What SLA does

SLA is an internationally renowned nature-based design studio headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, founded in 1994 by Stig L. Andersson. The firm operates 130 specialists across twelve disciplines (landscape architecture, biology, anthropology, city planning, forest engineering, lighting design, and computational design) and more than fifteen nationalities, with additional offices in Aarhus and Oslo. SLA designs cities, public spaces, and nature at scales ranging from city-wide masterplans to neighborhood pocket parks, serving government agencies, real estate developers, corporations, healthcare and education institutions, and international development organizations across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East.

The studio's core service offering is interdisciplinary nature-based design integrating landscape architecture with rigorous biological and anthropological research. Its primary proprietary technology is SLIM (SLA Landscaping Information Modelling), a custom-built computational design platform that merges real-time 3D modeling with data-driven feedback on biodiversity impact, irrigation needs, carbon sequestration, plant viability, social programming, and lifecycle cost. SLIM was operationalized through the design of 104 neighborhood parks in Abu Dhabi and represents a differentiated capability within the studio's workflow. Flagship projects include the New Rouge National Urban Park (114 sq km, Ontario), MIND Milan Innovation District (100 ha), Downsview Framework Plan (520 acres, Toronto), Quayside (Toronto), Bjørvika masterplan (Oslo), UN17 Village (Copenhagen), and China Mobile Nature Campus (Nanjing).

SLA operates a project-based professional services revenue model, securing engagements through international design competitions, direct client commissioning, and collaborative multi-firm teams with tier-one partners such as Henning Larsen, Perkins & Will, Lendlease, and Waterfront Toronto. FY2023 revenue was 116.7M DKK (~$15.7M USD) with a 73.3% gross margin, 7.9% net margin, and 47% equity ratio. The firm is privately held by a partner group of three senior partners, ten partners, and seven associate partners, with no external parent or institutional investor.

Name

SLA

Legal name

SLA A/S

Website

https://sla.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SLA is a Copenhagen-based nature-based design studio founded in 1994 with 130 specialists across 12 disciplines, serving government, real estate, healthcare, and institutional clients worldwide through landscape architecture, urban planning, and biodiversity projects enabled by its proprietary SLIM computational design platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Landscape Architecture & Urban Design Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (541320)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Landscape architecture services
• Urban planning design
• Nature-based design
• Biodiversity strategy consulting
• Climate adaptation design

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Landscape Architecture and Design Services: SLA generates revenue through commissioned landscape architecture, urban planning, and nature-based design projects. Projects range from city-wide masterplans to neighborhood pocket parks, national biodiversity strategies, and public space designs. Revenue is project-based and derived from public and private sector clients globally.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SLA is a nature-based design studio providing landscape architecture, urban planning, biodiversity strategy, and climate adaptation design services. The firm designs cities, public spaces, and nature at all scales—from city-wide masterplans to neighborhood pocket parks and national biodiversity strategies. It serves governments, municipalities, real estate developers, corporations, hospitals, and universities across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East, with a 130-person interdisciplinary team spanning 12 disciplines including landscape architecture, biology, anthropology, and city planning.

Product overview

SLA is an internationally renowned nature-based design studio with approximately 130 landscape architects, biologists, anthropologists, and city planners. The studio operates as a unified practice offering landscape architecture, urban planning, climate adaptation, and biodiversity strategy services. Its primary technology offering is SLIM (SLA Landscaping Information Modelling)—a proprietary computational design platform that integrates real-time 3D modelling with data-driven feedback for biodiversity impact, irrigation, carbon sequestration, plant viability, and lifecycle cost assessment. SLA's portfolio spans urban masterplans, public parks, climate adaptation projects, residential developments, and commercial landscapes across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nature-Based Design Services
• Climate Adaptation Solutions

Quantifiable outcome

• 13,194 tonnes of carbon sequestered annually by Toronto's ravine forests (referenced in Toronto's official biodiversity strategy)
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• The Waterfront Regeneration TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA collaborated with The Waterfront Regeneration Trust to create a Shared Vision for the New Rouge National Urban Park in Ontario, Canada. The trust, founded by Hon. David Crombie, is a key partner in this landmark urban park expansion project spanning 114 sq km.
• Friends of the Rouge National Urban ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA partnered with Friends of the Rouge National Urban Park alongside the Waterfront Regeneration Trust to develop the Shared Vision for the New Rouge National Urban Park.
• Greenberg ConsultantssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the coalition of partners collaborating on the Shared Vision for the New Rouge National Urban Park in Ontario.
• Canadian Urban InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the coalition of partners collaborating on the Shared Vision for the New Rouge National Urban Park in Ontario.
• School of Cities, University of TorontosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the coalition of partners collaborating on the Shared Vision for the New Rouge National Urban Park in Ontario.
• Alliance for a Liveable OntariosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the coalition of partners collaborating on the Shared Vision for the New Rouge National Urban Park in Ontario.
• LendleasecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA has designed the Public Realm & Landscape Masterplan for MIND – Milan Innovation District in collaboration with Lendlease, the international development company leading the project. Lendlease is developing the 100 ha former EXPO site into a global innovation district since 2019.
• ArexpocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA works with Arexpo, a private company whose shareholders include the Italian Ministry of Finance, Region of Lombardy, and Municipality of Milan, on the MIND project.
• Allies & MorrisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA collaborated with Allies & Morrison as masterplanner on the MIND – Milan Innovation District project.
• PiuarchsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA worked with local architect Piuarch on the MIND – Milan Innovation District masterplan.
• LANDsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA collaborated with local landscape architect LAND on the MIND – Milan Innovation District masterplan.
• Schmidt Hammer Lassen / Perkins & WillcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA designed the China Mobile Nature Campus in collaboration with Schmidt Hammer Lassen / Perkins & Will as the architecture firm.
• NrepcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA is the landscape architect for UN17 Village, developed by Nrep — the world's first construction project designed to integrate all 17 UN SDGs.
• SwecosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering and technical consultant on the UN17 Village project.
• LendagersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability consultant collaborating on UN17 Village.
• CG JensensupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for the UN17 Village project.
• Miljøfyrtårn (Norwegian Environmental Lighthouse)supportingOthersSLA is sustainability-certified under the Norwegian Miljøfyrtårn program, documenting and tracking efforts in relation to working environment and external environment.
• Architects Declare DenmarksupportingOthersSLA is one of the founding signatories of Architects Declare Denmark.
• United Nations Global CompactsupportingOthersSLA is a proud member of the United Nations Global Compact.
• Downsview Framework Plan Partners (Dream, Great Gulf, Adjaye Associates, Henning Larsen, Alison Brooks Architects, KPMB, Murray Twohig)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA is part of the multi-firm team developing the 520-acre Downsview Framework Plan in Toronto, including YZD Plaza as the first tangible step in transforming the former Downsview Airport into a mixed-use neighbourhood. The team includes Dream Unlimited Corp, Great Gulf Group, Adjaye Associates, Henning Larsen, Alison Brooks Architects, KPMB Architects, and Murray Twohig.
• Northcrest DevelopmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA designed YZD Plaza in collaboration with Northcrest Developments — the first public activation of the 370-acre YZD Development project in Toronto.
• Waterfront TorontocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA is working with Waterfront Toronto on the Quayside development — Canada's first all-electric, zero-carbon neighborhood on 12 acres (4.9 hectares) of Toronto's waterfront.
• Arkitektforeningen & Dreyers FondsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA's vision for the Skjern Å River System was developed as part of Akademisk Arkitektforening's and Dreyers Fonds' open call 'Vandets Veje' ('Ways of Water').
• TN Plus, Biecher Architectes, and otherssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA led the landscape design for the Ordener-Poissonniers 'Jardin des Mecanos' masterplan in Paris, collaborating with TN Plus, Biecher Architectes, Niney et Marca Architectes, Bourbouze & Graindorge, AAVP, OASIIS, Attitudes Urbanines, and OTEIS.
• Dream Unlimited Corp and Great Gulf GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA acts as Lead Landscape and Public Space Designer for the Quayside development with Dream Unlimited Corp and Great Gulf Group — Canada's first all-electric, zero-carbon neighborhood.
• Perkins & WillcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA is leading landscape and public space design for Espace Canevas in Gatineau, Quebec in close collaboration with architects Perkins & Will — transforming a 1965 shopping mall into a 15-acre nature-rich neighborhood.
• BrigilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA is working with Brigil, a Canadian developer, on the $1.3 billion Espace Canevas urban regeneration project in Gatineau, Quebec.
• Gehl ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA won 1st prize in the 2005 international competition for Oslo's Bjørvika masterplan together with Gehl Architects.
• RealdaniasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA's 'City of a Billion Pines' exhibition in Beijing received financial support from Realdania.
• Danish Cultural InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA's 'City of a Billion Pines' exhibition was realized in collaboration with the Danish Cultural Center.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SWA Group: SWA Group is one of the world's largest pure-play landscape architecture and urban design firms, competing with SLA on the same marquee public park, waterfront, and masterplanning commissions across North America, the Middle East, and Asia.
• Sasaki: Sasaki is an integrated design practice combining architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, and ecology at city scale — directly comparable to SLA's interdisciplinary nature-based design studio model and head-to-head on masterplanning competitions for public realm and urban regeneration projects.
• James Corner Field Operations: Field Operations is a globally recognized landscape architecture and urban design studio behind High Line and many large-scale public realm projects — a direct peer for SLA on climate-adaptive parks, waterfronts, and high-profile masterplans.
• Snøhetta: Snøhetta is a Norwegian-rooted multidisciplinary design practice integrating architecture, landscape, and urban design — a direct competitor to SLA in Nordic public sector tenders and increasingly on international masterplans like SLA's Oslo and Milan projects.
• OLIN: OLIN is a Philadelphia-based landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm with a research-driven interdisciplinary practice — directly comparable to SLA's blend of design excellence and applied ecology/anthropology.
• Gehl Architects (Gehl): Gehl is a Copenhagen- and San Francisco-based urban planning and public space design firm with which SLA co-won the Bjørvika masterplan in 2005; it competes on similar people-centered public realm and city-making commissions globally.

Broad incumbents

• HOK: HOK is a large global AEC firm offering landscape architecture as part of a broader planning, architecture, and engineering portfolio — a broad incumbent competing with SLA on integrated urban regeneration projects for municipalities and institutions.
• Henning Larsen (Rambøll): Henning Larsen is a Nordic-rooted architecture firm (now part of Rambøll) with deep urban design and landscape capabilities and a frequent design partner of SLA on Quayside, Downsview, and other Toronto masterplans — a broad incumbent in the same project teams.
• Perkins&Will: Perkins&Will is a global architecture practice with a sizable landscape architecture studio and a repeat co-design partner of SLA on projects like China Mobile Nature Campus and Espace Canevas — a broad incumbent that competes for the same developer-led urban projects.
• Schmidt Hammer Lassen: Schmidt Hammer Lassen is a Danish-rooted architecture firm (now part of Perkins&Will) with significant landscape and urban design work and historical SLA co-design on projects like the China Mobile Nature Campus — a broad incumbent often collaborating on the same commissions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/slaarchitects
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sla-a-s
• Instagraminstagram.com/sla_architects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 SLA