GroundLevel

What GroundLevel does

GroundLevel Landscape Architecture, Inc. is a privately held landscape architecture design firm founded in 1995 and headquartered in San Diego, California, with a second office in Rancho Santa Fe. The firm delivers professional landscape architecture services across three core areas: commercial landscape architecture (mixed-use, multi-family, hospitality, retail, life-science, educational, and corporate campus environments), residential landscape architecture (private residences and family compounds), and 3D visualization and animation (using drones, video, CAD, and 3D graphics to render designs pre-construction). Projects are managed through a structured process spanning concept design, layout, design refinement, and construction administration.

The firm serves enterprise clients across multiple sectors, including major real estate developers (Kilroy Realty, ColRich, AvalonBay Communities, Matter Real Estate, Alexandria Real Estate Equities), healthcare systems (Sharp Healthcare, Genentech, Aya Healthcare), sports organizations (San Diego Padres), technology companies (Viasat), educational institutions (UC San Diego, San Dieguito Union High School District), and government entities. Its client base spans Southern California and extends into Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, and Baja California, Mexico. GroundLevel emphasizes a narrative-driven design philosophy, sustainability practices including drought-tolerant plantings and LEED-certified projects, and 3D visualization as a client-alignment tool.

GroundLevel generates revenue through professional services on a custom, project-based pricing model, with no publicly disclosed tiers or recurring contracts. The go-to-market motion is relationship-driven, relying on returning clients and referrals from existing clients and co-developing architecture firms such as Gensler, Lionakis, Delawie, and McCarthy. The firm is partner-owned and independently managed, with no disclosed institutional investment, funding rounds, or parent company. Three partners — Brad Lenahan, Ian Morris, and Phill Siegler — lead the practice alongside approximately 11 additional named professionals across design, operations, graphics, and finance roles.

Name

GroundLevel

Legal name

GroundLevel Landscape Architecture, Inc.

Website

https://groundlevelsd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GroundLevel is a San Diego-based landscape architecture firm designing commercial, residential, and institutional outdoor environments for enterprise clients across real estate, healthcare, sports, education, and technology. It offers 3D visualization and animation services and serves Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, and Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Landscape Architecture Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Landscape Architectural Services (54132)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAKAC

Landscape Architecture & Site Design

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Architecture, Design & Planning Services

Keywords

• Landscape architecture design
• Commercial landscape services
• Residential landscape design
• 3D visualization services
• Outdoor space planning

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Landscape Architecture Design Services: GroundLevel generates revenue through professional landscape architecture design services for commercial, residential, and mixed-use projects. Services span from concept design through construction administration. Projects range from small residential gardens to large-scale commercial developments like the $400M UnCommons mixed-use project.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

GroundLevel is a landscape architecture design firm that delivers commercial, residential, and mixed-use landscape design services from concept through construction administration. The firm also offers 3D visualization and animation services that translate landscape design concepts into visual narratives using CAD, drone video, and 3D graphics. Its client base spans property developers, real estate firms, healthcare systems, educational institutions, sports organizations (e.g., San Diego Padres), and affluent private homeowners across Southern California and select projects in Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, and Mexico.

Product overview

GroundLevel Landscape Architecture is a landscape architecture firm offering design services across three core areas: Commercial Landscape Architecture (designing outdoor spaces for mixed-use, multi-family, hospitality, retail, life-science, educational, and corporate campus environments), Residential Landscape Architecture (creating private backyard retreats and residential outdoor sanctuaries), and 3D Visualization & Animation (using video, animation, and CAD to help clients visualize projects through drones, 3D graphics, and simulations). The company manages projects from concept through construction administration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Landscape Architecture Design services for mixed-use, multi-family, hospitality, retail, life-science, educational, and corporate campus environments, creating first impressions and welcoming outdoor spaces for commercial properties. Delivered through a full project lifecycle from concept design through construction administration.
• Residential Landscape Architecture Design of private backyards and residential outdoor spaces, creating distinctive environments as private sanctuaries to enhance family experiences. Projects include family compounds, ocean-view properties, pool gardens, and intimate garden retreats.
• 3D Visualization & Animation Using video, animation, and CAD to translate complicated landscape ideas into undeniable potential, helping clients visualize projects before construction. Uses drones, video, and 3D graphics to add depth and motion to projects and build consensus around design decisions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Projects for enterprise clients including $400M mixed-use developments and major sports facilities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Larimer Design ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroundLevel partnered with Larimer Design Architecture and the San Diego Padres in the complete re-imagining of Gallagher Square at Petco Park. This high-profile sports venue revitalization included playground, dog park, wiffle ball field, and Tony Gwynn Terrace.
• GenslercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroundLevel was engaged by Matter Real Estate and Gensler for the $400M UnCommons mixed-use project outside Las Vegas. Also collaborated with Gensler on The Met Costa Mesa, AVA Hollywood, Santa Fe Summit, and ecoATM projects.
• LionakiscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGroundLevel teamed with Lionakis for Pacific Trails Middle School and Earl Warren Middle School projects in San Diego region.
• McCarthyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGroundLevel collaborated with McCarthy and HGW Architecture on Sharp Prebys Innovation & Education Center for Sharp Healthcare.
• DelawieminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGroundLevel collaborated with Delawie on The Bower Hotel project for J Street Hospitality in Coronado, California.
• Sundt ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGroundLevel worked with Sundt Construction on SDSU South Campus Plaza project.
• SVA ArchitectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on SDSU South Campus Plaza mixed-use project.
• SGPA Architecture and PlanningminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on SDSU South Campus Plaza mixed-use project.
• 5+ DesignminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated with 5+ Design on One Paseo project.
• Ware MalcombminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated with Ware Malcomb on One Paseo project.
• TCAminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on One Paseo project in Carmel Valley.
• Koning Eizenberg ArchitectureminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on AVA Hollywood mixed-use residential project.
• AC MartinminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on AVA Hollywood project.
• House of HoneyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on AVA Hollywood project.
• Smith Consulting ArchitectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGroundLevel worked with Smith Consulting Architects on Viasat Grove project.
• Pasco Laret Suiter & AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on Viasat Grove project in Carlsbad.
• Hollander Design GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGroundLevel collaborated with Hollander Design Group on Aya Healthcare Sorrento Valley headquarters courtyard transformation.
• Green PerspectivesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on Private Community Park project in Laguna Beach.
• Carrier Johnson + CultureminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on India Street Mixed-Use project in downtown San Diego.
• BNIMminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGroundLevel worked with BNIM on Mira Mesa Epicentre public space revival design.
• Ferguson Pape Baldwin ArchitectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on Corporate Campus/Boardwalk at Science Center Drive project.
• Hill ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on Solana Beach Residence project.
• House of Honey InteriorsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on Solana Beach Residence project.
• AlphaStudio Design GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGroundLevel collaborated with AlphaStudio Design Group on Valley Middle School project.
• DLR GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGroundLevel collaborated with DLR Group on Agua Caliente Elementary School project.
• DGA planningminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on Santa Fe Summit 30-acre corporate campus.
• Kettler Leweck EngineeringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on Santa Fe Summit project.
• Banks Landl Lighting DesignminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on Santa Fe Summit 30-acre corporate campus.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• EDSA: EDSA is a landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm with a long-standing resort, hospitality, and mixed-use practice. Comparable to GroundLevel in design philosophy and hospitality/resort project profile, particularly relevant given GroundLevel's Maui Residence and Valle de Guadalupe work.
• SWA Group: SWA is a large, design-focused landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm with a strong California presence. It is comparable to GroundLevel in core service (LA design for commercial, residential, and public realm projects) but operates at substantially greater scale and geographic reach.
• OJB Landscape Architecture: OJB is a landscape architecture firm with deep experience in commercial, hospitality, and mixed-use developments across the U.S. Southwest. Directly comparable to GroundLevel in commercial LA design and developer client base, and competes for similar California and Mountain West projects.
• MIG: MIG (formerly Moore Iacofano Goltsman) is a planning, design, and communications firm with a strong landscape architecture and public realm practice. Comparable to GroundLevel in campus, parks, and community design work, including public-private partnerships like EPOCA Village Central Park.
• Sasaki Associates: Sasaki is a multi-disciplinary design firm spanning landscape architecture, urban planning, and architecture with significant work on mixed-use, campus, and public realm projects. Comparable to GroundLevel on commercial and campus design but materially larger and broader in scope.
• OLIN: OLIN is a landscape architecture, urban design, and planning studio known for high-design commercial, cultural, and public-realm projects. It is comparable to GroundLevel in client profile (developers, institutions) and design-led storytelling approach, though at larger scale.
• LandArc: LandArc is a Southern California-based landscape architecture firm serving residential, commercial, and hospitality developers. Highly comparable to GroundLevel in scale, regional focus on Southern California, and project typologies (mixed-use, multi-family, custom residential).

Broad incumbents

• AECOM: AECOM is a global infrastructure and design consultancy with a sizable landscape architecture practice embedded in its urban development and environment services. It competes for large campus, mixed-use, and public-realm landscape commissions that overlap with GroundLevel's enterprise project profile.
• Gensler: Gensler is a global architecture and design firm with an integrated landscape and urban design capability. It is both a core GroundLevel subconsultant partner and a broad incumbent competitor when developers seek single-vendor delivery on large mixed-use and campus projects.

Emerging players

• Hood Design Studio: Hood Design Studio is a design-oriented landscape architecture and urbanism practice with strong cultural and public-realm work. Comparable to GroundLevel on design-led storytelling and Southern California / West Coast project base, though typically positioned around civic and cultural rather than commercial developer clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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 GroundLevel