The Lakota Group
The Lakota Group is a Chicago-based landscape architecture and urban planning firm founded in 1993, serving municipal governments, park districts, educational institutions, and preservation organizations across 15+ U.S. states through integrated planning, design, and community engagement services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Lakota Group does
The Lakota Group is a Chicago-headquartered professional services firm founded in 1993 that delivers urban planning, urban design, landscape architecture, historic preservation planning, and community engagement services to public-sector and institutional clients. The firm operates a unified practice across five interconnected disciplines and has completed award-recognized projects in more than 300 towns and cities across at least 15 U.S. states, including marquee engagements such as the 12.75-acre Howard Park redesign in South Bend, Indiana, and a multi-decade campus and adjacent-neighborhood portfolio for the University of Notre Dame. Its service model is fee-for-service and project-based, with pricing custom-quoted by scope and complexity; the firm pursues work through direct engagement with municipal leaders, park districts, universities, and community organizations, supplemented by channel partnerships with state Main Street programs in Oregon and Iowa.
The firm has productized a portion of its expertise through the Design Institute, a sub-brand offering charrette workshops, customized design manuals, and training programs for Main Streets and commercial districts. Technology use is centered on community engagement methodologies — interactive online platforms, webinars, surveys, and workshops — rather than proprietary software or AI tooling. The organization runs lean at 11–50 employees under President Scott Freres and Senior Vice President Siraj Asfahani, with no disclosed external investors, parent company, or M&A history. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and growth signals are consistent with a mature, organically scaled professional services firm rather than a venture-backed scaling business.
The Lakota Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Lakota Group
- Legal name
- The Lakota Group
- Website
- https://thelakotagroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Lakota Group is a Chicago-based landscape architecture and urban planning firm founded in 1993, serving municipal governments, park districts, educational institutions, and preservation organizations across 15+ U.S. states through integrated planning, design, and community engagement services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where The Lakota Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Lakota Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Professional Services - Planning and Design Consulting: Fee-for-service professional consulting engagements for urban planning, landscape architecture, historic preservation, and community engagement services to government agencies, institutions, and private sector clients.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
The Lakota Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Lakota Group is a professional services firm that delivers integrated urban planning, urban design, landscape architecture, historic preservation, and community engagement services to municipal governments, park districts, educational institutions, and private clients. The firm also operates the Design Institute, a specialized consultation service providing charrette workshops, customized design manuals, and training for Main Street and commercial district revitalization. Engagements are project-based, scope-driven, and delivered through direct client relationships across the United States.
Product overview
The Lakota Group offers a unified suite of professional planning and design services rather than a software product platform. Their core service portfolio comprises five interconnected disciplines—Planning, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation, and Community Engagement—that work together to deliver comprehensive community planning solutions. Additionally, their Design Institute provides specialized consultation services focused on revitalizing traditional commercial districts through charrette workshops, design manuals, and training programs. The firm serves municipal, institutional, and private clients across the United States with projects ranging from comprehensive plans and park designs to historic preservation strategies and downtown revitalization efforts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Design Institute: A unique professional consultation service developed by The Lakota Group, providing practical, cost-effective solutions for planning, urban design and historic preservation issues facing today's Main Streets and commercial districts.
Products and services
- Planning Services Comprehensive planning services including community comprehensive plans, downtown plans, strategic and master plans, corridor plans, and comprehensive plan updates for cities, villages, and municipal agencies.
- Urban Design Urban design services for creating pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, commercial districts, and mixed-use developments with a focus on placemaking and district revitalization for municipalities and private clients.
- Landscape Architecture Landscape architecture services including public parks, plaza design, open space planning, waterfront design, and site development for institutional, municipal, and private clients.
- Historic Preservation Historic preservation planning including historic preservation strategic plans, architectural surveys, National Register nominations, design guidelines, and preservation ordinance development for cities, preservation commissions, and organizations.
- Community Engagement Community engagement services using interactive online platforms, webinars, workshops, surveys, and out-of-the-box engagement tactics to ensure community voices are heard in planning processes for public agencies and institutions.
- Design Institute A professional consultation service developed by The Lakota Group providing practical, cost-effective solutions for planning, urban design, and historic preservation issues facing Main Streets and commercial districts. Services include charrette workshops, customized design manuals, and customized training programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Within first two months of opening, Howard Park attracted 100,000 visitors
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Lakota Group
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
The Lakota Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
The Lakota Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- South Bend Venues Parks and ArtscoreLong-term partnership for Howard Park project, a 12.75-acre historic riverfront park redesign in downtown South Bend, Indiana. The park includes ice rink, curving ice trail, interactive water feature, custom playground, event lawn, and series of plazas and gathering spaces.
- Rock Action (Mississippi River)coreEarly partnership (23+ years) involving hand-drawn corridor plan for Mississippi River corridor with Kathy Wine and River Action organization, continuing to work on both sides of the river.
- The Wetlands InitiativecorePartnership for 3,000-acre Sue and Wes Dixon Waterfowl Refuge master planning and subsequent wayfinding/pavilion design work at Hennepin and Hopper Lakes.
- University of Notre DamecoreOngoing partnership for over a decade on multiple campus and community projects including Hesburgh Library Plaza, Irish Green (16-acre park), and Northeast Neighborhood/Eddy Street Commons master plan.
- City of Moline and Renew MolinecoreCollaborative partnership for Moline's Riverfront Neighborhoods Comprehensive Plan Update, creating land use plan, framework, and guidelines that transformed the region's waterfront.
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources - Millennium ReservemajorPartnership on Millennium Reserve Wayfinding project analyzing hundreds of sites in 900 square miles of Calumet region, creating hub-and-spoke wayfinding approach.
- Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Committee (NIRPC)majorEngaged with NIRPC for Hobart Conservation: Zoning & Sub Area Plan to guide development in conservation areas.
- Forest Preserves of Cook CountycoreDevelopment of Gateway Master Plan for cohesive vision for gateway sites system, with advisory committee and site-specific implementation plans at multiple preserves.
- Silver Cross HospitalmajorMaster planning and design guidelines engagement for Silver Cross Hospital West Campus in New Lennox, organizing framework for staged development.
- LaMotte West Consulting (Portland, Oregon)minorAssociation on North Topeka Arts District Revitalization Plan focused on placemaking and the arts.
- North Topeka Arts District BoardmajorPartnership with volunteer steering committee for NOTO Arts District planning, design concepts for building/streetscape enhancements and public spaces.
- Oregon Main Street ProgrammajorProvided revitalization services to 11 communities participating in the Oregon Main Street Program using the Main Street Four-Point Approach.
- Iowa Main Street ProgrammajorConducted specialized training services to eight Iowa Main Street communities on adapting sustainable design and energy efficiency practices for historic buildings.
- Baker Engineering (Scottsbluff, NE) and Urban Development Services (San Antonio, TX)minorSub-consultant team for Chadron, Nebraska Comprehensive Plan.
- Goodman Williams GroupminorSub-consultant for City of Evanston Open Space Scorecard project.
- Recreation ResourcesminorSub-consultant for City of Evanston Open Space Scorecard project.
- TY Lin InternationalminorSub-consultant team for United City of Yorkville Comprehensive Plan Update.
- Duncan AssociatesminorSub-consultant for Hobart Conservation: Zoning & Sub Area Plan and Hobart Design Guidelines.
- Heller and HellerminorSub-consultant team for Milwaukee Recreation Master Plan.
- Tom Liebel, FAIA, of Marks, Thomas Architects (Baltimore, MD)minorAssistance with Iowa Main Street Green Program training on sustainable design for historic commercial buildings.
- Benjamin Historic CertificationsminorSub-consultant for Highland Park Central East and Central Avenue/Deerfield Road Survey Update.
- Behles and Behles ArchitectsminorSub-consultant for Saint Viator High School Campus Master Plan.
- City of Chicago Park District and US EPAcoreEngaged for Southeast Chicago Area-Wide Plan focusing on nine open space sites covering ecological and recreational resources.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Lakota Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Design Workshop: Multi-office landscape architecture, planning, and urban design firm of comparable size with deep public-sector planning practice, directly comparable on discipline mix and customer base.
- Sasaki Associates: Planning, urban design, and landscape architecture practice serving universities, municipalities, and park systems; competes for similar comprehensive planning and campus master plan engagements.
- James Corner Field Operations: Landscape architecture and urban design firm specializing in large-scale public realms, parks, and waterfronts; competes for high-profile municipal projects in the same category.
- OLIN: Landscape architecture and urban design studio with strong park, campus, and waterfront portfolio; directly comparable on landscape architecture services and public/institutional clients.
- LandDesign: Multi-disciplinary land planning, landscape architecture, and urban design firm serving municipalities, universities, and developers; directly comparable on core planning services.
- SWA Group: Landscape architecture, planning, and urban design firm with broad public-sector footprint; comparable on service mix and project types such as parks and waterfronts.
Broad incumbents
- Stantec: Large multi-disciplinary engineering, planning, and design firm with significant parks, community development, and urban design practices; competes for similar RFPs at scale.
- HDR Inc. Engineering, architecture, and planning firm with community planning practice; competes for municipal and institutional planning engagements as a broader incumbent.
- AECOM: Global infrastructure consultancy with large planning and landscape architecture practice; competes for municipal comprehensive plans and park master plans as a broader incumbent.
Emerging players
- WRT (Wallace Roberts & Todd): Planning, urban design, and landscape architecture practice with similar public-sector focus; comparable on planning and historic preservation engagements.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Lakota Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Lakota Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Lakota Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
The Lakota Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Lakota Group 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 The Lakota Group
What does The Lakota Group do?
The Lakota Group is a professional services firm that delivers integrated urban planning, urban design, landscape architecture, historic preservation, and community engagement services to municipal governments, park districts, educational institutions, and private clients. The firm also operates the Design Institute, a specialized consultation service providing charrette workshops, customized design manuals, and training for Main Street and commercial district revitalization. Engagements are project-based, scope-driven, and delivered through direct client relationships across the United States.
Is The Lakota Group a public or private company?
The Lakota Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Lakota Group founded?
The Lakota Group was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Lakota Group based?
The Lakota Group is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Lakota Group make money?
One revenue line is on record: professional Services - Planning and Design Consulting.
Who are The Lakota Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Design Workshop, Sasaki Associates, James Corner Field Operations, OLIN, LandDesign and SWA Group. Broad incumbents are Stantec, HDR Inc. and AECOM. WRT (Wallace Roberts & Todd) is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Lakota Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Lakota Group.