What Studio Sustena does

Studio Sustena is a Philadelphia-based, women-owned (WBE-certified) landscape architecture and civil engineering design firm founded in 1997 by Charlie Miller, widely recognized as the pioneer of the U.S. green roof industry under the firm's prior names Roofscapes, Inc. and Roofmeadow. The firm operates with 11+ professionals and provides integrated site design services — blending landscape architecture and civil engineering in a single engagement — to academic institutions, healthcare facilities, developers, corporate campuses, cultural institutions, and municipalities. Its core service lines are Integrated Site Design, Green Roof Design, Adaptive Planning, and Stewardship By Design.

The firm's technology is centered on proprietary physical methodologies rather than software. It coined the "Landscape Overlay" technique for building landscapes over existing urban fill, developed blue-green roof systems with under-pavement pancake cisterns, slope stabilization assemblies (banana cleats plus geo-grid net, warranted for 20 years), and holds U.S.-exclusive rights to Diadem's self-ballasted fall arrest system. Founder Charlie Miller authored four of the six published ASTM green roof standard methods, and the firm has designed more than 200 green roofs including the first in the U.S. Signature projects include Cira Green (Philadelphia's first elevated public park), the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center, the Prospect Park LeFrak Lakeside Center, the University of Virginia Hospital Contemplative Visitor Center green roof, and the $160M Central Park Davis Center.

Studio Sustena generates revenue through project-based professional services consulting, with project sizes ranging from small green roofs to large institutional campuses; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The firm relies on a portfolio-driven go-to-market supported by industry awards (AIA, SCUP, GRHC, ASLA), speaking engagements, and published works, rather than a dedicated sales function. Distribution is direct enterprise engagement with property owners, developers, institutions, and government entities, typically working as a sub-consultant to lead architects such as Stantec and Weiss/Manfredi.

Name

Studio Sustena

Legal name

Studio Sustena

Website

https://studio-sustena.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Studio Sustena is a Philadelphia-based, women-owned landscape architecture and civil engineering firm founded in 1997, pioneering U.S. green roof design and serving academic institutions, healthcare facilities, developers, corporate campuses, and municipalities with integrated site design and proprietary rooftop landscape systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Landscape Architecture Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA), Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)

Keywords

• Landscape architecture
• Green roof design
• Integrated site design
• Civil engineering services
• Stormwater management

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

Revenue model

1. Landscape Architecture and Civil Engineering Services: Professional services providing integrated site design blending landscape architecture with civil engineering. Services include master planning, green roof design, construction documentation, and stewardship by design services from pre-design through construction administration.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Studio Sustena is a full-service landscape architectural design firm providing integrated site design that blends landscape architecture with civil engineering. The firm's core services include Integrated Site Design, Green Roof Design, Adaptive Planning, and Stewardship By Design, with specialty expertise in landscapes on structure and constrained sites. The firm delivers projects from pre-design through construction administration for academic campuses, healthcare facilities, developers, cultural institutions, and municipalities across the United States.

Product overview

Studio Sustena is a full-service landscape architectural design firm offering integrated site design blending landscape architecture with civil engineering. The company provides four core service areas: Integrated Site Design, Green Roof Design, Adaptive Planning, and Stewardship By Design. The firm pioneered green roof design since 1997 (previously as Roofmeadow and Roofscapes Inc.) and is known for pioneering work on Cira Green, Philadelphia's first elevated public park. Studio Sustena specializes in landscapes on structure and constrained sites, with notable projects including Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center, Prospect Park LeFrak Lakeside Center, and various university campus projects. The company operates as a women-owned business with WBE certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Integrated Site Design

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ green roofs designed including first green roof in the U.S.
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• StanteccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio Sustena works with Stantec as architect on projects including West Chester University The Commons and Penn State Brandywine Student Union. Stantec provides architectural services while Studio Sustena provides landscape architecture and civil engineering.
• Weiss/ManfredicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio Sustena has collaborated with Weiss/Manfredi on multiple award-winning projects including Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center, Krishna P Singh Center for Nanotechnology, and 50 Harrison Street Hoboken redevelopment. Weiss/Manfredi serves as architect with Studio Sustena providing green roof specialty design.
• Central Park ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio Sustena was honored to design green roofs for the $160 million Davis Center project in collaboration with Central Park Conservancy as project landscape architect and owner. This represents one of New York's most significant public projects.
• Studio LudominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio Sustena collaborated with Studio Ludo on Waterloo Playground project, winning the Playspace International Design Competition. Studio Ludo is a design collaborator on play space projects.
• HabithéqueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHabithéque envisioned the Floating Water Workshop and serves as planning and design studio specializing in art, science, history, and innovation. Studio Sustena designed the three custom biome planters for the floating classroom.
• Temple UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTemple University's psychology department led the Urban Thinkscape multidisciplinary project. Temple professors assembled a team including architects, designers and builders to engage with a West Philadelphia community in a collaborative process.
• Make the World Better FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio Sustena continued design efforts with Make the World Better Foundation along with Urban Roots and Interface Studio Architects to bring Waterloo Playground design to fruition.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• OLIN: Philadelphia- and New York-based landscape architecture, planning, and urban design studio working on cultural institutions, campuses, and public spaces. Comparable service breadth, geography, and emphasis on integrated design and sustainability.
• SWA Group: National landscape architecture, planning, and urban design firm with strong portfolio in campus, waterfront, and resilient infrastructure projects. Comparable in scale and service mix to Studio Sustena's integrated design practice.
• Sasaki Associates: International design practice with significant landscape architecture, planning, and civil engineering capabilities across campuses and urban projects. Comparable as a multidisciplinary firm competing for similar institutional clients.
• Reed Hilderbrand: Landscape architecture and urban design firm focused on cultural institutions, campuses, and resilient site design. Highly comparable in project typology and design-driven approach to complex sites.
• Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects: Landscape architecture firm with strong portfolio in conservation-driven campus, park, and agricultural landscapes. Comparable in emphasis on ecological design and stewardship as Studio Sustena.
• Andropogon Associates: Philadelphia-based ecological landscape architecture firm specializing in restoration, green infrastructure, and campus projects. Closest geographic and philosophical peer to Studio Sustena, with similar emphasis on resilient, ecologically-driven site design.
• James Corner Field Operations: High-profile landscape architecture and urban design firm based in New York with deep expertise in complex, high-visibility public realm projects (e.g., High Line). Directly comparable to Studio Sustena in scale, prestige, and project types for institutional and public-sector clients.
• Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates: Brooklyn-based landscape architecture firm known for major public park and campus work (Brooklyn Bridge Park, University of Chicago). Highly comparable in project profile, size, and focus on landscapes on structure and urban transformation.

Broad incumbents

• Snøhetta: Global architecture and landscape architecture practice with established landscape and urban design capabilities. Operates at much larger scale and broader scope, but competes for similar high-prestige cultural, campus, and public projects where landscape is a defining element.

Others

• LiveRoof: Modular green roof system manufacturer and installer serving commercial and institutional projects. Adjacent peer in the green roof value chain rather than a direct design competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/roofmeadow
• YouTubeyoutube.com/roofscapes
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Roofmeadow/106248562761618

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Studio Sustena