PWL Partnership Landscape Architects
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects is a Vancouver-based landscape architecture, urban design, and site planning firm serving governments, Indigenous nations, developers, and institutions across Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1976, the 40-person partnership specializes in climate adaptation, waterfronts, and Indigenous-led cultural landscapes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersVancouver, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What PWL Partnership Landscape Architects does
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc. is a Vancouver-based professional services firm providing landscape architecture, urban design, and site planning across Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1976 by Jeff Philips, the firm is currently led by four partners — Margot Long, Grant Brumpton, Derek Lee, and Katya Yushmanova — and employs over 40 people as of its 50th year in 2026. Its service portfolio is organized around seven practice areas: climate adaptation and blue-green systems; waterfronts and resilient shorelines; public realm, mobility, and accessibility; parks, open space, and play environments; housing and community-led development; Indigenous partnerships and cultural landscapes; and master planning, urban design, and visioning. Clients span municipal and federal government (City of Vancouver, Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, District of Squamish), educational institutions (University of British Columbia), media enterprises (CBC), and real estate developers (Concord Developments, Bosa Properties).
The firm's work is differentiated by deep expertise in ecological restoration, nature-based solutions, and Indigenous-led design, with marquee projects including Southeast False Creek (one of the first LEED Platinum neighborhoods in North America), the Sea2City Design Challenge (engaging 160,000 social media reach and 2,000+ community participants), Miyíw̓ts Park in Squamish, and UBC's Wheaton Walk Through Time. PWL operates as a partnership on project-based consulting engagements, secured through direct client relationships, competitive proposals, and an extensive interdisciplinary collaborator network. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the firm is privately held with no parent company, private equity, or venture funding. Recognition includes a 2025 ASLA Honor Award, multiple CSLA National Awards (2009, 2024, 2026), a 2010 UN Environment Program Livable Communities award, and a 2026 CSLA Lifetime Achievement Award for founding partner Margot Long.
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PWL Partnership Landscape Architects
- Legal name
- PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc
- Website
- https://pwlpartnership.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PWL Partnership Landscape Architects is a Vancouver-based landscape architecture, urban design, and site planning firm serving governments, Indigenous nations, developers, and institutions across Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1976, the 40-person partnership specializes in climate adaptation, waterfronts, and Indigenous-led cultural landscapes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Landscape Architecture Services
- NAICS
- Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Landscape Architectural Services (541320)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO), Urban Flood Resilience & Adaptation Planning (Climate, Nature-Based Solutions) (EUANAEAJ), Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD), Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL)
Keywords
Where PWL Partnership Landscape Architects is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vancouver
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Professional Services: Landscape architecture and urban design consulting services for public and private sector clients, including master planning, site design, and construction administration
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PWL Partnership is a collaborative studio of landscape architects, urban designers, and site planners providing professional landscape architecture services across Canada and the Pacific Northwest. The firm designs landscapes including waterfronts, parks, housing communities, campuses, and civic spaces that support communities, restore ecological systems, and help cities adapt to a changing climate. Core offerings span master planning, urban design, climate adaptation and blue-green systems, waterfronts and resilient shorelines, public realm and mobility design, parks and open space, housing and community-led development, and Indigenous partnerships.
Product overview
PWL Partnership is a collaborative studio of landscape architects, urban designers, and site planners working across Canada and the Pacific Northwest. The firm offers a unified suite of landscape architecture services rather than a software product. Their core offerings include climate adaptation and blue-green systems, waterfronts and resilient shorelines, public realm and mobility design, parks and open space planning, housing and community-led development, Indigenous partnerships and cultural landscapes, and master planning and urban design visioning. Projects range from waterfronts and parks to housing communities, campuses, and civic spaces—each shaped by the unique character of place.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Climate Adaptation & Blue-Green Systems Designing landscapes that manage water, restore ecological systems, and respond to climate change. Service offered to government agencies, municipalities, and developers seeking resilient infrastructure.
- Waterfronts & Resilient Shorelines Shaping waterfronts that reconnect people to water while responding to dynamic environmental conditions. Service offered to municipalities and developers with waterfront projects.
- Public Realm, Mobility & Accessibility Designing streets, plazas, and civic spaces that support movement, gathering, and inclusive access. Service offered to government agencies and institutions.
- Parks, Open Space & Play Environments Creating parks and open space systems that support recreation, biodiversity, and everyday use. Service offered to municipalities, boards of parks and recreation, and developers.
- Housing & Community-Led Development Shaping outdoor environments that support health, belonging, and multi-generational living. Service offered to residential developers, Indigenous communities, and municipalities.
- Indigenous Partnerships & Cultural Landscapes Working alongside Indigenous clients and partners to support cultural expression, stewardship, and connection to land, grounded in collaboration and long-term relationships. Service offered to Indigenous nations and communities.
- Master Planning, Urban Design & Visioning Guiding long-term change through integrated planning and urban design frameworks, supported by early-stage visioning and collaborative processes. Service offered to municipalities, institutions, and developers.
Quantifiable outcome
- One of the first LEED Platinum neighbourhoods in North America (Southeast False Creek)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use PWL Partnership Landscape Architects
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MithuncoreLed the Sea2City Design Challenge alongside Mithun. The two distinct teams collaborated through an innovative year-long collaborative and iterative process, converging to synthesize ideas and then diverging to individually craft materials and reports tailored for unique sites and diverse audiences.
- Charlene AleckcoreCharlene Aleck from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation served as the project's Indigenous Knowledge Holder, guiding the team through a renewed approach to sea level rise rooted in respect and reciprocity with the lands and waters.
- DialogcoreCollaborated on the Re:Connect Visualizing the Viaducts competition with Dialog, Beasley & Associates, and Jim Green & Associates.
- Beasley & AssociatesminorCollaborated on the Re:Connect Visualizing the Viaducts competition submission.
- Jim Green & AssociatesminorCollaborated on the Re:Connect Visualizing the Viaducts competition submission.
- Modern Formline DesigncoreCollaborator on Sea2City Design Challenge, contributing cultural design expertise.
- MVRDVcoreCollaborator on Sea2City Design Challenge, bringing international design perspective.
- Happy CitiesminorCollaborator on Sea2City Design Challenge, focusing on urban design aspects.
- Westmar AdvisorsminorCollaborator on Sea2City Design Challenge.
- GW Williams Associates Ltd.minorCollaborator on Sea2City Design Challenge.
- GoudappelminorCollaborator on Sea2City Design Challenge.
- ModusminorCollaborator on Sea2City Design Challenge.
- Keystone EngineeringminorEngineering consultant for Miyíw̓ts Park project.
- Tetra TechminorEngineering consultant for Miyíw̓ts Park project.
- BinnieminorEngineering consultant for Miyíw̓ts Park project.
- AspectminorConsultant for Miyíw̓ts Park project.
- FronterraminorConsultant for Miyíw̓ts Park project.
- DMD ElectricalminorElectrical consultant for Miyíw̓ts Park project.
- WaterPlanItminorWater planning consultant for Miyíw̓ts Park project.
- VIA ArchitecturecoreCollaborator on Southeast False Creek project.
- StanteccoreCollaborator on Southeast False Creek project.
- Norm HotsoncoreCollaborator on Southeast False Creek project.
- Joyce DrohancoreCollaborator on Southeast False Creek project.
- Envirowest Consultants Ltd.minorEnvironmental consultant on Southeast False Creek project.
- Golder Assoc.minorConsulting on Southeast False Creek project.
- Francl ArchitecturecoreArchitecture collaborator on CBC Plaza project.
- MJMA + Acton OstrycoreArchitecture team for Vancouver Aquatic Centre project where PWL provided landscape design.
- Bill PechetcoreCollaborator on Wheaton Walk Through Time project at UBC.
- PUBLICcoreCollaborator on Wheaton Walk Through Time project.
- Catherine PocoreCollaborator on Wheaton Walk Through Time project.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- OLIN: Premium landscape architecture and urban design studio known for waterfronts, parks, and cultural landscapes; competes for similar high-profile public-realm commissions.
- Walker Macy: Portland-based landscape architecture firm with a comparable Pacific Northwest focus on waterfronts, parks, and master planning for public-sector clients.
- James Corner Field Operations: Landscape architecture and urban design studio with award-winning waterfront and public-realm projects; comparable positioning as a premium, design-led practice.
- PFS Studio: Vancouver-based landscape architecture and urban design practice with a comparable project mix across waterfronts, parks, and civic spaces in the Pacific Northwest.
- MIG (Moore Iacofano Goltsman): Planning and design consultancy with strong Pacific Northwest presence; competes for public-realm, parks, and community engagement commissions similar to PWL's portfolio.
- Hapa Collaborative: Vancouver-based landscape architecture and Indigenous-led planning studio focused on cultural landscapes, public realm, and community-engaged design overlapping with PWL's service lines.
Broad incumbents
- Sasaki: International design practice spanning landscape architecture, urban planning, and master planning; overlaps with PWL on large-scale civic and waterfront master plans.
- SWA Group: Internationally recognised landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm with comparable waterfront and master planning practice, but at significantly larger scale and broader geography.
- Stantec: Global engineering and design firm with a substantial landscape architecture practice; competes on large-scale municipal and waterfront master plans in the Pacific Northwest.
- WSP: Large professional services firm with landscape architecture capability; competes with PWL for major public-sector master planning and infrastructure-adjacent commissions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects social profiles
Digital presencePWL Partnership Landscape Architects financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects 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 PWL Partnership Landscape Architects
What does PWL Partnership Landscape Architects do?
PWL Partnership is a collaborative studio of landscape architects, urban designers, and site planners providing professional landscape architecture services across Canada and the Pacific Northwest. The firm designs landscapes including waterfronts, parks, housing communities, campuses, and civic spaces that support communities, restore ecological systems, and help cities adapt to a changing climate. Core offerings span master planning, urban design, climate adaptation and blue-green systems, waterfronts and resilient shorelines, public realm and mobility design, parks and open space, housing and community-led development, and Indigenous partnerships.
Is PWL Partnership Landscape Architects a public or private company?
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was PWL Partnership Landscape Architects founded?
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects was founded in 1976. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is PWL Partnership Landscape Architects based?
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, in the North America region.
How does PWL Partnership Landscape Architects make money?
One revenue line is on record: professional Services.
Who are PWL Partnership Landscape Architects's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are OLIN, Walker Macy, James Corner Field Operations, PFS Studio, MIG (Moore Iacofano Goltsman) and Hapa Collaborative. Broad incumbents are Sasaki, SWA Group, Stantec and WSP.
Does PWL Partnership Landscape Architects have an API?
No public API is recorded for PWL Partnership Landscape Architects.
What industry is PWL Partnership Landscape Architects in?
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects's product category is Landscape Architecture Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAD, Urban Planning & Master Planning, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAO, Community Engagement & Participatory Planning. Its NAICS code is 54132.