Founder - Emeritus
Chief Executive Officer
President
Principal
Principal
Principal – Technology Systems
Executive Vice-President
Senior Associate
Senior Associate
Senior Associate
Consulting Principal for Audio-Video Design
Consulting Principal for Audio-Video Design
Associate Principal
Associate Principal
Architecture/Technical Designer
Associate Principal
Senior Associate
Associate Principal
Technical Designer
Associate Principal
Senior Associate
Associate
Technical Designer
S. Leonard AuerbachAs Founder – Emeritus, Len celebrates over 50 years of professional experience and international expertise in theatre consulting to his practice. His approach to theatre, architectural lighting, audio-video and multi-media consulting combines a background in architecture with his scenic and theatrical lighting design experience gained in New York and at leading regional theatres. In 1968, he left his position as resident lighting designer at the Tyrone Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis and joined the consulting firm of Bolt, Beranek, and Newman in New York, ultimately becoming director of their theatre consulting services in San Francisco. In 1972, he formed the consulting firm of Piacentini/Auerbach that ultimately became Auerbach Pollock Friedlander – Auerbach Glasow.
Len has consulted on the design of hundreds of venues worldwide working with high profile architects and clients, often developing the next technological standard for the industry. In this process he has provided a spirit of collaboration and ingenuity that has always been the foundation of the firm’s consulting practice. He asserts that a high level of design innovation and creativity is based on the first-hand experience of being practitioners and not theorists therefore serving each project with confidence.
Educated in the Fine Arts with a BFA in Drama and MFA in Theatre Architecture with a Heinz Foundation Fellowship from Carnegie Institute of Technology (Carnegie Mellon University). Len continues to support the College of Fine Arts Theatre Architecture Studio, an interdisciplinary course that he helped establish.
Len continues to be available to the firm to support special projects and maintain client relationships.
lauerbach@auerbachconsultants.com
Steven FriedlanderSteven Friedlander is the Chief Executive Officer of Auerbach Pollock Friedlander | Auerbach Glasow and leads many of the firm’s prominent projects in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. Before becoming a consultant, he was a successful theatre production lighting designer and production manager, working extensively with ballet, opera and theatre companies nationally and internationally. During his 30-plus year consulting career, Steve’s emphasis has been on programming and planning work. He frequently collaborates with architects, owners, technicians and faculty to realize superior arts facilities that support specific client needs. Recent notable project work includes Boston University’s Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre and College of Fine Arts Production Center, Virgin Voyages first cruise ship, Scarlet Lady, La Perle Theatre for Franco Dragone at Al Habtoor City in Dubai, MCC Theater, Writers Theatre in Glencoe, Illinois and the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center in New Jersey. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Technical Theatre and Lighting Design from Boston University’s College of Fine Arts and has lectured at Yale University.
sfriedlander@auerbachconsultants.com
Patricia GlasowPatty is the Executive Vice President of Auerbach Pollock Friedlander | Auerbach Glasow and leads the architectural lighting design studio. Her strength lies in the blending of design and technical expertise particularly for specialized installations. She was formally trained in theatrical lighting design at UCLA and worked for Walt Disney Enterprises early in her career. These experiences deepened her passion for the profession and influenced her work for her arts, commercial and educational clients. Patty’s recent project work includes the Salesforce Tower Executive Floors in San Francisco, the renovation of the historic Curran Theatre, Windhover Contemplative Center at Stanford University and Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired headquarter offices. Her lighting has been recognized with awards from numerous industry organizations. She is a Fellow of the International Association of Lighting Designers and was awarded the Sol Cohn Award for service to the lighting field by the San Francisco Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society.
Tom NevilleTom brings a diverse background in theatre technology and production management to his work for Auerbach Pollock Friedlander. With more than ten years of experience at professional theatre companies in management positions, Tom’s perspective and understanding of facility user operations is of critical importance to the firm’s projects. He is the Principal-in-Charge of Auerbach Pollock Friedlander’s Minneapolis project office. Tom has completed work on seven permanent show venues for Cirque du Soleil, the Cineteca Nacional Siglo XXI (The National Film Archive of the 21st Century) in Mexico City, Sunac’s Taihu Theatre for Splendor by Franco Dragone in Wuxi China and the Mesa Arts Center in Arizona. He has been with the firm for more than 20 years. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the University of Northern Iowa and his Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama.
tneville@auerbachconsultants.com
Robert HillRob joined Auerbach Pollock Friedlander’s San Francisco office in 2006 and in his 13 years with the firm he has served as project manager, senior consultant, designer and San Francisco office studio manager. In 2017 Rob was named a Principal of the firm. He brings more than 15 years of technical theatre and theatrical lighting design knowledge to the firm, including work on more than 100 operas. During his tenure at Auerbach Pollock Friedlander he has served as Project Manager and Principal in Charge for numerous projects in China. His project experience has included numerous higher education facilities, renovation projects, custom built showrooms and secondary education arts facilities. His portfolio includes Cirque du Soleil X Theatre in China, the Sunac’s Taihu Theatre for Splendor by Franco Dragone in Wuxi China, SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco and Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center at the University of Texas, Permian Basin. Rob graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in theatre design from the University of Illinois with highest honors and has completed masters studies in theatre design in production at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts.
Brad KisickiBrad brings a solid and diverse background in technical production to his work at Auerbach Pollock Friedlander. With more than 15 years of professional experience, He offers expertise to a wide range of areas including audio-video systems, stage machinery and rigging design. Educated in architecture, he also specializes in program layout and backstage/support space design. Prior to his work at Auerbach Pollock Friedlander, Brad worked primarily as a theatrical production manager and technical director. Some of his notable project work with the firm includes La Perle Theatre for Franco Dragone at Al Habtoor City in Dubai at Al Habtoor City in Dubai, where he was the firm’s full-time site representative, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Houston’s Jesse Jones Hall, and BAM Harvey Theater. Brad earned a Master of Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the North Carolina School of the Arts.
bkisicki@auerbachconsultants.com
Kevin AusesKevin joined Auerbach Pollock Friedlander in 2003 for a ten-year period and returned in 2017 to continue his consulting career. In the interim, he worked as a project manager for a theatrical equipment manufacturer where he oversaw numerous projects, including the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Theater, Rogers Place Arena, and The City University of New York, New York City College of Technology, Academic Building. His background in theatrical production and a thorough knowledge of structural design for the theatre inform his work as a project manager and the design and implementation of automated rigging, machinery and scenery handling systems.
Prior to joining Auerbach Pollock Friedlander, Kevin was the Master Carpenter/Assistant Technical Director at Meadow Brook Theatre in Michigan. His live theatre experience has given him a deep understanding of the requirements of a functional theatre. While enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University, Kevin worked as both an assistant technical director and a technical director on many of the theatrical productions presented by the school of drama.
Ed BabinEd joined Auerbach Pollock Friedlander’s San Francisco office in 1997 where he currently works as an architectural designer on room configurations and technical design. He developed the firm’s audience seating and sightline programs that have been responsible for dozens of audience environments. Ed has worked with principals and project managers on design solutions for a wide range of projects including educational and research facilities, opera houses, performing arts centers, planetariums, and worship spaces.
Before joining Auerbach Pollock Friedlander, Ed worked for architecture and engineering firms in San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Washington, D.C. where he collaborated on a variety of projects ranging from institutional and medical construction to residential and tenant improvement renovations.
Emily BrainerdEmily is a project manager in Auerbach Pollock Friedlander’s San Francisco office. She joined the firm in 2011, bringing hands-on experience as a theater professional to her work on a wide range of projects, assisting on the design of performing arts venues, theatrical systems and documentation.
Prior to joining the firm, Emily received her master’s degree at the University of Illinois and completed an internship with another prominent theater consulting firm. Before attending graduate school, she spent four years as the technical director for the theatre program at Iowa State University and worked in various local venues as a stagehand on touring shows. Prior to this she was the assistant technical director at Simpson College in Iowa. Emily has also spent summers working as a scenic carpenter with the American Players Theatre in Wisconsin and the Des Moines Metro Opera.
Kenneth R. FauseKenneth brings more than 50 years of theatre background and more than 40 years of professional experience to the firm in planning and design of performing arts and media facilities, including education theatre, professional theatre, government, corporate and institutional applications, radio and television broadcasting facilities, media production and post production facilities, and cinema screening rooms, encompassing new construction and complex renovations of existing operating facilities. Kenneth leads Auerbach Pollock Friedlander’s audio-video consulting group in San Francisco. His project experience includes Young University’s BYU-Idaho Center Auditorium and HDTV Broadcast Center, on-call consulting, master planning and capital improvements for the SAP Center at San Jose and multiple corporate auditoriums for Qualcomm Corporation. Ken has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Cornell University and a Master of Arts in Theater Arts from UCLA.
Howard B. GlickmanHoward has worked in almost all aspects of the theatre industry including technical, administration, education, construction and equipment sales. He joined Auerbach Pollock Friedlander in 2004 as a project manager.
Before joining Auerbach Pollock Friedlander, Howard worked first as technical director and then as event services and planning coordinator for Kingsborough Community College of The City University of New York. He has been a project manager for Productions Arts and Production Resource Group, and a manufacturer’s representative for Electronic Theatre Controls and Intelligent Lighting Controls. Howard also provided project management and installation services for fiber optic lighting systems while working for Optic Arts.
hglickman@auerbachconsultants.com
Don GuytonDon has more 35 years of experience working as a theatre professional, 26 of them as a theatre consultant. Prior to becoming a theatre consultant, he worked as a freelance lighting designer and stage manager for opera, ballet, and modern dance. Over the course of his career at Auerbach Pollock Friedlander, Don has contributed to projects ranging from college and university performance spaces to major facilities designed by world-class architectural firms. His project work includes La Perle Theatre for Franco Dragone at Al Habtoor City in Dubai, Boston University’s Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre and College of Fine Arts Production Center, the Carter Barron Amphitheatre in Washington, D.C. and The Pershing Square Signature Center in New York. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Opera and Musical Theatre Production from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music
Andrew HanAndrew joined Auerbach Pollock Friedlander’s New York office recently bringing several years of architectural design experience gained in Seoul, Toronto and New York. Andrew is a self-motivated designer with proven problem solving skills and excellent 3D modeling software experience. His previous project work includes educational projects, theatres, residential buildings and job-related research.
Before arriving at Auerbach Pollock Friedlander, Andrew experienced various design and planning exercises through his Master’s studies in Architecture and Planning, as well as chances to study performing arts and music in his final year. Upon graduation, he worked as an assistant architect in New York City, where he worked on various local and international projects, including arts-focused educational institutions. With Auerbach Pollock Friedlander, he is a key participant in the firm’s innovative design process by incorporating his experiences and design philosophy with his interest in performing arts and music.
Joy HouJoy recently joined the New York office of Auerbach Pollock Friedlander. She comes to the firm after earning her Master of Science degree in Architectural Acoustics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Her role with the Auerbach Pollock Friedlander involves architectural design and technical support for a variety of projects. Her architectural education and training is enhanced by her intense interest in and understanding of design and acoustics for performance spaces.
Joy brings architectural experience from her previous employment as a design coordinator with a top hospitality and entertainment design firm in Las Vegas. Her experience there encompassed producing Revit and AutoCAD drawings, coordination with consultants and clients, site visits, creating sketches and diagrams and document translation. She is fluent in English and Chinese.
Before returning to school for her master’s degree, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ed JohnsonEd has been focused on technical theatre for more than thirteen years and brings a dynamic background in technical theatre production to Auerbach Pollock Friedlander. Since joining the firm in 2005, he has specialized in the technical design of stage machinery including stage lifts, rigging systems and other unique mechanized equipment. His production experience primarily consists of technical direction and production management for opera. Ed’s notable projects include Virgin Voyages, Scarlet Lady, Cirque du Soleil X Theatre, in Guangzhou, China, La Perle Theatre for Franco Dragone at Al Habtoor City in Dubai, University of Colorado, Ent Center and USC – Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center. Ed has a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Theatre Technology and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in Technical Theatre.
Kevin MacphersonKevin joined Auerbach Pollock Friedlander in 2013, bringing a diverse career in both architecture and theatre. His background in theatre began with set and lighting design around the New York City area and during the next 15 years turned to technical and production management for Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tours, and regional theatres in multiple locations including New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Texas, and California. This broad experience has given Kevin an intimate understanding of the requirements of a working theatre.
After taking time off from theatre to study architecture, he was employed with EMBT (Enric Miralles Benedetta Tagliabue) in Barcelona where his projects included historic restorations, port renovations, urban rehabilitations, and modern skyscrapers. Upon returning to the United States, Kevin worked as one of the client representatives at La Jolla Playhouse in California during the construction of the Potiker Theatre, their new flexible space, and the addition of the new administrative wing.
After his arrival in San Francisco, Kevin continued his career in both architecture and theatre. Working at Anshen + Allen Architects as a project coordinator, his focus was on large scale healthcare projects. Immediately prior to joining Auerbach he was the scenic design associate at American Conservatory Theater for three seasons while overseeing all scenery for the historic Geary Theatre’s main stage.
Daniel MeiWith more than 20 years of experience as an audio-video, multimedia consultant and systems installation/integration contractor, Dan brings a unique, field-tested approach to his design and consulting work for Auerbach Pollock Friedlander. His systems design projects cover a wide range of facilities including multi-room performing arts centers, university theatres, digital projection venues and houses of worship. His project experience includes the Studio Tower Renovation at Carnegie Hall, the Lewis Arts Complex at Princeton University, the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Dan’s design and installation experience encompasses sound reinforcement and playback systems, assistive listening systems for the hearing impaired, background music and paging systems, theatrical production communication systems, low voltage control systems, closed circuit television and modulated video systems, large format video projection, film projection, teleconferencing, videoconferencing systems and master control systems. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Hartford, majoring in Acoustics and Music.
Kayla QuinnKayla joined Auerbach Pollock Friedlander after completing her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Carnegie Mellon University and is working in the firm’s New York office as a technical designer. In this role, she provides support to the studio team utilizing her training in architecture, theatre and sound design and her exceptional proficiency with computer aided design programs.
Before joining Auerbach Pollock Friedlander, Kayla interned with architecture firms in Pittsburgh and New York where she participated in all aspects of the design and construction process including reviewing drawings, performing building code analysis, creating site analysis diagrams, evaluating the results of feasibility studies and providing construction administration support.
During her education at Carnegie Mellon University, she had the opportunity to study abroad in New Zealand and Switzerland and participated in an Advanced Architecture Studio in France. Her Thesis, “Aberrant: The Psychoacoustics of Sonic Space” focused on sound design in architecture and explores how room acoustics play an important role in a person’s movement through space.
Grace Gavin RhodesGrace brings international experience in professional theatre and fine arts to her consulting work. She has worked as a theatre consultant on a variety of projects ranging from historic renovations and regional multi-purpose rooms to large multi-venue performing arts complexes throughout the world. Grace spent 12 years with Auerbach Pollock Friedlander before departing in 2008 when her family relocated first to Europe and then to San Antonio, Texas. She rejoined the firm in 2017. As a theatre professional, Grace has worked at the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, Seoul Arts Centre, La Jolla Playhouse, Minneapolis New Theatre, Syracuse Stage and New York’s Henry Street Settlement Theatre. Her notable projects with Auerbach Pollock Friedlander include Sunac’s Taihu Theatre for Splendor by Franco Dragone in Wuxi, China, ZAIA Theatre at the Venetian Macao for Cirque du Soleil, Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, Borgata Hotel and Casino, Petrosains Discovery Center in Kuala Lumpur, US Capitol Visitor’s Center, the renovations of the Salt Lake Tabernacle and the University of Texas Bass Concert Hall Renovation. Grace received a Master of Fine Arts from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Holyoke College, graduating with departmental honors from both institutions.
Benjamin StrangeBen brings two decades of experience with sound, video and communications technology, theatrical systems design, and architectural consulting to Auerbach Pollock Friedlander. Prior to joining Auerbach Pollock Friedlander, Ben worked as a consultant at a leading integrated MEP and architecture firm, specializing in theatrical systems specifications for performing arts centers, cinemas, production studios, museums and institutions of higher education. He has consulted on a number of AIA and USITT award-winning facilities, including the development of internationally-recognized green buildings and sustainable design projects.
Ben’s professional credits in performing arts and multimedia production make him exceptionally qualified to consult on integrated sound, video and communications systems for entertainment facilities. His passion for technology, design, and client satisfaction has resulted in the successful completion of numerous projects, from modest infrastructure-only designs to unique immersive experiences and fully integrated performing arts centers. Ben’s past work as a sound designer, composer and engineer include nationally recognized productions and performing artists, as well as an international collaboration funded by the NEH.
Brad WardBrad is an award-winning theatrical sound designer and composer with more than 25 years of professional theatre and consulting experience. He joined Auerbach Pollock Friedlander in September 2019 while remaining an active freelance sound designer, composer and Broadway associate. His deep knowledge of sound reinforcement systems, playback software, digital editing and recording, as well as modeling software is supported by his familiarity with all facets of theatre production.
Prior to joining Auerbach Pollock Friedlander, he was an audio-video and theatrical systems designer for audio-video and acoustics consulting firms. Brad’s background also includes two years as lead audio-technician for LOVE by Cirque du Soleil where he became acquainted with Auerbach Pollock Friedlander’s work. He has also served as an assistant professor of audio engineering technology at Belmont University in Nashville and a project manager for Blitz Communications in London.
Barbara J. WohlsenBarbara joined Auerbach Pollock Friedlander’s New York office in 2015 as a technical designer. Her background includes extensive production management and technical production experience in opera, dance, theater, and classical music.
Prior to joining Auerbach Pollock Friedlander, Barbara served as the Director of Production for New York City Opera, both while at Lincoln Center and at a variety of venues across New York City. She has also held production management positions at the Miller Theatre at Columbia University and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Her technical experience comes primarily as a Master Electrician and includes six seasons with Glimmerglass Opera. She also served on the production staff at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College during the facility’s final construction and inaugural season. In addition to her performing arts experience, Barbara is also active in museum exhibition lighting design.
bwohlsen@auerbachconsultants.com
Pete O’NeilPete comes to Auerbach Pollock Friedlander with a strong background in large venue design and installation, as well as significant experience with operational support and system commissioning. He has led audiovisual teams on collaboration and presentation spaces for corporate and higher education clients. With over 10 years of experience supporting events ranging from University of Michigan and Miami Dolphins football home games to the Miami Grand Prix Formula One, Pete is well versed in the technology design process– from drawing board to final execution– that makes a facility a successful host.
His focus at APF will be on collaborating with the firm’s team of experts at the intersection of technology and architecture to give clients the flexible, scalable building systems that allow a facility to evolve while staying relevant and in demand. His portfolio includes new build and renovation projects for higher education and corporate campuses, offices, theaters, stadiums, and arenas, including scopes for sound, AV and broadcast infrastructure and systems.
In addition to his work on commissioning new builds, Pete has also led sound system re-tuning efforts at several major league facilities, including The San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Eagles, and Kansas City Royals. Pete brings international experience and will broaden the firm’s knowledge of drawing and construction standards in diverse markets to serve a global clientele. He received his Bachelors of Letters and Sciences in East-Asian History from the University of California-Berkeley; and completed the audio program at The California Recording Institute.
Laura joined Auerbach Pollock Friedlander in 2021 as a technical designer in the New York
office. She brings with her a strong background of architecture and theatre design from working on college productions. She provides the studio with support and proficiency in compute aided design programs.
Before joining Auerbach Pollock Friedlander, Laura interned and worked for architecture firms with a variety of projects where she dealt with all aspects of the design process in helping with site visits, construction documents and construction administration work.
During her education at Pennsylvania State University, Laura was able to study abroad in
Rome, Italy where she competed in the architecture competition Piranesi Prix de Rome as well as participate in an advanced architecture studio.