Not many firms have experienced the level of growth and success that Bridgewater Studio has achieved in recent years in the creative design and production world. The Chicago-based company, initially founded as a boutique fabrication studio, has grown into a significant player in the design, production, and installation of immersive experiences across various sectors, including museums, cultural institutions, retail, and location-based entertainment.
Recently, Bridgewater Studio’s inclusion in the Inc. 5000 list underscored its meteoric rise, marking 258% growth over the past three years. The company has now announced the addition of industry veteran Lisa O’Keefe as vice president of project development and is poised for even greater achievements.
Strategic growth
Blooloop last spoke to the team in February 2022, as Chris Wilson joined Bridgewater Studio in the newly created chief creative and operating officer role. Eric Cup, co-founder of Bridgewater Studio, reflects on the company’s journey over the past few years, particularly since bringing Wilson on board.
The goal was to diversify Bridgewater’s offerings and deepen its presence in key markets like museums and cultural heritage sectors. The strategy has paid off. “We’ve had tremendous success and growth over the past few years,” says Cup. “We’ve leveraged that to deepen our presence in the museum and cultural heritage sector and expand our design capabilities. Now, we can offer clients a complete end-to-end solution for their projects.”
This end-to-end approach is central to Bridgewater’s philosophy. By being involved from the earliest stages of a project, the company can streamline processes, get rid of potential weak points, and deliver superior results. “The more people or weak points you can eliminate in a project, the smoother it will go. It’s an advantage to a customer to have a single point of contact with a team that’s actively engaged and truly cares about their project.”
This strategy has also allowed Bridgewater to move beyond traditional models where design and fabrication are handled separately. “There’s been a transition in the industry,” Cup explains. “It used to be about cost savings. So, you would hire a design firm and then bid the fabrication out to multiple shops. But now, clients see the value of having a single, experienced partner handle everything.
“It’s like choosing the best heart surgeon—cost becomes secondary to expertise and results.”
New projects for Bridgewater Studio
Bridgewater Studio’s growth is reflected in the scale and scope of its recent projects. The company has successfully completed two major museum design projects: the Henry Crown Space Center at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and an immersive outdoor exhibit at the First Division Museum, commemorating the anniversary of D-Day.
The Henry Crown Space Center project was a full design-build endeavour. It challenged Bridgewater to deliver a transformative experience within a tight budget. “It’s always about stretching the dollar,” says Cup. “This project is a great example of how bringing in a production partner early can streamline the process and maximise the impact.”
The D-Day exhibit was another ambitious undertaking. It utilised the entire museum campus to create a full-scale, immersive journey that brought history to life. “This project was about spatial design as a storytelling medium,” says Cup. “It allowed visitors to physically experience the soldiers’ journey, providing a deeper understanding of the historical event.”
In addition to its museum work, Bridgewater has been expanding into the burgeoning retailtainment sector. This blends retail and location-based entertainment to revitalise mall properties and create new consumer destinations. While this is not a new trend, it is a rapidly growing area of focus for the company. “We’ve been getting a ton of asks in this sector,” says Cup. “It’s exciting work that brings the showmanship of entertainment to new settings.”
The importance of authentic relationships
Wilson, who has played a pivotal role in Bridgewater’s recent success, attributes much of the company’s growth to building strong client relationships. “It’s not just about business development,” he says. “It’s about developing real, deep, authentic relationships and trust with our clients. That’s where we’ve seen the most success.”
This relationship-focused approach is one of the reasons Bridgewater is bringing Lisa O’Keefe on board. With decades of experience and deep industry connections, O’Keefe is expected to help Bridgewater expand its national and international reach while maintaining its core values.
“Lisa is a fixture in our industry,” says Cup. “She’s been a key player in developing so many large-scale projects. Bringing her on board is a big opportunity for us to connect with new clients who might have heard about us but don’t really know us yet.”
O’Keefe’s extensive network and reputation will be invaluable assets to Bridgewater. “She knows everybody,” Cup adds. “You could drop Lisa down blindfolded in a city, and she’d know someone there. For us, that means getting in front of people and showing them how our process can help them create amazing projects.”
O’Keefe has over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing, focusing on experiential activations in both B2C and B2B markets. She has worked with major organisations such as the Olympics, the Smithsonian, museums, science centres, zoos, theme parks, and film studios.
“My career began pretty much with sports and cultural activations, collaborating with major corporations and entities like the Olympics and the Smithsonian,” says O’Keefe. “And then I broadened my expertise to branded experiences and events, working with, again, some really major companies and industry leaders around the world.”
New opportunities for Bridgewater Studio
As the VP of project development at Bridgewater Studio, O’Keefe will focus on driving revenue growth, identifying new business opportunities, cultivating relationships, and maintaining existing ones.
“My responsibilities will evolve around driving revenue growth by identifying new business opportunities and new business projects, cultivating those relationships with potential clients, and maintaining existing relationships.”
She plans to use her experience and network to drive business development at Bridgewater Studio:
“I’m going to leverage my global sales experience and extensive network to drive business development by identifying and securing those new projects and partnerships that align with Bridgewater’s extraordinary creative talent and production capabilities,” she adds. She plans to hit the ground running:
“From the onset, my main objective is to drive sales and generate new business and projects for Bridgewater. So, I’m going to start very structured. I’m going to set clear goals and develop actionable plans. I will execute strategies to ensure my efforts are impactful for business growth.”
Wilson says: “Lisa will help us scale in an on-brand way. She’s an incredible connector between all of the moving parts. It goes back to what I was saying about authenticity. On the front end of a project, you need somebody who will connect and really understand clients’ needs and how to connect that with what we do.
“We want to ensure that we serve our clients well at all times. And I feel like Lisa will be able to map that need really well. Plus, she’s just a joy to talk to!”
A focus on the future
With O’Keefe joining the team, Bridgewater is looking to the future with ambitious growth plans. Wilson envisions continued expansion, both in the US and internationally, particularly in Europe:
“I would like us to grow our presence nationally and globally. We have room to grow and expansion plans when the time comes. Having Lisa on board will help us expand our reach, deepen our existing relationships, and build new ones.”
While the company is tight-lipped about specific projects due to non-disclosure agreements, Wilson expresses excitement about what lies ahead. “We’ve got some really exciting things in the pipeline,” he says. “With Lisa’s experience and connections, we’re confident that we’ll be able to achieve our goals.”
Cup shares this optimism, emphasising that Bridgewater’s growth strategy involves finding projects that align with the company’s process and values. “We’re always on the lookout for projects that fit our process the best,” he says. “Having a deliberate focus on finding those and making those connections will help us continue our growth. And it will help us find the work we really want to do—the work that we’re passionate about.”
This passion for creativity and innovation is what drives the entire Bridgewater team. “For us, it’s not just a job,” Cup explains. “It’s why we get up in the morning. We love to create, and we love to create great things. That’s what motivates us.”
O’Keefe is excited to join Bridgewater Studio, emphasising her admiration for the company’s leadership and vision:
“I’ve been watching Bridgewater Studio over the last few years. They were coming into my space and growing, and they impressed me. Then, after talking with [the team], I feel everything starts from the top. I can see how [Eric] has such strong, extraordinary, talented people working for him and growing this company. I felt very strongly that I would be able to contribute greatly to helping continue their growth and bringing in new business for them.”
Bridgewater Studio stays ahead of the curve
As Bridgewater continues to grow, it remains committed to staying ahead of industry trends and offering something unique. One way it is doing this is by continuously evaluating and enhancing its capabilities. “We’re always forward-thinking,” says Cup. “We’re constantly looking at how we can better serve our clients.”
Earlier this year, Bridgewater added a media and technology division. This allows it to handle interactives, projection mapping, large-scale projection, and lighting in-house. It has also invested heavily in printing capabilities, boasting some of the world’s largest and highest-quality industrial SLA printers. “Being highly focused on seeing where there are gaps in our competition and then filling those gaps before they do—frankly, being better at it—is how we’ve stayed competitive and grown so rapidly.”
The company is also exploring the potential of AI and machine learning but with a cautious and thoughtful approach. “Everything’s AI these days,” Cup adds, “but it has to have substance. It needs to be implemented functionally, not just as a buzzword. Our media and technology team is working on figuring out the best uses for AI in an authentic way.”
Drawing on her background in the experiential world, O’Keefe adds her thoughts on the latest trends. She highlights the importance of uniqueness, personalisation, and cutting-edge technology in creating impactful experiential marketing and emphasises the role of storytelling and immersive environments:
“Guests are drawn to experiences that are personalised and customised. Successful activations are about interactivity, and storytelling is key for those immersive environments. It’s about ensuring that the story and the messaging are relevant to the demographic and the visitors engaging in the experience.”
She also acknowledges the growing importance of sustainability in the industry. She notes a trend toward using sustainable materials and practices:
“Instead of creating a hard-shell structure, I’m seeing more fabrics, more materials that can deliver the same thing, but can then be repurposed, reused, and are more sustainable.”
Recognition and reflection
Bridgewater’s inclusion in the Inc. 5000 list is a significant milestone for the company, one that Cup describes as “really meaningful.”
“We’ve never had an end goal—running a business is like living your life; you’re constantly evolving,” he adds. “But seeing how adding dedicated, talented people and building trust with our customers has enabled our growth is truly humbling.”
For Bridgewater Studio, this recognition is not just about celebrating past successes but about looking forward to the future. The company is committed to continuing its growth trajectory by staying true to its core values, building strong relationships, and embracing innovation.
Bridgewater Studio’s journey over the past few years is a testament to the power of strategic growth and genuine relationships, as well as a relentless focus on innovation. With the addition of Lisa O’Keefe to the team, the company is well-positioned to continue its upward trajectory and make an even more significant impact in the world of design, production, and immersive experiences.
As it looks to the future, Bridgewater remains dedicated to creating extraordinary projects that inspire and engage, staying true to its passion for creativity and excellence.
