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The people and systems behind every build

End to End Project Management

At NPARALLEL + Atomic Props, project management isn’t a department you get handed off to after the contract is signed. Our PMs are involved from the moment a concept starts taking shape, working alongside designers, fabricators, and account teams to make sure what we estimate, what we build, and what shows up on your event floor are all the same thing.

We manage projects across custom trade show exhibits, large-scale fabrication, mobile experiences, corporate environments, and branded activations, all from our 160,000-square-foot facility in Minneapolis. Whether your project runs 30 days or 12 months, involves one venue or a cross-country tour, our PM team keeps it on track.

When Does Project Management Actually Start?

Earlier than you’d expect. At most exhibit houses, a project manager steps in after the design is approved and the client has signed off. At NPARALLEL + Atomic Props, our PMs are at the table during the concept phase, reviewing early renderings and white models to flag anything that could affect buildability, cost, or timeline before you ever see a number.

That early involvement shapes the entire project. The estimate you receive reflects what’s actually required to build what you’ve approved, not a rough guess that gets corrected later with change orders.

Here’s how our project management team works through each phase of a build:

Concept + Feasibility

While our creative team develops concepts and strategies, PMs review designs with a builder’s eye. They’re evaluating structural feasibility, material requirements, venue constraints, and potential cost drivers. These are the practical realities that turn a rendering into something that can actually be fabricated, shipped, and installed. If a design element needs to be rethought for budget or logistics reasons, the PM team catches it here, not three weeks into production.

Estimation, Fabrication + QC

Once a concept is approved, PMs build the detailed cost estimate and then manage the project through fabrication. The same person who priced the job is the person running it. There’s no handoff between an estimating department and a project coordinator, which means no gap between what was quoted and what actually gets built. During fabrication, PMs serve as quality assurers, making sure the “fit, finish, and feel” are cohesive.
 

Logistics, I&D + Execution​

When it’s time to ship, our PMs coordinate transportation, manage installation and dismantle (I&D), and handle on-site problem-solving. Because they’ve been with the project from the beginning, they know every detail of the build: what’s structural, what’s cosmetic, what’s fragile, and what the client cares about most. After the event, we manage asset storage, inventory tracking, and refurbishment planning.

What Makes Our Project Management Approach Different?

A few things about how our PM team operates set us apart from most exhibit houses and fabrication shops.

Your Estimator Is Your Project Manager

At many companies, one team estimates the job and another team manages it. That creates a natural gap: the people running the project didn’t build the budget, so they’re working from someone else’s assumptions. Our PMs estimate and manage. The person who priced your project is the person making sure it stays on budget.

Dedicated PMs Who Don't Draft (On Purpose)

Some exhibit companies expect their project managers to also produce CAD drawings. Ours don’t. Not because they can’t read detailed schematics (they can, and they do every day), but because we have dedicated CAD technicians for that work. Our PMs focus entirely on estimation, coordination, and quality oversight.

Formal Change Management That Protects Your Budget

Our PMs document every change, estimate the cost impact, and get written client approval before any additional work begins. No surprises on the final invoice. No “we assumed you’d be okay with it.” Just clear communication and a paper trail that keeps everyone aligned.

Industry Knowledge That Goes Beyond Timelines

Our project managers understand materials, build processes, venue regulations, and shipping logistics, not just schedules and spreadsheets. Team members are active in the EDPA, and the team collectively brings deep trade show industry experience to every project.

How Does NPX Keep Projects on Track?

NPX is our proprietary project management and inventory system, built on the ExhibitForce platform and customized for how NPARALLEL + Atomic Props operates. Our PMs estimate jobs, track materials, manage client inventory, and generate project documentation, all in one place.

Because NPX houses both active project data and your asset inventory, your PM always knows what you have in storage, what condition it’s in, and what can be reused or refreshed for your next event. That integration between project management and inventory tracking eliminates the disconnect that happens when those systems live in different places (or worse, in spreadsheets and email threads).

trade show lead capture

What Types of Projects Does the PM Team Manage?

A few things about how our PM team operates set us apart from most exhibit houses and fabrication shops.

Bridgestone Trade Show Exhibit CES

Custom Trade Show Exhibits

These are typically 30- to 90-day projects with active client collaboration throughout. Designs evolve, graphics change, and product launches shift timelines. Our PMs manage that constant motion from the first estimate through on-site I&D and post-show storage.

Large-Scale Fabrication + Props

For projects coming through our Atomic Props capabilities (custom props, scenic elements, large-format installations), the PM approach adjusts. These builds tend to be more execution-focused after sign-off, with studio artists and fabrication specialists driving the technical work.

Ibotta_Brand Activation

Mobile Experiences + Roadshows

We’ve managed custom trailer builds that toured the continental U.S. for over a year, sprinter van conversions that ran nonstop for more than two years, and full RV buildouts. Each format brought new logistics challenges, and each one built knowledge our team carries forward.

Corporate Event for Bridgestone

Corporate Environments + Branded Events

For permanent installations, corporate interiors, and branded event builds, our PM team manages the coordination required when a project lives beyond a single show. That includes working with architects and GCs, navigating codes and permitting, and managing schedules around an operating business.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our trade show PM team includes four dedicated project managers plus senior production leadership oversight. Each PM manages projects from estimation through on-site execution and post-show wrap-up. For large-scale fabrication projects through our Atomic Props capabilities, additional production specialists support the build process.
Our project management covers cost estimation, material sourcing, fabrication oversight, quality assurance, change order management, shipping and transportation coordination, installation and dismantle (I&D), on-site support, and post-show asset storage and inventory management. Your PM is a single point of accountability across all of it.
Every scope change is documented with a formal change order that includes the cost impact. We get written client approval before any additional work begins. This process protects both sides: you always know what you’re paying for, and there are no surprises on the final invoice.
No, and that’s intentional. Our PMs work from detailed schematics and construction drawings daily, but we have dedicated CAD technicians and drafters for technical drawing production. This lets our PMs focus entirely on estimation, coordination, quality oversight, and client communication.
NPX is our proprietary project management and inventory system, built on the ExhibitForce platform and customized to how NPARALLEL + Atomic Props operates. We estimate jobs, track project progress, manage client asset inventory, and generate documentation. Having estimation and inventory in one system means your PM always knows what you have in storage and what it costs to refresh or reuse it.
For custom trade show exhibits, we recommend starting conversations 6–9 months before your show date. That gives our team enough time for proper estimation, design iteration, fabrication, and logistics planning. For large-scale fabrication or mobile builds, timelines vary, so reach out early and we’ll map it out together.
We offer warehouse storage and inventory management through NPX. Your PM coordinates asset tracking, condition assessments, and refurbishment planning so your exhibit investment carries forward to future events. Many clients reuse and refresh components across multiple shows rather than building from scratch each time.

Ready to Talk About Your Next Project?

Whether you’re planning a custom trade show exhibit, a branded environment, a mobile experience, or something we haven’t built yet, we’d like to hear about it.

Let's Get Started

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