MC Smith Associates and Architectural Group

What MC Smith Associates and Architectural Group does

MC Smith Associates and Architectural Group (MCSA Group, Inc.) is a privately held professional services firm founded in 1977 and headquartered in East Grand Rapids, Michigan. Operating as a woman-owned small business since 2017, the firm delivers integrated architectural and landscape architectural services organized across three practice areas: Architecture (public housing, federal/state/municipal government facilities, park and recreation facilities, sports facilities, historic rehabilitation, and private/commercial buildings), Landscape Architecture (streetscapes, parks, waterfronts, sports and athletic facilities, boardwalks, trails, playgrounds, and lighting), and Planning & Design (master planning, five-year parks and recreation plans, facility assessments, and signage/graphics). The firm serves a primarily public-sector client base including Michigan municipalities, state agencies, federal programs (notably U.S. Department of Labor Job Corps Centers), public housing commissions, universities, parks and recreation departments, and select non-profits.

The firm operates with a lean team of approximately 10 professionals using standard industry technology — AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch-Up, and MS Office — supplemented by outsourced specialist consultants in surveying, engineering, and traffic analysis. Competitive differentiation rests on credentials held by principals including LEED AP, Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI), and multi-state NCARB registrations, alongside 45+ years of project history in government compliance, ADA accessibility, and historic preservation. The firm has won multiple Michigan Recreation and Park Association (MRPA) Outstanding Park Design Awards, a National DaVinci Award for Accessibility, and a Michigan DNR Boating Access Award.

The business model is project-based professional services revenue: fees are earned through direct client engagement, RFP responses, and proposals to government entities and institutional clients, with pricing determined per engagement and not publicly disclosed. Geographic concentration is heavily Michigan-centric with select out-of-state projects in Minnesota and New York. The firm pursues clients through direct relationships and a portfolio-driven website marketing approach, supported by a professional social media presence on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Current hiring for senior architect and landscape architect positions indicates ongoing capacity expansion.

Name

MC Smith Associates and Architectural Group

Legal name

MCSA Group, Inc.

Website

https://mcsagroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MC Smith Associates and Architectural Group is a woman-owned professional services firm in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, founded in 1977, delivering integrated architecture, landscape architecture, and planning services primarily to government agencies, public housing commissions, and parks/recreation departments across Michigan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

East Grand Rapids

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Architecture: Comprehensive architectural services including design development, construction documents, and construction administration for public housing, government facilities, commercial buildings, and historic rehabilitation projects.
2. Professional Services - Landscape Architecture: Landscape architectural services for parks, recreation facilities, waterfront parks, streetscapes, trails, playgrounds, site lighting, and signage projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MCSA Group provides professional architectural and landscape architectural services encompassing master planning, design development, construction documents, and construction administration for public housing, federal/state/municipal government facilities, parks and recreation facilities, sports complexes, historic rehabilitation, streetscapes, waterfront parks, playgrounds, and private commercial buildings. The firm integrates specialized consultants in engineering, surveying, and traffic analysis to deliver comprehensive project execution primarily for government and institutional clients in Michigan.

Product overview

MCSA Group is a professional architecture and landscape architecture firm that provides integrated design and planning services. The company operates as a unified service offering organized into three core service areas: Architecture Services (including public housing, government facilities, sports facilities, historic rehabilitation, and commercial buildings), Landscape Architecture (including parks, trails, waterfronts, playgrounds, streetscapes, and sports fields), and Planning and Design (including master planning, recreation plans, facility assessments, and signage). The portfolio includes specialized services for municipalities, government agencies, housing commissions, and private clients throughout Michigan. The firm collaborates with specialized consultants in surveying, engineering, and traffic analysis to deliver comprehensive project execution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Comprehensive architectural services covering public housing, federal/state/municipal government facilities, park and recreation architecture, sports facilities, historic rehabilitation, and private/commercial buildings for government, institutional, and private clients.
• Landscape Architecture Services Landscape architectural services including streetscapes and plazas, community and neighborhood parks, waterfront parks, sports and athletic facilities, boardwalks/decks/bridges, trails and linear parks, playgrounds and splash pads, and site/street/sports lighting for municipalities, parks departments, and developers.
• Planning and Design Services Planning and design services including master planning, five-year parks and recreation plans, facility assessments, and signage and graphics design for municipalities and park systems.
• Five-Year Parks and Recreation Plans Recreation planning services helping communities develop road maps for park development, assess current park status, evaluate improvement needs, and meet accessibility guidelines and recreation space requirements.
• Facility Assessments Comprehensive facility assessment services evaluating building conditions, site conditions, and program needs to create master plans for facility improvements.
• Signage and Graphics Signage and graphics design services for parks, municipalities, and communities including wayfinding systems, park signage, and trail markers.
• Sports and Athletic Facilities Design Design services for sports and athletic facilities including pickleball courts, baseball/softball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, and multi-purpose sports complexes.
• Streetscapes and Plazas Design Urban design services for streetscapes and public plazas including custom lighting design, landscape improvements, and community event spaces.
• Community and Neighborhood Parks Design Design services for community and neighborhood parks including playgrounds, picnic shelters, walking paths, and recreational amenities.
• Waterfront Parks Design Specialized waterfront park design services including beach access, boat launches, fishing piers, boardwalks, and lake/river front improvements.
• Trails and Linear Parks Design Trail design and linear park development services including non-motorized trails, nature paths, and multi-use pathways connecting communities.
• Boardwalks, Bridges and Decks Design Structural design services for boardwalks, bridges, and elevated decks over waterways, wetlands, and natural areas.
• Playgrounds and Splash Pads Design Accessible playground design services including inclusive play areas, splash pads, and community-built playground projects.
• Site, Street and Sports Lighting Design Professional lighting design services for sites, streets, and sports facilities including LED conversions and ornamental lighting systems.
• Historic Rehabilitation Historic building restoration and rehabilitation services for properties listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
• Public Housing Architecture Architectural services for public housing authorities including renovations, RAD conversions, and new construction for affordable housing.
• Park and Recreation Architecture Architectural design for park facilities including lodges, comfort stations, interpretive centers, and support buildings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple MRPA Outstanding Park Design Awards received for projects including Macomb Corners Park ($4.5M project)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• SmithGroup: National architecture and engineering firm with Michigan origins (Detroit office) and broad practice including parks, civic, and higher education work. Overlaps with MCSA in government and institutional design but operates at much larger scale.
• DLZ: National architecture and engineering firm with strong Midwest presence serving municipal, transportation, and parks clients. Comparable in public-sector focus but with significantly larger geographic and service footprint.

Direct peers

• OHM Advisors: Michigan-based architecture, engineering, and planning firm serving municipalities, counties, and state agencies. Comparable in integrated service delivery for public-sector parks, streetscapes, and government facilities.
• TowerPinkster: Michigan-headquartered architecture and engineering firm with similar mixed architecture/engineering services for public sector clients across the Midwest. Comparable in regional focus and project types including government, parks, and education.
• Mannik & Smith Group: Michigan-based civil engineering, environmental, and surveying firm with strong municipal government focus including parks, recreation, and infrastructure. Comparable in size and government client mix.
• Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick (AEW): Michigan civil engineering and architecture firm serving municipal and county government clients with similar parks, recreation, and public infrastructure projects. Comparable in scale and government contract focus.
• Wightman: Michigan-based architecture, engineering, and surveying firm serving municipal, county, and state government clients throughout Michigan. Directly comparable in scale, service mix, and government-client focus.
• Fishbeck: Michigan-headquartered engineering, architecture, and environmental firm with extensive public-sector work including parks, water, and municipal infrastructure. Similar geographic concentration and government client base.

Regional players

• GMB Architects + Engineers: Holland, Michigan-headquartered architecture and engineering firm serving West Michigan municipalities, schools, and private developers. Comparable in regional scale and architectural service offerings.
• The Design Forum: Grand Rapids, Michigan architecture firm serving education, healthcare, and commercial clients. Comparable as a West Michigan A/E firm with overlapping service capabilities for institutional clients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/109732729077570
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/m-c-smith-associates
• Instagraminstagram.com/mcsagroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 MC Smith Associates and Architectural Group