RDG Planning & Design

What RDG Planning & Design does

RDG Planning & Design is a privately held, interdisciplinary architecture and planning firm founded in 1963 and headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. The firm delivers professional design services across eight integrated disciplines: architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, urban planning, civil engineering and water resources, lighting design, experiential design, and FF&E procurement. These services are applied across seventeen market verticals spanning higher education, K-12 and early childhood education, healthcare, senior living, sports and recreation, community and regional planning, parks and open space, urban design, multifamily, public art, public safety, restoration, science and technology, commercial, and worship.

RDG's operating model is project-based and relationship-driven, with revenue generated through professional service fees structured around project scope, complexity, and duration. The firm is procured through a combination of competitive bidding on public-sector RFPs, qualifications-based selection by institutional clients, and long-term negotiated engagements with private-sector clients. Geographic concentration is in the U.S. Midwest, with active project delivery extending into the Southeast, Southwest, Mountain West, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions. The firm employs 101-250 staff, holds a 2026 Architectural Record Top 300 ranking, and serves named institutional and municipal clients including multiple Big Ten and state university systems, the Cities of Wichita, St. Joseph, La Crosse, Marion, Dubuque, and Duluth, and senior living operators such as Shell Point Retirement Community.

The firm pursues growth through a mix of geographic expansion (e.g., a new Madison, Wisconsin office), tuck-in acquisitions (2018 acquisition of Walker Coen Lorentzen Architects), and joint-venture partnerships on large-scale pursuits (University of Kentucky Johnson Center with RossTarrant Architects, University of Michigan recreation center with Integrated Design Solutions). No funding rounds, no public listing, and no AI/ML product capabilities are disclosed.

Name

RDG Planning & Design

Legal name

RDG Planning & Design

Website

https://rdgusa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

RDG Planning & Design is a privately held, interdisciplinary architecture and planning firm founded in 1963 and headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, delivering integrated architecture, landscape, interior, planning, engineering, and lighting design services to institutional, municipal, healthcare, senior living, and education clients primarily across the U.S. Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture and Planning Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO), Space Planning & Workplace Design (BPAHAKAI)

Keywords

• Architecture and planning
• Landscape architecture services
• Interior design services
• Urban planning consulting
• Lighting design services

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Design Services: RDG Planning & Design generates revenue through project-based professional service fees for architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, urban planning, civil engineering, lighting design, and experiential design services. Projects span across multiple markets including education, healthcare, sports, senior living, and community planning, with fees structured based on project scope, complexity, and duration.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

RDG Planning & Design is an interdisciplinary design and planning firm that sells professional design services across architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, urban planning, civil engineering & water resources, lighting design, experiential design, and FF&E services. The firm delivers integrated, community-focused design solutions for institutional clients including universities, healthcare systems, senior living providers, school districts, and municipal governments. Engagements span strategic master planning through construction administration, executed under project-based professional service fee contracts.

Product overview

RDG Planning & Design is a relationship-focused interdisciplinary design and planning firm offering a comprehensive suite of professional services. The core service portfolio includes Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, Urban Planning, Civil Engineering & Water Resources, Lighting Design, Experiential Design, and FF&E Services. These services are applied across diverse market sectors including College & University, Healthcare, Senior Living, Sports, Education, Community & Regional Planning, Parks & Open Space, Urban Design, Commercial, Multifamily, Public Art, Public Safety, Restoration, Science + Technology, Senior Living Interiors, and Worship. The firm operates as a professional services company rather than a software product company, delivering tangible design and planning deliverables to clients in the architecture and urban planning industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture
• Landscape Architecture Landscape architecture services that integrate built and natural environments for parks, streetscapes, campuses, and public spaces, delivered as one of RDG's core design disciplines.
• Interior Design Interior design services for commercial, educational, healthcare, and residential spaces with a focus on functionality and aesthetics, including a specialized senior living interiors practice.
• Urban Planning Strategic community planning services including comprehensive plans, downtown plans, housing studies, and regional planning for municipalities and planning departments.
• Civil Engineering & Water Resources Civil engineering services including stormwater management, water resources, and site infrastructure design that support site development and landscape projects.
• Lighting Design Architectural lighting design services for interior and exterior environments, focused on ambiance, energy efficiency, and code compliance.
• Experiential Design Experiential and immersive design services for public spaces and attractions, creating engaging environments for visitors and users.
• FF&E Services Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E) selection and procurement services for interior projects, completing RDG's design-to-delivery offering.

Quantifiable outcome

• Projects recognized with multiple ASLA awards (Merit Awards, Honor Awards) across Central States, Nebraska Dakotas, and Iowa chapters
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RossTarrant ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRDG collaborated with RossTarrant Architects on the University of Kentucky Johnson Center Expansion & Renovation project, a $115 million public-private partnership to transform South Campus. RossTarrant served as the lead architectural partner while RDG contributed their expertise to this comprehensive campus recreation facility project.
• Integrated Design SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRDG worked with Integrated Design Solutions as a collaborative design partner on the University of Michigan Hadley Family Recreation and Well-Being Center project, a 220,000 SF facility designed to serve as a vibrant hub for recreation and engagement.
• ETIminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerETI was a project partner in the development of the City of Kearney SportsPlex, a 209,000-SF indoor sports complex. ETI contributed to this major sports facility project in Nebraska.
• MCL ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMCL Construction served as construction partner for the City of Kearney SportsPlex project, working alongside RDG Planning & Design on this significant indoor sports facility.
• Miller and AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMiller and Associates provided professional services as part of the project team for the Kearney SportsPlex indoor sports complex development.
• TD2minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTD2 was a project partner on the Kearney SportsPlex development. TD2 also provided structural engineering for the Brewster Place senior living renovation project.
• Wegman Design GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWegman Design Group collaborated with RDG on the Shell Point Larsen Health Center project, working together as part of the project development team for this $78 million healthcare facility.
• The Weitz CompanycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe Weitz Company handled construction activities as the construction manager for the Shell Point Larsen Health Center project, collaborating with RDG Planning & Design on this approximately 200,000-SF healthcare facility.
• Johnson EngineeringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJohnson Engineering was part of the project team for the Shell Point Larsen Health Center, providing engineering services for this comprehensive healthcare facility project.
• Stantec Consulting ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStantec Consulting Services provided consulting services as part of the Shell Point Larsen Health Center project team, collaborating with RDG on this major senior living healthcare project.
• Fiber SolutionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFiber Solutions was part of the collaborative project team for the Shell Point Larsen Health Center, providing specialized services for this LEED Gold targeted healthcare facility.
• Morrissey EngineeringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMorrissey Engineering provided mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering for the Brewster Place senior living project. They also collaborated with RDG on lighting improvements for the Immanuel Lakeside chapel project.
• Simpson Construction ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSimpson Construction Services partnered with RDG Planning & Design to renovate and expand the Brewster Place senior living community in Topeka, Kansas, executing a comprehensive renovation and addition project.
• Rinderknecht AssociatescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRinderknecht Associates served as construction manager for the Marion Central Plaza project, working alongside RDG Planning & Design's design leadership on this $8.35 million urban design project.
• Latino Economic Development CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRDG worked closely with the Latino Economic Development Council on the La Plaza de la Raza project in South Omaha, a $25 million-plus public investment creating a community gathering space in partnership with this local economic development organization.
• Canopy SouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanopy South, a South Omaha-focused nonprofit, collaborated with RDG on the La Plaza de la Raza urban park space planning, helping shape the vision for this transformational community project.
• Historic Arnolds Park, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRDG's Art Studio contributed technical restoration work to the Gray Moon Public Market project, including replicating original façade and decorative terra cotta pieces for this historic building rehabilitation.
• Dubuque Racing AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRDG partnered with the Dubuque Racing Association, Greater Dubuque, Dubuque Initiatives, and the City of Dubuque to create a conceptual plan for a proposed youth sports complex on Schmitt Island, part of a broader vision for regional economic development through sports tourism.
• Greater DubuquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreater Dubuque collaborated with RDG on youth sports complex planning, working together on conceptual designs for a destination sports facility intended to draw visitors and support regional economic growth.
• Dubuque InitiativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDubuque Initiatives partnered with RDG on the youth sports complex planning initiative, contributing to the conceptual vision for Schmitt Island development.
• City of DubuquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Dubuque worked with RDG Planning & Design on the youth sports complex conceptual planning, with the project envisioned as part of the city's long-term economic strategy and community development goals.
• City of DuluthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRDG partnered with the City of Duluth to lead planning, engagement, and design vision for the Athletic Venues Reinvestment Initiative (AVRI), a multi-year, city-led movement to establish Duluth as a regional hub for sports and recreation with up to $36 million in voter-approved tourism tax funding.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DLR Group: Integrated design firm with architecture, interior design, and engineering practices serving education, healthcare, sports, and government clients across the U.S., with strong Midwest roots comparable to RDG's profile.
• CannonDesign: Interdisciplinary architecture, engineering, and design firm with deep higher education, healthcare, and sports practices, overlapping closely with RDG's service portfolio and target segments.
• SmithGroup: Integrated design firm combining architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and planning, with comparable market mix in higher education, healthcare, and urban design.
• LEO A DALY: Privately held architecture, planning, engineering, and interior design firm headquartered in Omaha, with a Midwest base and institutional/government client mix that closely mirrors RDG's footprint.
• Wight & Company: Midwest-based integrated design firm providing architecture, civil engineering, and planning services with a comparable regional institutional client base.
• Legat Architects: Midwest architecture and planning firm with education, healthcare, and senior living practices, comparable in scale, regional footprint, and target client profile.

Broad incumbents

• Perkins&Will: Global architecture and design firm with strong higher education, healthcare, and science & technology practices, competing with RDG for institutional clients while serving a broader geography.
• HOK: Global design, architecture, engineering, and planning firm with a major sports and education practice, competing for the same large institutional RFPs RDG pursues.
• HKS: National architecture and planning firm notable for sports, healthcare, and higher education work, frequently competing against RDG on collegiate athletic and recreation projects.

Regional players

• Engberg Anderson: Milwaukee-based architecture, planning, and interior design firm focused on healthcare, education, and senior living in the Upper Midwest, with overlapping target markets to RDG.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rdgusa
• Facebookfacebook.com/rdgplanningdesign

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&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RDG Planning & Design