Word + Carr Design Group

What Word + Carr Design Group does

Word + Carr Design Group is a privately held, founder-owned landscape architecture firm headquartered at 2201 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas. Founded in 2002 by Mark Word as Mark Word Design and rebranded to its current name in 2018 after Sarah Carr became co-principal, the firm operates an integrated design/build/garden service model serving residential, hospitality, commercial, institutional, and public clients. The company employs approximately 20 staff spanning principals, licensed landscape architects (PLA), landscape designers, an in-house construction team, a garden services lead, a horticulturist, and a chief operating officer, chief management officer, and director of business development. Service offerings include masterplanning for multi-acre sites, detailed garden design, full in-house construction (masonry, hardscape, welding, gradework, drainage, irrigation, planting, treework), and recurring garden maintenance with curated potted plant specimens.

The firm monetizes through quote-based, project-priced design and build engagements plus a recurring garden service subscription line. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; contract structures span multi-year build engagements with direct principal-led client interaction. Geographic operations center on Austin, Texas for construction and garden service, while design work extends nationally (Houston, San Antonio, Lubbock, Fredericksburg, Kerrville, Taylor, Georgetown, Marfa, Nashville, NYC, Charleston, Atlanta, Albany, Wilmington) and internationally (Todos Santos, Mexico). Notable enterprise clients include Bunkhouse (Austin Motel since 2015), Hotel San Jose (since 2003), Hotel Saint Cecilia, Hotel San Cristobal, Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group, Lake|Flato, Overland Partners, Clayton Korte, Buck Mason, SpaceX, H.E. Butt Foundation, Austin Waldorf School, Southwestern University, and Urban Roots Farm. The firm has earned ASLA Awards of Excellence in Residential Design, multiple Texas ASLA Merit Awards, and editorial features in Architectural Digest, Vogue, Wall Street Journal Magazine, Garden & Gun, Dezeen, and Time Magazine.

Go-to-market is principally organic: direct client engagement, architecture-firm referrals (Lake|Flato, Overland Partners, Clayton Korte, Furman+Keil, Mell Lawrence, Alterstudio, Kelly Wearstler, Icon Build, among others), a portfolio website, an Instagram channel, and earned media. The company is privately held with no disclosed external investors, parent entity, subsidiaries, or funding rounds; Mark Word and Sarah Carr are the listed owners. As of March 2026 the firm is actively hiring a Landscape Architect/Project Manager plus Entry- and Mid-Level Landscape Designers, signaling continued capacity expansion of the design practice.

Name

Word + Carr Design Group

Legal name

Word + Carr Design Group

Website

https://wordandcarr.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Word + Carr Design Group is an Austin-based, founder-owned landscape architecture firm of approximately 20 staff offering integrated design, in-house construction, and recurring garden services to residential, hospitality, commercial, institutional, and public clients across the US and abroad.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Landscape Architecture Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Landscaping Services (561730)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), Operative Builders (1531)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Landscape Design (HSAIABAA), Landscape Design, Build & Installation (Hardscapes/Softscapes) (BPABADAF), Landscape Construction Project Management & General Contracting (HSAIABAK)

Keywords

• Landscape architecture design
• Design build construction
• Garden maintenance services
• Residential landscape design
• Hardscape installation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Landscape Architecture Design Services: Design services for residential, commercial, hospitality, institutional and public projects ranging from masterplanning multi-acre sites to detailing intimate private gardens.
2. Design/Build Construction: In-house construction team providing installation services for landscapes including masonry, hardscape, welding, gradework, drainage, irrigation, planting, and treework. Services offered primarily in Austin area.
3. Garden Service and Maintenance: Ongoing garden maintenance services including edits to existing gardens, customized care schedules, expert maintenance programs, and curated potted plant specimens for purchase or rental.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Word + Carr Design Group is an award-winning landscape architecture design/build/garden service firm offering three integrated service lines: Design (landscape architecture from masterplanning multi-acre sites to detailing intimate private gardens across residential, commercial, academic, public, and institutional projects), Build (in-house construction with skills in masonry, hardscape, welding, gradework, drainage, irrigation, planting, and treework), and Garden Service (ongoing garden maintenance, customized care schedules, expert maintenance programs, and curated potted plant specimens for purchase or rental).

Product overview

Word + Carr Design Group offers an integrated landscape architecture and design/build/garden service model. The company operates three interconnected service offerings: Design Services (landscape architecture from masterplanning to detailed garden design), Build Services (in-house construction team handling masonry, hardscape, drainage, irrigation, planting, and treework), and Garden Service (ongoing garden maintenance, care schedules, and plant specimen programs). This unified approach allows seamless project delivery from design through construction to ongoing maintenance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Texas ASLA Merit Award Winner for East Eleventh commercial project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AlterstudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural collaborator on residential projects including Pemberton Heights Residence. Long-standing working relationship in Austin design community.
• Lake | FlatocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading Austin architecture firm and frequent collaborator on residential and commercial projects including Barton Creek Backyard.
• Overland PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Antonio-based architecture firm collaborator on El Monumento project in Georgetown, Texas.
• Clayton KortecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural collaborator on Pinthouse Pizza and Historic Pearl projects. Multiple project relationship.
• BunkhousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustin-based development and hospitality company. Development & Interiors partner for Austin Motel project since 2015 with ongoing updates.
• Furman + Keil ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural collaborator on Cove House and Viking House projects.
• Kelly WearstlercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior Design collaborator on Viking House project, bringing high-profile hospitality design expertise.
• Dick Clark + AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm collaborator on Austin Residence project completed 2012.
• Carlos Jimenez StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm collaborator on Marfa Residence project completed 2004.
• Mell Lawrence ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm collaborator on Balcones House project which received ASLA Award of Excellence.
• Baldridge ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture collaborator on Floating Box Residence and Historic Pearl projects.
• Icon BuildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilder/technology partner for House Zero project, featuring 3D-printed home technology. House Zero featured in Dezeen and Time Magazine's Best Inventions 2022.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Page (Page Southerland Page): Large Texas-based architecture and landscape architecture firm with significant Austin presence. Comparable as a Texas-headquartered design firm with overlapping hospitality, institutional, and residential clients.

Direct peers

• Ten Eyck Landscape Architects: Austin, Texas-based landscape architecture studio of comparable size with a design/build studio model, recognized for residential and hospitality work. Closest direct geographic and service-line peer to Word + Carr.
• Reed Hilderbrand: National landscape architecture practice focused on residential estates, cultural institutions, and hospitality. Comparable in design-led, award-winning residential and hospitality portfolio.
• TBG Partners: Texas-headquartered landscape architecture firm with offices across the state, focused on community, commercial, and parks projects. Comparable in scale and Texas-centric service offering.
• Studio Outside: Texas-based (Dallas) landscape architecture and planning firm serving commercial, institutional, and public clients. Directly comparable in service mix and regional hospitality/cultural project portfolio.
• Design Workshop: National landscape architecture and urban design firm with offices across the U.S. Comparable in offering full-scope landscape architecture across residential, hospitality, and public sectors.
• Asakura Robinson: Austin-based design firm offering landscape architecture, planning, and urban design across Texas. Comparable in scale, Texas footprint, and integrated design approach.
• Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture: Boutique, award-winning landscape architecture studio specializing in residential and institutional gardens. Comparable in studio size, residential focus, and ASLA-recognized design quality.

Broad incumbents

• SWA Group: One of the largest global landscape architecture and urban design practices. Comparable in core service line but operates at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• OLIN: Internationally recognized landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm. Comparable in high-end residential, hospitality, and public realm work; broader portfolio and larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/wordandcarr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/word-carr-design-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

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 Word + Carr Design Group