Confluence

What Confluence does

Confluence is a privately-held professional services firm specializing in landscape architecture, planning, and urban design for government, municipal, educational, and private developer clients across the US Midwest. Founded in 2003 in Des Moines, Iowa, the firm operates from nine offices spanning Des Moines, Kansas City, Sioux Falls, Cedar Rapids, Minneapolis, Omaha, Fargo, Chicago, and Denver, with a wholly-owned Denver subsidiary, studioINSITE, acquired from a previous platform. Headcount is reported at 101-250 professionals, delivering fee-for-service consulting work scoped per project via municipal procurement and direct client engagement; pricing and revenue are not publicly disclosed.

The firm's service portfolio centers on three core offerings — Landscape Architecture, Planning, and Urban Design — and is operationalized through named service approaches including Creative Collaboration, Authentic Placemaking, Connecting Communities, Sustainable Strategies, and Integrated Design. Specialized capabilities include a Digital Studio delivering 3D modeling, renderings, animations, photomatches, VR, and FAA-licensed drone piloting; ecological restoration services via a Native Plant Project; and project-type expertise spanning corridor and streetscape design, parks and open space planning, transit and transportation planning, waterfront development, master planning, and mixed-use development. The technology stack is human-led creative and visualization tooling rather than software products, and the firm holds no patents or proprietary AI/ML assets.

Revenue mechanics are project-based professional services fees, with government and municipal clients typically engaged through RFP and procurement processes, often executed under multi-year contract cycles. Repeat engagements with municipal clients (Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board covering 65+ parks across 40% of the system, Mid-America Regional Council, City of Lansing KS, City of Merriam KS, Iowa Department of Transportation) and marquee cultural project commissions (Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library as Landscape Architect of Record alongside Snøhetta) anchor a mix weighted toward government and education segments, with private developer activity in mixed-use, corporate campus, and corridor work as a secondary stream. The firm pursues high-bar sustainability credentials (LEED Platinum, SITES Platinum, Living Building Certification, Greenroads) across its project portfolio.

Name

Confluence

Legal name

Confluence

Website

https://thinkconfluence.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Confluence is a privately-held landscape architecture, planning, and urban design firm serving US Midwest municipalities, governmental agencies, educational institutions, and private developers across nine offices from Des Moines to Denver.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Landscape Architecture: Fee-for-service professional consulting for landscape architecture projects including design, planning, and implementation services for public and private sector clients.
2. Urban Planning Services: Comprehensive planning services including community engagement, comprehensive plans, corridor studies, and strategic planning for municipalities and developers.
3. Urban Design Services: Urban design services guiding cities and urban districts through placemaking and public space design.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Confluence is a professional services firm providing landscape architecture, urban planning, and urban design services to public and private sector clients. The firm delivers site analysis, master planning, corridor and streetscape design, parks and trails planning, transit planning, waterfront redevelopment, and campus district planning. It complements these core services with an in-house Digital Studio for 3D visualization, virtual reality, and drone-based documentation, plus native plant propagation and sustainable design expertise targeting LEED Platinum, SITES Platinum, and Living Building Certification outcomes.

Product overview

Confluence is a professional services firm offering landscape architecture, planning, and urban design services through a portfolio of interconnected service lines. Core services include Landscape Architecture, Planning, and Urban Design, delivered through collaborative approaches such as Creative Collaboration, Authentic Placemaking, Connecting Communities, Sustainable Strategies, and Integrated Design. The firm also operates a Digital Studio providing 3D visualization, virtual reality, and drone services. Specialized offerings span transit and transportation planning, corridor and streetscape design, parks and open space planning, waterfront development, master planning, and mixed-use development. Projects are executed across multiple U.S. offices serving municipalities, governmental agencies, community associations, and private developers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Landscape Architecture Analysis, design, planning, management, and stewardship of both the natural and built environment, encompassing site-specific landscape interventions for public and private sector clients.
• Planning Comprehensive planning integrating innovative data analysis, meaningful community engagement, and conceptual illustrations, digital models, and virtual tools to help communities explore future growth and development scenarios.
• Urban Design Artfully guides cities and urban districts by giving form to the arrangement of proposed public spaces, buildings, amenities, and supportive infrastructure while crafting desired aesthetic character through placemaking.
• Digital Studio Digital visualization services including 3D modeling, renderings, animations, photomatches, virtual reality, and FAA-licensed drone piloting to support project visualization and stakeholder engagement.
• Native Plant Project Services Ecological restoration services including locally adapted seed collection, native prairie restoration, native plant propagation, and soil system conservation integrated with landscape architecture projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• $2 billion+ in related economic development activity generated by Downtown Streetcar Starterline project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, strategic and minor.

• SnøhettaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 July 2026Snøhetta serves as lead Design Architect and Design Landscape Architect for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library project. Confluence serves as Landscape Architect of Record working closely with Snøhetta on this landmark 90-acre project pursuing LEED Platinum, SITES Platinum, and Living Building Certification.
• JLG ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 July 2026JLG serves as Architect of Record for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library project, collaborating with Confluence as Landscape Architect of Record.
• JE Dunn ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 4 July 2026JE Dunn serves as Construction Manager for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library project.
• North Dakota State University Research Extension CenterstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 July 2026Partnered with NDSU Research Extension Center in Hettinger to develop locally adapted seed collection and native plant propagation for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library's Native Plant Project.
• Olsson AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the North Oak Corridor Transit Study with Confluence leading community planning and ridership analysis.
• Burns & McDonnellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration on multiple infrastructure projects including Mississippi River Bridge Replacement (as bridge engineer and project lead) and Burlington Corridor Complete Street Plan.
• Burns & McDonnellcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBridge Engineer and Project Lead for Mississippi River Bridge Replacement (Blackhawk Bridge) aesthetic enhancements.
• Burns + McDonnellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Burlington Corridor Complete Street Plan in North Kansas City.
• HDRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on Downtown Streetcar Starterline Station + Streetcape Design project in Kansas City.
• WSP USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering partner for Armour Road Corridor Complete Street project in North Kansas City.
• WSP USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on Independence Avenue Corridor BRT Study with Confluence developing innovative analysis and mapping tools.
• BBN ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBN Architects provided structure design for Parkville Farmers Market project.
• Foth Infrastructure & EnvironmentalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineer of Record for University Avenue Corridor project connecting Cedar Falls and Waterloo, Iowa.
• Mead & HuntstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Watertown Regional Airport project awarded AIA South Dakota Honor Award.
• ZGF ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on 16th Street Mall Urban Design Plan in Denver, working with Downtown Denver Business Improvement District and other stakeholders.
• Felsburg Holt & UllevigcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Phase II of 16th Street Mall Redevelopment exploring specific revitalization options.
• East-West GatewaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with City of Fairview Heights and East-W Gateway on Lincoln Trail Great Streets Plan.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SWA Group: Internationally recognized landscape architecture, planning, and urban design firm with deep experience in parks, waterfronts, campuses, and corridors. Direct peer in both service mix and project type (corridor master plans, parks master plans, downtown revitalization).
• LandDesign: Multi-office landscape architecture, planning, and urban design firm of comparable size (200+ staff) with strong civic, campus, and streetscape practice. Highly comparable in scope, deliverable mix, and client mix (municipal + private developer).
• Hoerr Schaudt: Chicago-based landscape architecture practice with strong Midwest civic, park, and campus portfolio. Overlaps with Confluence in regional urban design, parks planning, and corridor/streetscape work across the Midwest.
• James Corner Field Operations: High-profile landscape architecture and urban design firm known for signature public realm projects (High Line, etc.). Comparable to Confluence in urban design, waterfront development, and placemaking services for civic and institutional clients.
• Sasaki Associates: Planning, urban design, and landscape architecture practice with a strong portfolio of master plans, campus work, and downtown/mixed-use projects. Direct overlap with Confluence in comprehensive planning, master planning, and urban design for civic and educational clients.
• OLIN Partnership: National landscape architecture, planning, and urban design firm of comparable scale with similar integrated service offerings (planning, urban design, landscape architecture). Like Confluence, OLIN has won prestigious institutional, civic, and waterfront projects and pursues sustainability credentials (SITES) — making it a close direct peer.
• Design Workshop: Landscape architecture and planning firm with park, resort, and community planning expertise. Direct peer in parks master planning, environmental design, and resort/community-scale development work.
• Reed Hilderbrand: Landscape architecture and planning firm with strong campus, institutional, and urban design portfolio. Overlaps with Confluence in campus master planning and urban design execution for institutional clients.
• BNIM: Kansas City-based architecture, planning, and landscape design firm with strong sustainability credentials (LEED, SITES, Living Building). Shared Kansas City roots, similar Midwest reach, and explicit overlap on sustainability-driven planning and design work.

Broad incumbents

• Wight & Company: Midwest-based integrated architecture, engineering, and planning firm with broader scope than Confluence. Comparable as a Midwest design partner for civic and institutional clients, though with deeper AEC bench — illustrating both partnership opportunities and competitive overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ThinkConfluence
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thinkconfluence
• Instagraminstagram.com/thinkconfluence
• Xx.com/thinkConfluence

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Confluence