Dahlkemper Landscape Architects and Contractors

What Dahlkemper Landscape Architects and Contractors does

Dahlkemper Landscape Architects and Contractors is a privately held, family-rooted landscape architecture and contracting firm headquartered in Erie, Pennsylvania, founded in 1955 as a partnership between brothers Charles L. and James C. Dahlkemper. The company operates as a full-service provider spanning landscape architecture (master planning, campus design, trails, municipal projects, lake-bank and stream stabilization, wetland delineation, permitting), landscape plantings and garden design, hardscape construction (patios, walkways, walls, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces), water features, commercial site design, recurring landscape management, certified arbor care, and seasonal holiday lighting delivered through a Christmas Decor franchise. Service delivery is direct and sales-led: customer inquiries (phone or web RFQ) trigger an on-site assessment by a licensed landscape architect, designer, horticulturalist, or arborist, followed by design, installation, and designer-overseen implementation, with follow-up evaluation.

The business sells across three horizontal segments: residential homeowners (custom design, hardscape, water features, maintenance, holiday lighting), commercial businesses (corporate site planning, branding landscapes, office parks; cited clients include Erie Federal Credit Union and the Sheraton/Bayfront Convention Center), and government and non-profit organizations (parks, memorials, trails, outdoor classrooms, rain gardens; cited projects include the Erie Veterans Park Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the ExpERIEnce Children's Museum outdoor classroom, and University of Pittsburgh at Titusville campus planning). Pricing is project-based across four reference tiers ($3-8K, $8-15K, $15-30K, and $30K+) determined through consultation and site assessment, with a recurring revenue layer from ongoing maintenance contracts.

Ownership completed a generational transition in 2022, with Dave Marino (Penn State Landscape Architecture, joined 1995, partner 2012, majority owner 2018) becoming sole owner; founder Dan Dahlkemper is retired. The firm employs 35+ staff including multiple multi-decade veterans, two registered landscape architects, certified arborists, and wetland delineators. Operations are anchored at 1650 Norcross Road on a two-acre owned site with a steel building constructed in 1974. The company is bounded geographically to Erie and the Northwest Pennsylvania Tri-State Region and has been recognized with 27 Builders Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania Awards of Excellence (19 winners, 8 honorable mentions) in 2009 and multiple individual project awards through 2014.

Name

Dahlkemper Landscape Architects and Contractors

Legal name

Dahlkemper Landscape Architects and Contractors

Website

https://dahlkemperlandscape.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dahlkemper Landscape Architects and Contractors is a privately held, Erie, Pennsylvania-based full-service landscape architecture, design/build, and maintenance firm founded in 1955, serving residential, commercial, and government/non-profit clients across the Northwest Pennsylvania Tri-State Region with 35+ employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Landscape Architecture and Contracting Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Landscaping Services (56173)

SIC

Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700), Electrical Work (1731)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Landscape Construction Project Management & General Contracting (HSAIABAK), Landscape Construction & Hardscaping (Patios, Retaining Walls, Outdoor Structures) (IMAIAIAE), Commercial Landscape Design & Installation (HSAIABAJ), Landscape Lighting Design & Layout (HSAIAHAA)

Keywords

• Landscape architecture services
• Landscape design and build
• Hardscape construction services
• Arbor care and tree services
• Landscape management and maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Erie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Landscape Architecture and Design Services: Custom landscape design services including master planning, site design, campus design, trails, municipal projects, lake-bank and stream stabilization, wetland delineation, and permitting. Services span from conceptual design through installation and ongoing management.
2. Landscape Installation: Design/build installation services including landscape plantings, hardscape, water features, and outdoor living spaces. One-time project-based revenue from residential and commercial installations.
3. Landscape Management and Maintenance: Ongoing landscape maintenance services including cleanups, feeding programs, mulching, professional plant care, pruning and trimming, mowing and aerating, lighting maintenance and spraying programs.
4. Holiday Lighting (Christmas Decor Franchise): Holiday lighting franchise services under Christmas Decor brand. Seasonal installation of Christmas decorations for residential and commercial properties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dahlkemper Landscape Architects and Contractors is a full-service landscape architecture and contracting firm offering integrated landscape design, installation, and maintenance services. The company provides residential and commercial landscape architecture, plantings and garden design, hardscape construction, water features, commercial site design, landscape management, tree service and arbor care, stream and lake bank stabilization, and holiday lighting through a Christmas Decor franchise. Services span from conceptual master planning and permitting through construction installation to ongoing maintenance and seasonal services for properties across the Erie, PA region.

Product overview

Dahlkemper Landscape Architects and Contractors is a full-service landscape architecture and contracting firm offering integrated design, installation, and maintenance services. The company operates as a unified service portfolio organized around core capabilities including Landscape Architecture, Landscape Plantings and Garden Design, Hardscape construction, Water Features, Commercial Design, Landscape Management, Tree Service and Arbor Care, Stream and Lake Bank Stabilization, and Holiday/Landscape Lighting (under the Christmas Decor franchise). Services span from initial landscape architecture design through construction installation to ongoing landscape management and maintenance, providing clients with comprehensive environmental improvement solutions for residential and commercial properties in Erie, PA and the Northwest Pennsylvania Tri-State Region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Landscape Architecture Professional landscape architecture services combining art and science to design outdoor areas, landmarks, and structures. Specializes in master planning, campus design, trails, site design, municipal projects, lake-bank and stream stabilization, wetland delineation, and permitting.
• Landscape Plantings and Garden Design Design and installation of living landscape elements including formal to natural plantings, native plantings, edible and medicinal plants, bulbs, annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees using texture, contrast, color, repetition, rhythm, and perspective.
• Hardscape Construction of hard landscape elements including walkways, patios, driveways, walls, arbors, pergolas, and outdoor living spaces. Materials include concrete, asphalt, pavers, gravel, wood, composite decks, stone, and tile. Includes dry-laid stone and masonry for pillars, fireplaces, and outdoor kitchens.
• Water Features Design and installation of water gardens and water features adding interest with sound, motion, water plantings, and fish. Creates active elements attractive to wildlife including birds, butterflies, and pollinators.
• Commercial Design Commercial landscape design services providing site planning, circulation, grading, drainage, proper planting, and structures. Works with businesses to reinforce company branding through professional landscape architecture.
• Landscape Management

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly seven decades of continuous operation improving Erie's environment
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Presque Isle PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Presque Isle Partnership to develop the Nature Play area at Presque Isle's Beach 11, an outdoor environmental education project.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• BrightView Landscape Services: Largest publicly traded U.S. commercial landscape services platform offering design, install, and maintenance nationwide. Direct comparability on the integrated design-build-maintain model and enterprise/government customer mix.
• Davey Tree Expert Company: National tree care plus commercial and residential landscape services. Directly comparable on the arborist + landscape integration, certified-arborist staffing, and bioscience-capable service lines (e.g., emerald ash borer treatment).
• TruGreen: National residential lawn and landscape care franchise. Comparable on the residential customer base, recurring service model, and franchise channel deployment (TruGreen Lawn Care franchise).
• SavATree: Regional-to-national tree, shrub, and lawn care with integrated landscape services. Directly comparable service mix including certified arborists, bio-engineering input, and high-end residential clientele.
• Yellowstone Landscape: Commercial landscape services platform across the Southeast U.S. Comparable on design-build-maintain scope, regional rollout via acquisitions, and commercial property customer base.
• U.S. Lawns: Commercial landscape maintenance franchise network. Comparable through franchise/recurring-service commercial focus and shared routes-to-market with national brand backing.

Direct peers

• Chapel Valley Landscape Company: Mid-Atlantic full-service residential and commercial landscape design, build, and maintenance. Direct comparability on full-service integration, recurring maintenance base, and award-winning high-end residential design-build work.
• R.P. Marzilli & Sons: Northeast U.S. family-owned landscape design, construction, and maintenance firm. Comparable regional family business with 70+ year operating history, integrated services, and similar multi-generational ownership structure.
• HighGrove Partners: Southeast U.S. landscape design, build, and maintenance partner with commercial property focus. Directly comparable on integrated design-build-maintain service delivery to enterprise customers and integrated marketing approach.

Regional players

• Fratello's Landscaping: Mid-Atlantic landscape design, build, and maintenance firm with similar high-end residential project profile and recurring maintenance service. Regional peer operating in a different geography but addressing an analogous customer set.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dahlkemper-landscape-architects-and-contractors

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&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Dahlkemper Landscape Architects and Contractors