SWA Group
SWA Group is a 100% employee-owned landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm operating eight studios across the US and Shanghai. It serves universities, governments, healthcare systems, and developers through design competitions and long-term institutional engagements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersSausalito, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SWA Group does
SWA Group is a global landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm founded in 1973 and headquartered in Sausalito, California. It has operated as a 100% employee-owned company under an ESOP structure since inception, organized today as eight independent studios in the United States (Dallas, Houston, Laguna Beach, Los Angeles, New York/SWA-Balsley, San Francisco, Sausalito) and Shanghai, China. The firm is led by Co-CEOs Gerdo Aquino and David Thompson, with studio-level managing principals, and pursues enterprise field sales targeting institutional clients including universities, government entities, real estate developers, healthcare systems, and hospitality operators, with projects won through design competitions, RFPs, and long-standing client relationships.
The firm's core offering is fee-based professional services across landscape architecture, urban design, and master planning, with no distinct software products or branded product lines. Underlying design methodology centers on a published Climate Action Plan, Carbon Positive Design (used on projects such as World Trade Center Seoul, which projects 1,936 tons of atmospheric CO2 sequestration over 60 years), and applied techniques such as the Miyawaki Method for fast-growing urban forests. Marquee projects include Stanford University campus work spanning nearly 300 projects since 1980, California Academy of Sciences' 2.5-acre living roof with Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Halperin Park in Dallas, Hunter's Point South Park in New York, World Trade Center Seoul, Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh, and Walmart's 350-acre global headquarters in Arkansas.
Revenue is generated through negotiated project-based professional fees and is not publicly disclosed. Geographic footprint covers the US, China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Mexico, supported by an international ecosystem of architectural partners (Heatherwick Studio, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Tadao Ando, Perkins+Will, HKS, Steinberg Hart, Olson Kundig, Junglim Architecture, Seo-Ahn Landscape Architecture) and active participation in industry bodies such as ASLA and ULI.
SWA Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SWA Group
- Legal name
- SWA Group
- Website
- https://swagroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- SWA Group is a 100% employee-owned landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm operating eight studios across the US and Shanghai. It serves universities, governments, healthcare systems, and developers through design competitions and long-term institutional engagements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SWA Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Landscape Architecture and Urban Design Services
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Advisory (JVs, Alliances, Carve-outs) (BPAHAOAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)
Keywords
Where SWA Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sausalito
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
SWA Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Professional Services - Landscape Architecture: Fee-based professional services for landscape architecture, urban design, and planning projects. Revenue is generated through design fees, master planning engagements, and implementation services for institutional, civic, and commercial clients worldwide.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
SWA Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SWA Group is a global landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm that designs parks, plazas, waterfronts, campuses, and public-realm projects for institutional, civic, and commercial clients. The firm operates as eight independent studios across the US and China, delivering master plans, site design, and climate-resilient landscape interventions as fee-based professional services. It has been 100% employee-owned since 1973 and is led by Co-CEOs Gerdo Aquino and David Thompson.
Product overview
SWA Group is a global landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm operating as eight independent studios. Their core offering is professional design services organized by geography rather than product lines—each studio (Dallas, Houston, Laguna Beach, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Sausalito, Shanghai) provides landscape architecture, urban design, and planning services. Projects span parks and public spaces, waterfronts, campus planning, urban districts, and mixed-use developments. There are no distinct software products, modules, or branded product offerings—only service offerings in design and planning disciplines.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Landscape Architecture Services SWA Group's primary service offering, encompassing the design, planning, and implementation of outdoor spaces including parks, plazas, waterfronts, trail systems, and public-realm projects worldwide. Delivered to institutional, civic, healthcare, hospitality, and commercial clients through eight independent studios.
- Urban Design Services Strategic design services for urban districts, corridors, and city-scale planning that integrate density, mobility, and public-space frameworks. Includes projects such as Alief Neighborhood Center & Park and Halperin Park cap-park design.
- Planning Services Comprehensive planning services including campus master plans (e.g., Stanford, UC San Diego, Cal Poly), resilient city strategies, and long-term development frameworks for institutional and public-sector clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- Halperin Park projected to attract 2M+ annual visitors and generate $1B+ economic impact over 5 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SWA Group
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
SWA Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SWA Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.
- Korea International Trade Association (KITA)coreKITA selected SWA through an international design competition to lead the landscape architecture for World Trade Center Seoul's major public realm redesign. SWA will design a 36-acre urban forest and public spaces as the primary landscape architect for one of Asia's preeminent convention venues.
- Junglim ArchitecturecoreLocal architecture lead for the World Trade Center Seoul redevelopment project. Junglim Architecture is collaborating with SWA on the overall campus redesign including the public realm and urban forest.
- Seo-Ahn Landscape ArchitecturecoreLocal landscape architecture lead for World Trade Center Seoul project, working alongside SWA as the primary landscape architect for the 36-acre public realm redesign.
- Heatherwick StudioflagshipCommissioned as architect of a new exhibition hall façade at World Trade Center Seoul. Heatherwick Studio works in close collaboration with SWA and other teams on this landmark project targeting 2029 completion.
- Carbon Positive DesignsupportingSWA worked with Carbon Positive Design for initial carbon calculations on the World Trade Center Seoul project, which projects 1,936 tons of atmospheric CO2 sequestration over 60 years.
- Southern Gateway Public Green FoundationcoreLed public-private partnership for Halperin Park project in Dallas, collaborating with City of Dallas and Texas Department of Transportation to deliver the cap park spanning I-35E that reconnects the Oak Cliff community.
- Renzo Piano Building WorkshopflagshipSWA worked alongside Renzo Piano on the California Academy of Sciences redesign, leading site landscape architecture and designing the 2.5-acre living roof.
- Tadao AndoflagshipSWA provided site design extending Tadao Ando's formal language into the landscape for Universidad de Monterrey's Centro Roberto Garza Sada, completed in 2013.
- HKScoreDallas-based architectural firm leading the Halperin Park project alongside SWA. HKS and SWA collaborated as the design team for this major cap park reconnecting communities divided by highway construction.
- Steinberg HartcoreProject architect for Cal Poly Student Housing Program with SWA providing landscape architecture. The program features 4,100 beds across nine strategically positioned buildings.
- Olson KundigsupportingArchitecture firm for Center for Advanced Studies in Behavioral Sciences (CASBS) at Stanford, with SWA providing landscape architecture for the 1,700-square-foot facility completed in 2024.
- Perkins+WillcoreArchitecture firm for multiple SWA collaborations including UC San Diego Theatre District and Health Sciences Building, and Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SWA Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- James Corner Field Operations: New York-based landscape architecture and urban design firm known for the High Line and similar high-profile public realm projects. Directly comparable to SWA in scale, clientele (cities, developers, institutions), and design competition-driven business model.
- Sasaki Associates: Massachusetts-based planning, urban design, landscape architecture, and architecture firm with similar higher education and waterfront portfolios. Closely comparable in multidisciplinary design services and institutional client base.
- OLIN: Philadelphia-based landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm serving cultural, educational, and civic clients. Comparable in size, project scale, and award-winning portfolio focus.
- Hood Design Studio: Oakland-based landscape architecture and urban design practice. Comparable in West Coast civic and cultural project focus, though smaller in scale than SWA.
- LandDesign: Charlotte-based landscape architecture, civil engineering, and urban design firm. Directly comparable as a multi-office landscape architecture firm serving institutional, commercial, and public sector clients.
- MIG: Berkeley-based planning, design, and communications firm specializing in public engagement, parks, and civic projects. Comparable in California public realm work and multidisciplinary planning services.
Broad incumbents
- AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with a substantial landscape architecture and urban design practice. Competes on integrated capital project delivery and represents a much larger-scale, publicly listed incumbent.
- Stantec: Canadian-based global engineering, architecture, and environmental services firm with a landscape architecture practice. Represents a broader AEC incumbent that competes on bundled service delivery.
- HDR: Global architecture, engineering, and consulting firm with landscape architecture capabilities, particularly in healthcare and campus markets. Overlaps with SWA in healthcare system and institutional client work.
Emerging players
- West 8: Rotterdam-based international landscape architecture and urban design firm with a strong portfolio of waterfronts and public realm projects. Comparable in design competition wins and international civic project scope, though based in Europe.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SWA Group social profiles
Digital presenceSWA Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SWA Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
SWA Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SWA Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SWA Group
What does SWA Group do?
SWA Group is a global landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm that designs parks, plazas, waterfronts, campuses, and public-realm projects for institutional, civic, and commercial clients. The firm operates as eight independent studios across the US and China, delivering master plans, site design, and climate-resilient landscape interventions as fee-based professional services. It has been 100% employee-owned since 1973 and is led by Co-CEOs Gerdo Aquino and David Thompson.
Is SWA Group a public or private company?
SWA Group is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was SWA Group founded?
SWA Group was founded in 1973. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is SWA Group based?
SWA Group is headquartered in Sausalito, United States, in the North America region.
How does SWA Group make money?
One revenue line is on record: professional Services - Landscape Architecture.
Who are SWA Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are James Corner Field Operations, Sasaki Associates, OLIN, Hood Design Studio, LandDesign and MIG. Broad incumbents are AECOM, Stantec and HDR. West 8 is listed as an emerging player.
Does SWA Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for SWA Group.
What industry is SWA Group in?
SWA Group's product category is Landscape Architecture and Urban Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAOAG, Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Advisory (JVs, Alliances, Carve-outs), with a secondary code of BPAHACAK, Sustainability & ESG Consulting. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.