Supermass Studio

What Supermass Studio does

Supermass Studio is a New York-based landscape architecture, urban design, and master planning firm founded in 2011 by Taewook Cha, FASLA, operating as a privately held professional corporation (Supermass Studio, Landscape Architecture P.C.) with 1-10 employees and headquarters at 307 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor. The practice works at the intersection of landscape, urbanism, and the public realm, applying a "civic empathy" methodology guided by three principles: Unorthodox Creativity, Opportunistic Diversity, and Socio-Ecological Responsibility. Service offerings span parks, waterfronts, airports, institutional campuses, urban greenways, and public art installations, with notable commissions including LaGuardia Terminal B Concourse Parks, Newark Liberty International Airport Terminal One, Mulberry Commons Park, the Rutgers University-Newark HLLC courtyard, the Del Line elevated linear park in Buffalo, and the Wisconsin Riverfront Park master plan.

The firm's core technology consists of conventional landscape architecture practice: site analysis, master planning, planting and grading design, modular precast detailing, and public-realm placemaking, supplemented by digital rendering and portfolio presentation. The firm is a certified Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) in New York City, New York State, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and pursues projects through direct engagement, competitive commissions, and design competitions with government agencies, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and private developers.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees billed to public and institutional clients. The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales, with project pursuits led by the founding principal. Geographic reach spans North America (USA and Canada) and select international engagements in South Korea, Finland, and Brazil, often executed in collaboration with larger architecture firms such as Gensler, CannonDesign, Haeahn Architecture, and MMK+ architects, or with social impact developers such as RBH Group. No public pricing, subscription, or recurring revenue model is disclosed, consistent with the professional services nature of the practice.

Name

Supermass Studio

Legal name

Supermass Studio, Landscape Architecture P.C.

Website

https://supermassstudio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Supermass Studio is a New York-based landscape architecture and urban design firm founded in 2011 by Taewook Cha, FASLA, serving government agencies, port authorities, universities, and healthcare systems on civic parks, airports, waterfronts, and institutional campuses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Landscape Architectural Services (54132)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Landscape architecture services
• Urban design planning
• Master planning services
• Public realm design
• Site design consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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

Revenue model

1. Landscape Architecture Services: Professional landscape architecture services for public realm, urban design, parks, waterfronts, and institutional projects. Revenue generated through project-based commissions for government, institutional, and private sector clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Supermass Studio is a professional landscape architecture practice that delivers site design, urban design, and master planning services for civic, institutional, and private clients. Its work spans parks, waterfronts, airports, university campuses, healthcare facilities, residential courtyards, transit corridors, and public art installations, typically commissioned through project-based engagements with government agencies, port authorities, universities, healthcare systems, and real estate developers.

Product overview

Supermass Studio is a landscape architecture practice operating as a single unified brand offering professional services in landscape architecture, urban design, and public realm planning. The firm provides project design services spanning parks, waterfronts, airports, residential developments, public art installations, institutional campuses, and urban greenways. Projects include LaGuardia Airport Terminal B Concourse Parks, Mulberry Commons Park, Rutgers University HLLC, Wisconsin Riverfront Park, Kingston Point Climate Adaptive Design, University at Albany ETEC, and various residential courtyard and streetscape designs. The practice is led by Taewook Cha, FASLA, who serves on the Executive Board of ASLA–NY and was elevated to the Council of Fellows of the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2023.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Transformed $70M Rutgers HLLC facility courtyard
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Haeahn ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational design competition collaboration for 3rd Generation Goyang Changneung New Town master plan, envisioning ecologically connected open space network linking mountain ridges to stream
• CannonDesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Del Line — elevated linear park reimagining abandoned rail corridor as greenway linking downtown Buffalo to Buffalo River, integrating paths, gardens, play areas, and community spaces
• RBH GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial impact development company collaborated with for Rutgers University HLLC interior courtyard design, working on $70M state-of-the-art learning and residence facility
• Del GeistminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental artist collaboration on Bowfort Towers sculpture in Calgary, celebrating ancient geological history of Calgary/Alberta region with indigenous Rundle stone
• Patricia LeightonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental artist collaboration on The Circle public art centerpiece for Gangwon International Biennale accompanying PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics, and Bowfort Towers sculpture
• MMK+ architectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on New Gwanghwamun Square International Design Competition entry titled 'Millions of Places for Millions of People'
• GenslerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Avon Lake Renewable Master Plan, transforming derelict industrial landscape with decommissioned powerplant into vibrant waterfront mixed-use community

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• James Corner Field Operations: NYC-based landscape architecture and urban design firm with comparable focus on large-scale public realm, waterfront, and civic infrastructure projects. Among the most direct comparables in scale, geography, and project type, including similar Port Authority-adjacent commissions.
• OLIN: Philadelphia- and NYC-based landscape architecture practice with deep public-realm and institutional campus portfolio. Similar boutique scale and breadth across parks, campuses, and waterfronts, making it a close peer in positioning.
• SCAPE Landscape Architecture: NYC-based landscape architecture and urban design firm focused on climate adaptation, public waterfronts, and civic infrastructure. Directly comparable in project types (Kingston Point-style adaptive work, post-industrial waterfronts) and firm size.
• Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA): Brooklyn-based landscape architecture practice specializing in large urban parks, waterfronts, and institutional campuses (e.g., Brooklyn Bridge Park). Comparable in scale, civic focus, and public-sector client base.
• Reed Hilderbrand: Cambridge, MA-based landscape architecture firm with similar civic, campus, and waterfront portfolio. Comparable boutique scale and emphasis on craft-driven public-realm work for institutional clients.
• Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects: Virginia-based landscape architecture firm with comparable focus on civic landscapes, cultural institutions, and ecological restoration. Similar boutique positioning and high-profile public realm commissions.

Broad incumbents

• Sasaki Associates: Large multidisciplinary design practice with strong landscape architecture, urban design, and master planning capabilities. Comparable service lines (master planning, public realm) at meaningfully larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• SWA Group: Established landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm with broad portfolio across parks, waterfronts, and urban districts. Overlapping capabilities but at a materially larger scale and broader geography than Supermass Studio.

Emerging players

• Hood Design Studio: Oakland-based landscape and urban design practice with strong civic, cultural, and social-equity focus. Comparable in scale and values-aligned methodology (civic empathy, socio-ecological responsibility) but operates on the West Coast.

Regional players

• West 8 Urban Design & Landscape Architecture: Dutch landscape architecture and urban design firm with similar public realm, waterfront, and large-scale master planning capabilities. Overlapping design language and competition pedigree, though primarily Europe-based rather than competing directly in the US.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/supermassstudio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Supermass Studio