MNLA
MNLA is a New York-based landscape architecture firm designing urban parks, waterfronts, coastal resilience infrastructure, and campuses for NYC government agencies, real estate developers, universities, and cultural organizations through project-based professional services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What MNLA does
MNLA (legal name Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects, P.C.) is a New York City-based professional services firm practicing landscape architecture, master planning, urban design, coastal resilience infrastructure, and sustainable planting design. Founded in 1993 by Signe Nielsen and operating from 120 Broadway in Lower Manhattan, the firm delivers B2B design services from schematic concept through construction administration for a client mix spanning NYC government agencies (DDC, EDC, Parks), real estate developers (Vornado Realty Trust, TF Cornerstone), educational institutions (Yale, Rockefeller, Haverford), and cultural and nonprofit organizations (Hudson River Park). Headcount sits in the 11–50 range, and ownership is private, female-majority, and WBE-certified.
The firm's core output is professional design services rather than a software or technology product. Its technical differentiator is the integration of FEMA-certified flood protection infrastructure with award-winning public realm landscapes—most visibly on the East Side Coastal Resiliency project (a 2.4-mile, six-park corridor protecting 110,000+ Lower Manhattan residents) and Little Island (a 2.4-acre maritime botanic garden in the Hudson River built from 132 precast concrete pots). Other signature commissions include Plaza33 and the $65 million Penn District repositioning, the Pier 42 Master Plan, the Yale Upper Science Hill Development, and the Erie Canal Harbor (Canalside). The firm has accumulated more than 20 industry recognitions across ASLA-NY, MAS, ACEC, ULI, AIANY, and ENR.
Revenue is generated entirely through project-based professional services fees tied to scope, complexity, and phase. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and the firm does not maintain tiered rate cards or recurring SaaS-style contracts. Acquisitions flow through competitive procurement for public work and direct commission or team-with-architecture-firm arrangements for private clients. Backed by an annually refreshed award portfolio and entrenched NYC public-sector relationships, MNLA runs as a single unified design practice rather than a multi-product platform.
MNLA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MNLA
- Legal name
- Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects, P.C.
- Website
- https://mnlandscape.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- MNLA is a New York-based landscape architecture firm designing urban parks, waterfronts, coastal resilience infrastructure, and campuses for NYC government agencies, real estate developers, universities, and cultural organizations through project-based professional services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MNLA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Landscape Architecture Services
- NAICS
- Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Landscape Architectural Services (541320)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)
Keywords
Where MNLA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
MNLA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Landscape Architecture Services: MNLA generates revenue through professional services fees for landscape architecture, master planning, and urban design engagements on major public and private projects. Revenue is project-based, driven by scope, complexity, and phase of work from schematic design through construction administration.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
MNLA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MNLA (Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects, P.C.) is a New York-based landscape architecture firm that provides comprehensive professional design services including landscape architecture, master planning, urban design, coastal resilience, waterfront and public park design, and campus planning. The firm earns project-based professional services fees serving government agencies, real estate developers, educational institutions, and cultural/nonprofit organizations across the New York metropolitan area and selected US regions.
Product overview
MNLA (Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects, P.C.) is a New York-based landscape architecture firm providing comprehensive design services rather than a software product company. The firm's offerings center on landscape architecture, master planning, and urban design across diverse sectors including parks and open spaces, waterfront development, coastal resilience infrastructure, campus planning, and public realm improvements. MNLA's portfolio includes signature projects such as Little Island (a maritime botanic garden in the Hudson River), the East Side Coastal Resiliency initiative (a 2.4-mile climate adaptation corridor), Plaza33 (urban plaza design), and various campus and institutional projects. The firm operates as a single unified design practice rather than a platform with modular products, delivering services from initial concept through construction administration for public, institutional, and private clients.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Landscape Architecture Services Comprehensive landscape architecture and urban design services encompassing master planning, site design, waterfront development, coastal resilience, campus planning, and public space design for institutional, municipal, and private clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- Flood protection for 110,000+ Lower East Side residents through FEMA-certified infrastructure integrated with 2.4 miles of public parkland
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use MNLA
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
MNLA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
MNLA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.
- Landscape Architecture FoundationminorMNLA was awarded a $25,000 research grant (the Deb Mitchell Research Grant) from LAF for the project 'Ethically Sourcing: Specifying Forced-Labor Free Materials in Landscape Architecture,' led by Noriko Maeda with academic partner Franca Trubiano.
- Heatherwick StudioflagshipMNLA collaborated with Heatherwick Studio as joint lead designers on Little Island (formerly Pier 55), a 2.4-acre public park in the Hudson River. MNLA led the landscape design, circulation system, and performance spaces while Heatherwick Studio provided the architectural vision. This is one of the most high-profile landscape architecture collaborations in New York City's recent history.
- ArupcoreArup served as engineering partner on Little Island, providing structural, civil, and MEP engineering. MNLA collaborated with Arup to realize the complex precast concrete pot system and overall park engineering.
- Vornado Realty TrustcoreVornado Realty Trust partnered with MNLA on multiple projects including Plaza33 (17,700 sf pedestrian plaza) and the broader repositioning of the Penn District, a $65 million public realm improvement effort. MNLA served as landscape architecture lead on these projects.
- NYC Department of Design and ConstructioncoreNYC DDC serves as the prime client and project manager for the East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project, NYC's first large-scale coastal flood protection effort. MNLA is part of a multidisciplinary design team working under DDC leadership.
- Yale UniversitycoreYale University commissioned MNLA to lead the landscape design for the Upper Science Hill Development (USHD), an 11-acre project for a new quantum science and engineering hub. MNLA collaborates with TenBerke, Ballinger, Langan, TransSolar, and LumenArchitecture on the design team.
- AKRFcoreAKRF is part of the multidisciplinary consultant team on the ESCR project, providing environmental and planning services alongside MNLA's landscape architecture.
- BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group)coreBIG is a key design collaborator on ESCR, providing architectural vision for the flood protection and park integration across the 2.4-mile corridor. MNLA and BIG work together on integrating landscape and structural design.
- Hazen & SawyerminorHazen & Sawyer is part of the ESCR consultant team, providing engineering expertise in water resources and infrastructure.
- CH2M HillminorCH2M Hill (now part of Jacobs) is a member of the ESCR multidisciplinary project team, contributing engineering and project management expertise.
- ONE ArchitecturecoreONE Architecture (with Arup) serves as a prime joint venture partner on ESCR, providing architecture and urban design alongside MNLA's landscape architecture scope.
- NYC Economic Development CorporationcoreNYC EDC commissioned MNLA for the Pier 42 Master Plan and serves as a key public-sector client for waterfront revitalization projects in Lower Manhattan.
- Rockefeller UniversityminorRockefeller University engaged MNLA for the Stavros Niarchos Foundation-David Rockefeller River Campus landscape design, a project that received a ULI NY Award for Excellence in Institutional Development.
- Haverford CollegeminorHaverford College commissioned MNLA for the Kim and Tritton Residence Halls landscape, which received recognition from AIANY.
- Hudson River ParkcoreHudson River Park is the owner of Little Island. MNLA collaborated with the organization as the landscape architecture firm to design and realize the park, which has since welcomed over 3.5 million visitors.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
MNLA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- AECOM: Global design and engineering firm with substantial landscape architecture practice competing for large public-sector infrastructure and waterfront commissions. Represents the broad incumbent competition MNLA faces on mega-project public bids.
Direct peers
- OLIN: Philadelphia- and New York-based landscape architecture, planning, and urban design firm with comparable practice breadth across parks, campuses, and waterfronts. Competes with MNLA on public-sector and institutional commissions nationally.
- W Architecture and Landscape Architecture: NYC-based landscape architecture firm specializing in waterfront, urban design, and public realm projects. Most directly comparable in size, NYC focus, and waterfront practice to MNLA.
- James Corner Field Operations: New York-based landscape architecture and urban design firm renowned for the High Line and similar signature public realm projects. Most direct competitor to MNLA in the NYC waterfront and public space design market, with comparable client roster and project scale.
- Reed Hilderbrand: Cambridge-based landscape architecture firm known for campus and institutional work (Yale, Harvard). Directly comparable to MNLA on academic and cultural institution practice, with similar signature project pedigree.
- PWP Landscape Architecture: Berkeley-based landscape architecture firm with significant waterfront, civic, and campus portfolio. Comparable to MNLA on design quality, project scale, and integration of public infrastructure with designed landscapes.
- Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA): Brooklyn-based landscape architecture firm known for Brooklyn Bridge Park and similar large-scale urban park and waterfront projects. Directly comparable to MNLA on project type, NYC geographic focus, and signature public-realm positioning.
- SWA Group: Large national landscape architecture, planning, and urban design firm with significant waterfront, campus, and public realm work. Comparable to MNLA in service mix and project scale, though SWA is substantially larger and more geographically diversified.
- Sasaki Associates: Planning, urban design, and landscape architecture firm with deep campus and waterfront practice. Comparable to MNLA on integrated design services spanning landscape architecture, master planning, and urban design for institutional and public clients.
Others
- Arup: Global engineering and design firm that has been MNLA's engineering partner on Little Island and ESCR. Included as a frequent design-build collaborator and ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MNLA social profiles
Digital presenceMNLA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MNLA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
MNLA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MNLA 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 MNLA
What does MNLA do?
MNLA (Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects, P.C.) is a New York-based landscape architecture firm that provides comprehensive professional design services including landscape architecture, master planning, urban design, coastal resilience, waterfront and public park design, and campus planning. The firm earns project-based professional services fees serving government agencies, real estate developers, educational institutions, and cultural/nonprofit organizations across the New York metropolitan area and selected US regions.
Is MNLA a public or private company?
MNLA is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was MNLA founded?
MNLA was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is MNLA based?
MNLA is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does MNLA make money?
One revenue line is on record: landscape Architecture Services.
Who are MNLA's main competitors?
AECOM is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are OLIN, W Architecture and Landscape Architecture, James Corner Field Operations, Reed Hilderbrand, PWP Landscape Architecture, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA), SWA Group and Sasaki Associates. Arup is listed as an others.
Does MNLA have an API?
No public API is recorded for MNLA.
What industry is MNLA in?
MNLA's product category is Landscape Architecture Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAC, Landscape Architecture & Site Design. Its NAICS code is 54132 and its SIC code is 8700.