lead time and ships fully assembled and tested.
• Polyhedra A geometric pendant fixture based on a spherically projected geodesic polyhedra section. Features 20 custom programmable LED strips capable of static and moving content, controllable over Wi-Fi from any browser. Prices available upon request; ships fully assembled and tested with customization available for LED temperature, finishes, and software.
• Tokamak A wall-mounted or pendant luminaire with curved LED strips mounted to a CNC machined core, intersecting in a toroidal form. Uses light enhancing film and optical elements to disperse light, with thousands of individually controlled LED light sources. Prices available upon request; ships fully assembled and tested with customization available.
• Custom LED Installation Projects End-to-end design, engineering, fabrication, installation, and maintenance of custom electronic media installations for artists, architects, museums, and corporate clients. Project-based contracts cover everything from gallery installations to large-scale public and corporate commissions (e.g., The Prow at Hudson Yards, Multiverse at National Gallery of Art, Volume at Renwick Gallery).
• Engineering Consulting and Design Services Technical consulting services including design, engineering consulting, and fabrication for projects led by other firms or artists. Includes custom electronics development, FPGA-based control system design, Python computational design, and software integration support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supported 250,000+ pixels at high refresh rates with power and data distribution miniaturized to disappear into installation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and support.

• ESI DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Long-standing collaboration with ESI Design on multiple major installations including The Prow at Hudson Yards (WarnerMedia) and The Beacon at PNC Tower. Parallel provides design, engineering consulting, fabrication, and installation supervision for ESI's conceptual designs.
• Craft EngineeringsupportTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Structural engineering partnership for The Prow installation. Craft Engineering designed tension cable system while Parallel handled fabrication and installation of the 65' chandelier.
• Diller Scofidio + RenfrocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Collaboration on Charles James: Beyond Fashion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, providing robotic installation design, engineering, and software support for exhibit.
• Robert Silman AssociatessupportTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2012Structural engineering partnership for Hive installation at MTA Bleecker Street transfer, developing robust aluminum structure clad in stainless steel.
• Höweler + Yoon ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Collaboration on multiple interactive installations including Aviary at Dubai Mall and Lo-Rez/Hi-Fi. Joint concept development, engineering, and fabrication partnership for complex interactive projects.
• Knippers HelbigsupportTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2011Structural engineers collaborated on Aviary project for base glazing detail using elastomer to support glass tubes in stainless sockets.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ESI Design: New York-based experiential design firm and Parallel's long-standing strategic partner on projects such as The Prow (Hudson Yards) and The Beacon (PNC Tower). Comparable as a peer/partner for signature experiential installations serving corporate and cultural clients.
• SJ Lighting: New Jersey-based custom LED and event lighting design/installation firm serving concerts, corporate events, and architectural installations. Comparable in custom LED system design and integration for entertainment/experiential clients.
• Moment Factory: Montreal-based multidisciplinary studio producing immersive multimedia environments and large-scale LED/media installations for museums, airports, and public spaces. Most direct comparable to Parallel's custom LED electronic media work and artist/architect collaboration model.
• Meow Wolf: Immersive art installation company producing permanent, large-scale interactive environments with custom lighting and electronics. Comparable in artist-driven installation model and signature experiential environments.
• teamLab: International digital art collective producing large-scale immersive LED and projection installations for museums, branded spaces, and exhibitions globally. Comparable in delivering signature, technically complex installations with high artistic prestige.
• Artech Lighting: Custom LED display and lighting solutions provider serving architectural facades, public art, and entertainment venues. Directly comparable as a custom LED fabricator working at scale on art/architecture commissions.

Broad incumbents

• Vincent Lighting Systems: Established lighting integrator offering design, rental, and integration of theatrical, architectural, and event lighting systems. A broader incumbent with deeper resources but less specialization in custom LED electronic media art.

Others

• Leo Villareal Studio: Studio of the LED artist whose work Parallel has repeatedly fabricated (Volume, Cylinder, Pace Gallery pieces). Adjacent rather than competing — represents the artist-side counterpart of the custom fabrication value chain Parallel serves.
• Höweler + Yoon Architecture: Boston-based architecture firm and Parallel collaborator on Aviary (Dubai Mall) and Lo-Rez/Hi-Fi. Comparable as a design partner in the same installation ecosystem rather than a direct competitor; useful reference for the architectural-firm side of the value chain.
• Diller Scofidio + Renfro: New York-based architecture firm that commissioned Parallel for the Met's Charles James: Beyond Fashion exhibition. Comparable as a recurring client/partner for high-profile cultural and architectural commissions involving custom electronics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/paralleldevelopment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Parallel Development