The Experiential Design Index

Top 10 Firms for Cultural Center / Performing Arts Projects

Ranked by recency-weighted eligible project count at cultural center / performing arts venues, 2021–2026. The 10 highest-scoring firms hold a numbered rank; 26 more firms with eligible activity are listed below the table.

Counts design-discipline credits only -- exhibit design, interpretive planning, media design, architecture, master planning, landscape architecture, environmental graphics, lighting design -- held in a role the firm offers as a standalone service. Fabrication, AV integration, and consulting credits appear on project pages but don't place a firm on this list. Standard recency weighting and sourcing bonus apply.

Counts reflect the work this index has recorded, not a census of any firm's total output — coverage depth varies by firm — and a position here implies no judgment of design quality.

RankScore FirmHQEligible projects
14.5 Schuler Shook Chicago, IL 825 Arts (Victoria Theater Renovation) (2024), Renovation (2024), Annex and Renovation (renamed from the Cort Theatre) (2022), Luminary Arts Center Renovation (2022), Concert Hall Renewal (2022), The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences (2021), Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts (2021)
23.1 Fisher Marantz Stone New York, NY Doris Duke Theatre (2025), Field Arts & Events Hall (2024), Palace Theatre Restoration (TSX Broadway) (2024), David Geffen Hall Renovation (2022)
33.0 Ennead Architects New York, NY Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement (2026), Delacorte Theater Revitalization (2025), Steelhouse Omaha (2023)
42.5 Tillotson Design Associates New York, NY Buttenwieser Hall (2023), Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) (2023), Powerhouse Arts — Brand Identity and Wayfinding (2023)
52.2 Snøhetta Brooklyn, NY Hopkins Center for the Arts Renovation and Roth Wing (2025), Jack C. Taylor Music Center Expansion (2025)
62.1 Ralph Appelbaum Associates New York, NY Shenzhen Bay Cultural Plaza — Gallery Spaces (2025), The Harris — Your Place (2025)
72.0 Rockwell Group New York, NY Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) (2023), The Museum of Broadway (2022), FUTURES (2021)
81.9 Studio Matthews Seattle, WA Center for the Arts Jackson Hole — Wayfinding (2026), Field Arts & Events Hall (2024)
91.8 Diamond Schmitt Architects Toronto, ON Digital Experience (2022), David Geffen Hall Renovation (2022), The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences (2021)
101.6 PBDW Architects New York, NY Palace Theatre Restoration (TSX Broadway) (2024), Powerhouse Arts — Brand Identity and Wayfinding (2023)

Also active in this category

Firms with eligible activity in the window that fall outside the ranked table — fewer than 2 eligible projects, or a score below the top 10. Listed alphabetically, not ranked.

FirmHQEligible projects
Amaze Design Boston, MA #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit (2022)
Ashton Design Baltimore, MD Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall Wayfinding (2021)
AV&C New York, NY Chromatic (2023), Digital Experience (2022)
Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners New York, NY Buttenwieser Hall (2023), La MaMa First Floor Theatre Renovation (2023)
C&G Partners New York, NY Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music (2026)
Crafted Action Philadelphia, PA Golden Anniversary Campus Transformation (2026)
Davis Brody Bond New York, NY Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) (2023)
DLR Group Omaha, NE Greater Whittier LGBTQ+ Community Center (2024)
EHDD San Francisco, CA KQED Headquarters Renovation (2021)
Entro Toronto, ON Powerhouse Arts — Brand Identity and Wayfinding (2023)
EwingCole Philadelphia, PA Golden Anniversary Campus Transformation (2026)
Gensler San Francisco, CA Yantai Huang-Bohai Sea New Area Industrial Culture Center (2025)
HGA Minneapolis, MN Renovation (2024)
HKS Dallas, TX YouTube Theater (2021)
Isometric Studio Brooklyn, NY Queer Justice: 50 Years of Lambda Legal and LGBTQ+ Rights (2023)
KieranTimberlake Philadelphia, PA Art and Ideals: President John F. Kennedy (2022)
LMN Architects Seattle, WA Field Arts & Events Hall (2024), Renovation (2023)
Pelli Clarke & Partners New Haven, CT Lola Mora Cultural Center (2023)
Pentagram New York, NY Art and Ideals: President John F. Kennedy (2022), Renovation and Environmental Graphics (2022)
Reich+Petch Toronto, ON Massey Hall Exhibits (2022)
RLMG Watertown, MA Agua Caliente Cultural Museum (2023)
Split Rock Studios Minneapolis, MN The Saga Center (2025)
Studio Joseph New York, NY Music Hall (2022)
Thinc Design New York, NY Dance to Belong: A History of Dance at 92NY (2024)
Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects New York, NY Digital Experience (2022), David Geffen Hall Renovation (2022)
Trivium Interactive Boston, MA The Saga Center (2025)