What Michael A. Gilkey does

Michael A. Gilkey, Inc. is a second-generation, family-owned landscape architecture firm headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, serving affluent residential property owners in Southwest Florida including Sarasota, Bird Key, Casey Key, Longboat Key, and Lido Key. Founded in 1981 and currently led by Michael A. Gilkey, Jr. (licensed landscape architect with 20+ years of experience and University of Florida Distinguished Alumnus), the firm employs more than 30 professionals spanning landscape architects, designers, construction personnel, horticulturalists, and maintenance technicians.

The firm's offering is structured around three integrated revenue streams: (1) professional landscape architecture design services including site planning, plant selection, hardscape design, and project oversight; (2) design-build landscape construction covering installation, hardscape, pools, and outdoor living features; and (3) ongoing landscape maintenance delivered by in-house horticulturalists and a licensed arborist. Projects are quoted and priced on a custom basis according to scope, site conditions, and material specifications. Supporting the core service are two digital assets: a searchable Plant Database organized into 12 plant categories and a Project Elements Portfolio showcasing 24 landscape element types.

The firm goes to market through direct engagement with homeowners combined with collaborative partnerships with named architects (Guy Peterson, Cooper Johnson Smith Peterson, Greg Jones Architecture) and custom home builders (Murray Homes, Ross Built Custom Homes). Distribution is exclusively direct, with no resellers, franchises, or marketplace channels, and geographic reach is limited to Southwest Florida. Marketing is primarily reputation-driven through an extensive award portfolio (40+ recognitions including ASLA Florida's Frederic B. Stresau Award, NAHB Platinum Best in American Living Awards, and multiple Grand Aurora Awards), press coverage in national design publications, and active social media engagement.

Name

Michael A. Gilkey

Legal name

Michael A. Gilkey, Inc.

Website

https://magilkey.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Michael A. Gilkey, Inc. is a second-generation, family-owned landscape architecture firm in Sarasota, Florida, offering integrated design, construction, and maintenance services for affluent residential clients across Southwest Florida's coastal luxury market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Landscape Architecture Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Landscaping Services (561730)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG), Residential Landscape Design (HSAIABAA)

Keywords

• Landscape architecture services
• Residential landscape design
• Landscape construction
• Landscape maintenance
• Hardscape design

Headquarters

HQ city

Sarasota

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Landscape Architecture Design Services: Professional landscape architecture services including site planning, plant selection, hardscape design, and project oversight. Services are project-based with custom pricing based on project scope and complexity.
2. Landscape Construction and Installation: Design-build landscape installation services including plant installation, hardscape construction, pools, and outdoor living features. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts.
3. Landscape Maintenance Services: Ongoing landscape maintenance services delivered by in-house maintenance teams, providing recurring revenue from established client relationships.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Michael A. Gilkey, Inc. is a second-generation landscape architecture firm providing integrated residential landscape design, construction, and maintenance services in Southwest Florida. The company employs more than thirty landscape architects, designers, construction personnel, horticulturalists, and maintenance technicians to deliver custom outdoor living environments for high-end residential properties, from concept through ongoing garden care.

Product overview

Michael A. Gilkey, Inc. is a second-generation landscape architecture firm offering an integrated suite of services centered on residential landscape design, construction, and maintenance in Southwest Florida. The core offering is landscape architecture services encompassing conceptual site planning, plant and material design, and full project oversight. Supporting this are two digital resources: a Plant Database organized into 12 categories (Accents, Annuals, Edibles, Grasses, Groundcover, Large Shrubs/Hedges, Native Plants, Palms, Pollinator Plants, Shrubs, Trees, Vines) and a Project Elements Portfolio showcasing 24 types of landscape features (from Aggregate to Wood Work). The company also offers specialized design modules including Exterior Design, as well as dedicated Construction and Maintenance divisions to deliver projects from concept through ongoing care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Landscape Architecture Services
• Landscape Design
• Landscape Construction
• Landscape Maintenance
• Exterior Design

Quantifiable outcome

• Award-winning portfolio with 40+ industry recognitions including Frederic B. Stresau Award (ASLA Florida's highest honor) and multiple Platinum/Gold Best in American Living Awards
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• Murray HomescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration with custom home builder Murray Homes on multiple award-winning residential projects including Bird Key Garden and Urban Modern. Builder is recognized as a key partner in achieving integrated design outcomes and has been involved in projects receiving ASLA Florida Chapter recognition and Southeast Building Conference Aurora Awards.
• Guy Peterson (Architect)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership with renowned architect Guy Peterson on award-winning projects. The Urban Modern project with this architect has been featured in Dwell Magazine and has won Florida ASLA's Frederic B. Stresau Award (highest honor) and multiple Southeast Building Conference Aurora Awards including Grand Aurora Award.
• Greg Jones ArchitecturekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural partnership on Modern Coastal project (2019) which won Gold Best of American Living Award from National Association of Home Builders. Project demonstrates expertise in recreating native coastal hammock and dune systems.
• Cooper Johnson Smith PetersonkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural collaboration on Van Wezel Estate historical renovation (2022) on Lido Key, involving restoration of exterior landscape experience with modern materials and technologies.
• Michael K. Walker AssociateskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Modern Coastal project (2019) that achieved Gold Best of American Living Award recognition.
• University of Florida Department of Landscape ArchitecturekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichael A. Gilkey, Jr. serves on the University's Advisory Board. The company participates in student mentorship, presentations at the College of Design, and has received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the institution.
• Future Landscape Architects of AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany team won the Curriculum Challenge Award (2018) recognizing educational contribution to future landscape architects through school presentations and mentorship programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Tropic Greenery: Sarasota-area landscape design, installation, and maintenance firm serving Southwest Florida residential and commercial clients. Local comparable on geography, full design-build-maintain service model, and regional plant expertise, though with a broader and less luxury-skewed client mix.

Broad incumbents

• Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects: Nationally recognized landscape architecture firm with both residential estates and large-scale public/conservation work. Comparable in award profile and coastal/restoration expertise, but operates at a materially larger scale across more geographies and project types.
• BrightView Landscapes: Largest U.S. commercial landscape services company offering design, build, and maintenance at national scale. Comparable on the integrated design-build-maintain service model, though primarily commercial rather than luxury residential and operating at vastly greater scale.

Direct peers

• Hollander Design Landscape Architects: Luxury residential landscape architecture firm based in New York serving high-end private clients with custom design, often collaborating with leading architects and builders. Directly comparable as a similarly sized, award-driven boutique practice focused on premium residential commissions.
• Land Morphology: Pacific Northwest luxury residential landscape architecture studio recognized for native plantings, regionalism, and integration with architects and builders on custom homes. Strong comparable on design philosophy, sustainability emphasis, and boutique premium-residential positioning.
• Janice Parker Landscape Architects: High-end residential landscape design firm based in Greenwich, CT serving affluent East Coast homeowners with custom garden design and integration with architects. Comparable as a boutique luxury-residential design practice with strong architect/builder referral flow.
• Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects: Established residential and institutional landscape architecture practice with award-winning custom residential work and a focus on contextually appropriate, sustainable design. Comparable in design sensibility and high-end residential orientation, though somewhat broader in scope.
• Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture: San Francisco-based award-winning landscape architecture firm with a strong residential portfolio emphasizing minimalist, context-driven design. Comparable as a boutique, award-recognized residential practice with national publications and architect collaborations.
• Edmund Hollander Landscape Architect Design: Long-established New York luxury residential landscape architecture practice serving private estates with award-winning gardens and collaboration with leading architects. Direct comparable on client segment, scale, and award-driven premium positioning.
• Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architecture: Vermont-based residential landscape architecture firm specializing in custom luxury homes, historic estate restoration, and integration with architect-led design teams. Comparable as a similarly boutique, award-recognized practice serving affluent private clients through collaborative engagements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/magilkey
• Facebookfacebook.com/MAGilkey
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michael-a-gilkey-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/magilkey

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 Michael A. Gilkey