What Fluidity Design Consultants does

Fluidity Design Consultants is a privately held, Los Angeles-based professional services firm founded in 2002 by James (Jim) Garland that specializes exclusively in the design and engineering of large-format water features for architectural, landscape, and public-space applications. The firm's ~20-person multidisciplinary team — combining architects, designers, mechanical and systems engineers, and technologists — works directly with architects, landscape architects, cultural institutions, real estate developers, and municipalities from concept development through construction oversight, employing proprietary 'Water Choreography' and 'Water Idea' methodologies supported by digital and physical mock-up workflows.

The firm has completed nearly 200 water features across North America, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and South America, anchored by marquee commissions such as the SoFi Stadium five-acre Lake Park, Longwood Gardens' $50M Main Fountain Garden reconstruction, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's twin grand entrance fountains, Hearst Tower's glass cascade, and Klyde Warren Park's Nancy Best Fountain. Fluidity's competitive positioning rests on a 20+ year body of proprietary research (including the 2025 publication of the 400-page 'Fountain Safari' book), embedded relationships with top-tier architecture and landscape architecture firms (Foster + Partners, James Corner Field Operations, RIOS, OLIN, West 8), and the founder's industry standing — Jim Garland holds an honorary PhD and architectural licensure across 23 states plus DC.

Fluidity monetizes exclusively through custom, project-based professional services fees, with no standardized pricing tiers, no disclosed project minimums, and no public revenue figures. GTM is enterprise field sales, driven by direct collaboration with design partners and repeat clientele rather than mass marketing. The firm maintains a secondary Portland, Oregon office, is pursuing explicit Latin America expansion, and is actively investing in team capacity, with no disclosed outside capital, institutional investors, or M&A activity.

Name

Fluidity Design Consultants

Legal name

Fluidity Design Consultants

Website

https://fluidity-design.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fluidity Design Consultants is a Los Angeles-based, founder-owned water feature design and engineering firm founded in 2002. Its ~20-person multidisciplinary team delivers custom large-format water features for architects, landscape architects, developers, cultural institutions, and municipalities worldwide, with nearly 200 completed projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Feature Design & Engineering Services

NAICS

Other Specialized Design Services (54149)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Features Design & Installation (Ponds, Fountains, Waterfalls) (HSAIABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD), Water Park Design, Engineering & Construction (Master Planning, Build) (THAAABAJ)

Keywords

• Water feature design
• Fountain engineering services
• Water choreography
• Landscape architecture services
• Fountain restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Water Feature Design Services: Design and engineering services for large-format water features for architectural, landscape, and public space projects. Services span concept development through construction oversight.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Fluidity Design Consultants is a specialized B2B water feature design and engineering firm that conceives, designs, engineers, and provides construction oversight for large-format water features—including fountains, cascades, reflection pools, water walls, interactive play features, and choreographic water performances. The firm works from concept through construction administration with architects, landscape architects, cultural institutions, real estate developers, and municipalities on iconic, custom water installations worldwide. Complementary offerings include proprietary water choreography services and heritage fountain restoration.

Product overview

Fluidity Design Consultants is a single-service design firm specializing exclusively in water feature design and engineering. Founded in 2002, the company offers a unified portfolio of services centered on the 'Water Idea' philosophy—expertly crafted water action that drives design solutions. The core offering encompasses water feature design services, water choreography/motion design, and heritage fountain restoration. Their multidisciplinary team of architects, designers, engineers, and technologists works to synthesize elegant solutions for resolving complex water design problems across parks, urban spaces, architectural settings, and immersive environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Feature Design Services Comprehensive water feature design and engineering services for architectural, urban, and landscape applications, covering conceptual design, technical engineering, and construction oversight for fountains, cascades, interactive water features, reflection pools, and water walls.
• Water Choreography Motion design and water choreography services that create dynamic water performances with synchronized jets, robotic streams, and changing-color lighting for theatrical, musical, and entertainment applications.
• Heritage Fountain Restoration Specialized restoration and enhancement of historic fountain systems, including exacting restoration of historic fountain works combined with contemporary enhancements for water, fire, and theatrical lighting displays.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 200 large-format water features completed over 21 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 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

29 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Foster + PartnersflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFluidity has collaborated with Foster + Partners on multiple signature projects including the Index Building in Dubai (90-story mixed-use tower with water-walls and reflection pools) and Hearst Tower in New York (glass cascade water feature). The firm works closely with the architecture firm on water features that integrate with iconic building designs.
• James Corner Field OperationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Navy Pier (signature fountain designed by James Corner) and Shelby Farms (largest urban park in the nation). Fluidity provides water feature expertise for public space master planning.
• RIOScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple collaborations including Grand Park Los Angeles, Lynn Wyatt Square Houston, Century City Plaza, and Downtown Palm Springs Park. RIOS serves as landscape architect on projects where Fluidity provides water features.
• OJB Landscape ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City (14 acres with six water features) and La Jolla Commons. OJB designs the landscape while Fluidity provides water feature design services.
• ArquitectonicaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on CityPlace Doral entertainment plaza with choreographic concert fountain, robotic jets, and theatrical color.
• GenslerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm partner for various commercial developments where Fluidity provides water feature design.
• OLINcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading landscape architecture firm collaborated with on various urban park and public space projects.
• SCAPEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture and urban planning firm for environmental projects including water features.
• Michael Vergason Landscape ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Sundance Square (ASLA Honor Award 2019) and Washington University fountains. Known for distinctive public realm designs.
• Michael Maltzan ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm for Segerstrom Center for the Arts plaza fountain inspired by Alexander Calder stabile sculpture.
• West 8coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture firm collaborated with on Longwood Gardens Main Fountain Garden $50M reconstruction.
• SWA GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture firm partner for Downtown Jebel Ali mixed-use development with five unique water features.
• Coen + PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed Peavey Plaza refurbishment in Minneapolis with sympathetic restoration of iconic water features.
• Ken Smith WorkshopminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architect for 1271 Avenue of the Americas streetside water feature at Time Life building in NYC.
• The Related CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper partner for Grand Park Los Angeles (four-block downtown urban open space) and CityPlace Doral.
• COOP HIMMELB(L)AUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian architecture firm for Baku Conference Center with water screen of stainless steel ball chains.
• JerdeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture and urban design firm with international urban entertainment destination expertise.
• Safdie ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm for various large-scale projects with water feature integration.
• SasakiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture, landscape architecture, and planning firm for diverse project types.
• Perkins & WillminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm for Signature Place in St. Petersburg with 60-foot tall choreographic water wall.
• Pelli Clarke Pelli ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm for various commercial developments.
• SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture and planning firm for tall buildings and urban developments.
• Colwell Shelor Landscape ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture firm for Helios Headquarters in Phoenix.
• Beyer Binder BelleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm partner for Longwood Gardens Main Fountain Garden reconstruction.
• Quimby McCoy Preservation ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreservation architecture firm for Fair Park 725-foot historic fountain restoration in Dallas.
• HKS ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm for sports and entertainment projects including stadiums.
• OJBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture firm for multiple projects including Myriad Gardens and La Jolla Commons.
• Nelson Byrd WoltzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture and urban design firm.
• Studio MLAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture and urban design firm.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WET Design: WET Design is the most recognized water feature design and engineering firm globally (Bellagio fountains, Dubai Fountain, Disney). Directly comparable to Fluidity in product offering, target customers (architects, developers, municipalities), and iconic-project positioning.
• Crystal Fountains: Crystal Fountains is a Canadian water feature design and engineering firm serving architects and developers globally. Closely comparable in product category (architectural water features), customer base, and consultative design services model.
• Fountain People: Fountain People designs, engineers, and installs architectural water features including interactive fountains, plaza features, and choreographed displays. Comparable to Fluidity in custom design services for architects, developers, and municipalities.

Emerging players

• Mark Fuller / WET Legacy Practitioners: Independent water design consultancies and former WET Design principals have spun out specialist practices. These emerging niche firms partially overlap with Fluidity in custom design for signature water features but lack Fluidity's scale of international iconic commissions.
• James Corner Field Operations: James Corner Field Operations is a leading landscape architecture firm (High Line, Navy Pier). While broadly a partner of Fluidity (Flagship tier), they increasingly develop in-house water feature expertise on large master plans, representing partial competitive overlap.
• Watermark Design Associates: Watermark Design Associates is an Australian water feature design consultancy serving architects and developers. Comparable emerging international peer specializing in custom water feature design, although smaller scale than Fluidity.

Broad incumbents

• SWA Group: SWA Group is a large landscape architecture firm with global reach (Mixed-use, urban parks). Comparable as a partner-level peer; they sometimes integrate water features into broader landscape master plans, partially overlapping with Fluidity's scope.
• OLIN: OLIN is a leading landscape architecture and urban design firm with significant water feature work (e.g., Barnes Foundation). Comparable as a partner-tier peer that sometimes delivers water feature design in-house for master plans.
• Sasaki: Sasaki is an architecture, landscape architecture, and planning firm. They sometimes integrate signature water features into urban master plans (partner-tier peer), representing broad overlap rather than direct competition with Fluidity's niche specialization.
• The Jerde Partnership: Jerde Partnership is an architecture and urban design firm specializing in large mixed-use entertainment destinations. Fluidity's founder Jim Garland previously worked at Jerde (1999-2002); the firm represents an indirect competitor and former pipeline.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/fluidity_design_consultants

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Fluidity Design Consultants