What Groundswell Design does

Groundswell Design Group is a privately held, founder-led placemaking and interior design agency headquartered in the Philadelphia region (Carversville, PA mailing address), founded by David Fierabend circa 2005. The firm operates with 11–50 employees and delivers a unified suite of design services spanning space planning, concept and schematic design, design development, landscape design, finish and material selection, furnishing selection, construction administration, and procurement and installation. Its practice is organized into six verticals: Public Space (parks, waterfronts, urban plazas, streetscapes), Hospitality (restaurants, distilleries, food halls, hotels), Multifamily and Office, Residential, and Seasonal and Pop-Up Activations.

Groundswell generates revenue through project-based professional services fees negotiated with enterprise, institutional, municipal, and foundation clients, acquired primarily via direct business development, referrals, and competitive procurement. Its named client roster includes Strategic Property Partners (Sparkman Wharf, Tampa), Delaware River Waterfront Corp (Spruce Street Harbor Park), Caves Valley Partners ($8.5M Cross Street Market, Baltimore), Rockpoint Group (High Street Place, Boston), Bedrock (Monroe Street Midway and holiday décor, Detroit), Knight Foundation (Akron master planning), Lodging Hospitality Management (St. Louis Union Station), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Great Jones Distilling Co., and University City District. Project geography spans the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, and West Coast of the United States. Marketing is limited to a portfolio website, Instagram presence, and a Google Drive-hosted Lookbook.

The firm's core technology is its multidisciplinary design team — interior designers, landscape architects, and craftspeople — operating without any disclosed AI/ML tooling, API, or software product. A related lifestyle/hospitality sub-brand, Groundswell Guild, extends the firm's creative identity into curated consumer experiences. The firm maintains independent private ownership under its founder, with no disclosed external institutional capital.

Name

Groundswell Design

Legal name

Groundswell Design Group

Website

https://groundswelldesigngroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Groundswell Design Group is a privately held, founder-led placemaking and interior design agency serving enterprise, municipal, foundation, and hospitality clients across the U.S. through project-based professional services covering public space, hospitality, residential, multifamily, and seasonal activations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Placemaking and Interior Design Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141), Landscaping Services (561730)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Landscape Design, Build & Installation (Hardscapes/Softscapes) (BPABADAF), Landscape Renovation & Re-Design (Yard Makeovers) (HSAIABAC), Garden Bed Design, Layout & Planting Plans (HSAIAFAA)

Keywords

• Placemaking design
• Interior design services
• Landscape architecture
• Public space design
• Hospitality design

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Design Services: Professional design services including space planning, concept design, schematic design, design development, landscape design, finish and material selection, furnishing selection, construction administration, procurement and installation, and programming concepts. Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees for institutional, commercial, and private clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Groundswell Design Group is a placemaking and interior design agency that provides professional design services spanning space planning, concept design, schematic design, design development, landscape design, finish and material selection, furnishing selection, construction administration, and procurement and installation. The firm serves public space, hospitality, multifamily/office, residential, and seasonal/pop-up clients with multidisciplinary design teams.

Product overview

Groundswell Design Group is a placemaking and interior design agency offering a unified suite of design services rather than a modular software product. Their core offering encompasses space planning, concept design, schematic design, design development, landscape design, finish and material selection, furnishing selection, construction administration, and procurement and installation. The company organizes its services into six practice areas: Public Space Design (parks, waterfronts, streetscapes), Hospitality Design (restaurants, distilleries, food halls), Seasonal and Pop-Up Activations (temporary events, festivals), Multifamily and Office Design (residential developments, corporate spaces), and Residential Design (private homes, gardens). A related brand, Groundswell Guild, extends the company's design philosophy into a lifestyle/hospitality brand featuring curated fare and experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Groundswell Guild: A dynamic lifestyle brand dedicated to the art of curated hospitality, with a mission to inspire and elevate everyday living through thoughtfully crafted fare, provisions, and experiences.

Products and services

• Public Space Design Design and activation of public spaces including parks, waterfront developments, streetscapes, and community gathering places for municipal clients, waterfront corporations, and nonprofit foundations.
• Hospitality Design Interior and exterior design for restaurants, distilleries, food halls, hotels, and other hospitality establishments serving hospitality operators, restaurant groups, and entertainment venue owners.
• Seasonal and Pop-Up Activations Temporary event design and installation including holiday villages, festivals, beer gardens, and seasonal programming for real estate developers, municipalities, and brand sponsors.
• Multifamily and Office Design Design services for multifamily residential developments and corporate office spaces, including corporate headquarters and amenity spaces for real estate developers and corporate occupiers.
• Residential Design Personal sanctuary design including private homes, apartments, and residential gardens for individual homeowners.
• Groundswell Guild A lifestyle brand dedicated to the art of curated hospitality, offering thoughtfully crafted fare, provisions, and experiences as an extension of Groundswell Design Group's design philosophy.

Named customers10 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

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major.

• BedrockmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Bedrock engaged Groundswell Design Group in early 2020 to create a temporary public space at Monroe Street Midway in Detroit's Central Business District. The 2.5-acre former parking lot was transformed into a vibrant seasonal destination.
• Delaware River Waterfront CorpmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Commissioned Groundswell to design a temporary summer park on the Delaware River in 2014. The Spruce Street Harbor Park project was received with rave reviews and has become one of the country's best urban beaches.
• Strategic Property PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic Property Partners engaged Groundswell Design Group to transform a struggling retail development into a thriving outdoor food hall and public space at Sparkman Wharf in Tampa, FL. The project revitalized the waterfront with open views, colorful murals, and diverse activities.
• Knight FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnight Foundation engaged Groundswell to provide master planning services for downtown Akron, Ohio. The master plan reimagines public pathways and parks, creating a network of connected trails and activated gardens around Summit Lake and the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath trail.
• Lodging Hospitality ManagementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLodging Hospitality Management approached Groundswell to re-conceptualize St. Louis Union Station as part of a long-term master planning project to position the property as a premiere gathering and entertainment destination.
• Caves Valley PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaves Valley Partners commissioned Groundswell for the $8.5 million redevelopment of Cross Street Market, Baltimore's historic downtown marketplace built in the 19th century. Groundswell completed interior design and FF&E on the food hall.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• LandDesign: Multi-disciplinary design firm offering landscape architecture, urban design, and planning — comparable in scale and service mix to Groundswell, especially for public realm and developer-led projects.
• James Corner Field Operations: Landscape architecture and urban design firm famous for High Line and large-scale public realm projects; competes with Groundswell for high-profile placemaking commissions.
• Rockwell Group: Cross-disciplinary design firm specializing in hospitality, restaurant, and entertainment interiors — directly comparable to Groundswell's hospitality design vertical.
• W Architecture & Landscape Architecture: NYC-based landscape architecture firm with strong public space and waterfront portfolio — directly comparable to Groundswell's public space and placemaking practice.
• SWA Group: Large landscape architecture and urban design practice with deep public space and waterfront expertise — a relevant peer for Groundswell's placemaking work.
• OLIN: Philadelphia-headquartered landscape architecture and urban design firm working on public spaces, parks, and waterfronts — directly comparable to Groundswell's placemaking and landscape design practice.
• Meyer Davis Studio: Interior design firm with hospitality, residential, and commercial projects — comparable to Groundswell's interior design offerings for restaurants, hotels, and residences.
• AvroKO: Hospitality-focused design firm with restaurant, hotel, and bar expertise including food halls — directly comparable to Groundswell's hospitality and food hall portfolio (Cross Street Market, High Street Place).

Broad incumbents

• Snøhetta: Internationally recognized architecture, landscape, and interior design firm active in public space and hospitality — broader incumbent competing for similar marquee placemaking commissions.
• Sasaki: Larger planning, urban design, and landscape architecture practice with integrated services — a broader incumbent that competes for large master planning and public space commissions like Groundswell's Akron work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/groundswelldesigngroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/groundswelldesigngroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Groundswell Design