What MCS Design and Production does

MCS Design and Production, Inc. is a privately held specialty arts studio founded in 1978 by master sculptor Allen Jessee and headquartered in a single facility at 10980 Richardson Road, Ashland, Virginia. The studio custom fabricates props, exhibits, displays, 3D theme art, decorative screens, architectural elements, and sculptures for corporate, commercial, government, healthcare, and residential clients. Its work spans EPS foam with resin coatings, aluminum, concrete, plywood, PVC, and fiberglass, and the company claims over 30 large-scale themed events completed at 30,000-60,000 square feet each, alongside marquee engagements such as an Olympics national-award-winning centerpiece and 93 holiday displays shipped to 18 W Hotels properties.

The business operates on two distinct revenue mechanics. The primary stream is custom fabrication projects delivered under quote-based, project-by-project pricing to enterprise and government clients (e.g., Department of Homeland Security training props, National Geographic Channel NBA-venue animal mounts, VCU Massey Cancer Center bronze healing screens, U.S. Navy Memorial VERTREP exhibit, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden international-themed structures). The secondary stream is a standardized aluminum garden sculpture catalog under Allen Jessee's name, with published unit prices ranging from $55 for hose keepers to $1,518+ for arbors and gold leaf wall hangings at $1,170, sold direct with 6-8 week lead times. Proprietary technology includes a patented Weedless Paver System for interlocking permeable walkways, an Art Walks custom concrete casting system capable of 10,000 psi pigmented slabs, and translucent concrete made with recycled glass.

The go-to-market is exclusively direct: phone (804-550-1000) and website contact forms for custom work, with catalog e-commerce for garden sculpture. Marketing is limited to a portfolio-style website with no active social media or digital advertising presence, relying on word-of-mouth from the established client roster. The company is founder-owned with no disclosed external investment, no M&A activity, and no subsidiary structure; Allen Jessee remains the public face and namesake of the sculpture line.

Name

MCS Design and Production

Legal name

MCS Design and Production, Inc.

Website

https://mcsdesignandproduction.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Short description

MCS Design and Production is a Virginia-based custom fabrication studio, founded in 1978, that builds props, exhibits, displays, sculptures, and architectural elements for corporate, government, hospitality, and residential clients, alongside a catalog line of aluminum garden sculptures by founder Allen Jessee.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Fabrication Services

NAICS

Prefabricated Metal Building and Component Manufacturing (332311)

SIC

Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Fabrication & Scenic/Set Build (Custom Builds, Installations) (BPAFAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event Signage, Props & Custom Installations (HSACAOAG), Scenic Fabrication & Set/Stage Carpentry (MPAGAKAG)

Keywords

• Custom fabrication services
• Props and exhibits
• Themed displays
• Architectural sculpture
• Decorative concrete walkways

Headquarters

HQ city

Ashland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Fabrication Projects: Custom-built props, exhibits, displays, 3D theme art, decorative screens, and architectural elements for corporate, commercial, and residential clients. Project-based pricing with custom quotes.
2. Sculpture and Art Sales: Bronze sculptures, pond sculptures, garden gates, abstract pieces, and decorative screens. Includes aluminum garden sculpture catalog with standardized pricing.
3. Art Walks Concrete Products: Decorative concrete walkway systems including custom patterns, memorial inserts, patio components, and medallions. Concrete wall elements including waterwalls and medallions.
4. Garden Accessories: Garden sculpture accessories including hose keepers, wall hangings, tables, arbors, benches, and window guards with standardized catalog pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

MCS Design and Production is a specialty arts studio that custom fabricates props, exhibits, displays, 3D theme art decor, decorative screens, gates, architectural elements, and sculptures for corporate, commercial, and residential clients. The studio works across materials including EPS foam, resin coatings, aluminum, concrete, plywood, PVC, and fiberglass to produce unique, large-scale themed installations and standalone artworks.

Product overview

MCS Design and Production is a specialty arts studio that has been building custom fabricated props, exhibits, displays, and sculptures since 1978. The company operates as a single unified custom fabrication service rather than a platform with separate modules. Their product portfolio consists of six interconnected service areas: Props & 3-D Theme Art (giant props, animated figures, themed decor for events), Exhibits & Displays (trade show exhibits, promotional displays, museum installations), Architectural Elements (fabricated trees, pergolas, water features, themed structures), Sculpture/Gates/Screens (bronze and aluminum decorative pieces for indoor/outdoor use), Art Walks (custom concrete walkway systems), and Garden Sculpture by Allen Jessee (aluminum wallhangings, gates, and firescreens). The company ships products anywhere and serves clients including National Geographic Channel, Jet Blue, W Hotels, and ABC TV.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Props & 3-D Theme Art Custom fabricated visual props and 3D theme art decor for trade shows, special events, and promotions. Products include giant props, themed displays, animated figures, and decorative elements used by corporate, media, and government clients.
• Exhibits & Displays Promotional displays and exhibits including wax figures, themed installations, trade show exhibits, and museum displays for corporate and commercial clients.
• Architectural Elements Custom fabricated architectural elements including fabricated trees, pergolas, water walls, decorative screens, pagodas, and themed structures for residential and commercial spaces.
• Sculpture, Gates & Decorative Screens Bronze, aluminum, and decorative screens for corporate, commercial, and residential spaces. Includes life-size bronze sculptures, aluminum garden gates, and architectural screens.
• Art Walks Decorative Concrete Walkways Custom decorative concrete walkway systems featuring interlocking patterns, memorial inserts, and themed designs for gardens, courtyards, and commercial applications.
• Garden Sculpture by Allen Jessee Aluminum garden sculptures, wallhangings, garden gates, and firescreens designed by sculptor Allen Jessee. Products include coastal and aquatic themes, garden creatures, winged wonders, and accessories in various finishes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Completed over 30 large-scale themed events ranging from 30,000 to 60,000 square feet
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Nassal Company: Orlando-based fabricator of themed environments, museum exhibits, and architectural elements for theme parks, zoos, and corporate clients. Directly comparable to MCS in custom fabrication, multi-material builds (EPS foam, fiberglass, metal), and ship-anywhere delivery for experiential customers.
• Weta Workshop: New Zealand-based design and fabrication studio specializing in props, sculpture, costumes, and themed environments for film, museums, and attractions. Closest analog to MCS in mixing artistic sculpture with large-scale fabricated environments for experiential clients.
• Ironhead Studio: Los Angeles-based custom prop, costume, and themed environment fabricator serving Marvel, film studios, and entertainment brands. Comparable to MCS in delivering one-off custom builds with mixed materials (foam, resin, metal) for branded entertainment and exhibit clients.
• Roto (Roto FX): Los Angeles-based fabrication shop producing custom props, animatronics, and themed environments for theme parks, museums, and attractions. Closely mirrors MCS's mix of sculptural work and large-scale themed fabrication.
• Independent Studio Services: Los Angeles-based custom prop fabrication, scenic construction, and prop rental house serving film, television, and themed entertainment. Overlaps with MCS on custom scenic fabrication for promotional and event clients.
• Sparks: Philadelphia-based exhibit design and fabrication agency producing custom exhibits, displays, and brand experiences for trade shows, museums, and corporate environments. Directly comparable to MCS on exhibit/displays and themed-environment fabrication for enterprise clients.

Broad incumbents

• 4Wall Entertainment: Large event production and entertainment lighting company serving concerts, corporate events, and brand activations across the US. Comparable to MCS as a B2B supplier into experiential marketing and live events, but broader in scope and equipment-led rather than custom-fabrication-led.
• Production Resource Group (PRG): Global event production services and equipment provider serving concerts, theatrical productions, corporate events, and brand experiences. Adjacent to MCS's event fabrication work, but at much larger scale and with a broader equipment-rental model.

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 MCS Design and Production