PWL Partnership Landscape Architects

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.

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

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

• Landscape architecture
• Urban design
• Master planning
• Waterfront design
• Ecological restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Named customers8 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

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MithuncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Led 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 AleckcoreOthersCharlene 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.
• DialogcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Re:Connect Visualizing the Viaducts competition with Dialog, Beasley & Associates, and Jim Green & Associates.
• Beasley & AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Re:Connect Visualizing the Viaducts competition submission.
• Jim Green & AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Re:Connect Visualizing the Viaducts competition submission.
• Modern Formline DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Sea2City Design Challenge, contributing cultural design expertise.
• MVRDVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Sea2City Design Challenge, bringing international design perspective.
• Happy CitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Sea2City Design Challenge, focusing on urban design aspects.
• Westmar AdvisorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Sea2City Design Challenge.
• GW Williams Associates Ltd.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Sea2City Design Challenge.
• GoudappelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Sea2City Design Challenge.
• ModusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Sea2City Design Challenge.
• Keystone EngineeringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering consultant for Miyíw̓ts Park project.
• Tetra TechminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering consultant for Miyíw̓ts Park project.
• BinnieminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering consultant for Miyíw̓ts Park project.
• AspectminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsultant for Miyíw̓ts Park project.
• FronterraminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsultant for Miyíw̓ts Park project.
• DMD ElectricalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerElectrical consultant for Miyíw̓ts Park project.
• WaterPlanItminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWater planning consultant for Miyíw̓ts Park project.
• VIA ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Southeast False Creek project.
• StanteccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Southeast False Creek project.
• Norm HotsoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Southeast False Creek project.
• Joyce DrohancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Southeast False Creek project.
• Envirowest Consultants Ltd.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEnvironmental consultant on Southeast False Creek project.
• Golder Assoc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting on Southeast False Creek project.
• Francl ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture collaborator on CBC Plaza project.
• MJMA + Acton OstrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture team for Vancouver Aquatic Centre project where PWL provided landscape design.
• Bill PechetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Wheaton Walk Through Time project at UBC.
• PUBLICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Wheaton Walk Through Time project.
• Catherine PocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Wheaton Walk Through Time project.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@pwlpartnership
• Facebookfacebook.com/pwlpartnership
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pwl-partnership-landscape-architects-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/pwlpartnership
• Xx.com/pwlpartnership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 PWL Partnership Landscape Architects