Van Dyke Landscape Architects

What Van Dyke Landscape Architects does

Van Dyke Landscape Architects (VDLA) is a privately held professional services firm founded in 1972 that provides landscape architecture and irrigation design consulting across Southern California. The firm operates from a Solana Beach headquarters and a Temecula satellite office, employing approximately 18 professionals including 4 Licensed Landscape Architects, 3 Recycled Water Site Supervisors, 3 Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditors, and 2 Certified Irrigation Designers. VDLA is a certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE Micro) under California Certificate #1188980.

VDLA delivers a vertically integrated 'A-Z' service offering covering landscape architectural design, water resource management, planning, graphic communications (including 3D renderings and licensed drone aerial imagery), construction administration, community outreach, and specialized municipality and HOA services. Its service portfolio spans twelve verticals including community development, education, civic, libraries, parks, commercial, federal/government, streetscapes, HOAs, water resource management, hospitality, and trails. Notable technical capabilities include irrigation central control system specification, GIS-based as-built documentation, and drone-based construction monitoring.

VDLA generates revenue through project-based professional services contracts with municipalities, commercial developers, land planners, public agencies, HOAs, and design-build contractors. Pricing is project-specific and quote-based, with no standardized public pricing. The firm relies on direct client relationships, referrals, and a 50-year reputation within the Southern California landscape architecture community, supplemented by a website, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook presence, and active membership in ASLA, BIA San Diego, Irrigation Association, CAI, EPA WaterSense, SMPS, ASABE, USGBC, and ASIC. Leadership includes President Yale Hooper, Principals Brett Allen and Denise Armijo, Principal Emeritus Mitch Phillippe, and a Director of Marketing & Business Development.

Name

Van Dyke Landscape Architects

Legal name

VDLA Landscape Architects

Website

https://vdla.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Van Dyke Landscape Architects (VDLA) is a Southern California landscape architecture and irrigation design firm, founded 1972, with ~18 professionals serving municipalities, commercial developers, HOAs, and public agencies across San Diego and Riverside counties.

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

SECONDARYHSAIABAJ

Commercial Landscape Design & Installation

Home & Personal Services/Landscaping, Lawn Care & Outdoor Maintenance/Landscape Design & Installation

SECONDARYBPABADAF

Landscape Design, Build & Installation (Hardscapes/Softscapes)

Business & Public Services/Facilities Management & Building Services/Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance

SECONDARYBPAHAKAD

Urban Planning & Master Planning

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

SECONDARYIMAIAIAE

Landscape Construction & Hardscaping (Patios, Retaining Walls, Outdoor Structures)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Industrial Services & Facility Operations/Landscaping, Groundskeeping & Snow Removal

Keywords

• Landscape architecture
• Site planning
• Irrigation design
• Construction administration
• Urban design

Headquarters

HQ city

Solana Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Landscape Architecture Professional Services: VDLA generates revenue through professional landscape architecture consulting services including conceptual design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration. Projects range from initial master planning through final implementation oversight.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Van Dyke Landscape Architects is a professional landscape architecture firm that provides planning, design, and construction services for outdoor environments. Engagements typically include site analysis, master planning, landscape and irrigation design, preparation of construction documents, and construction observation for public and private clients. The firm's work is delivered as fee-based design services rather than as a product.

Product overview

VDLA (Van Dyke Landscape Architects) is a landscape architecture firm offering a comprehensive suite of design and consulting services rather than a software product platform. The core service offerings include Landscape Architectural Design, Water Resource Management (irrigation design), Planning, Graphic Communications, Construction Services, Community Outreach, Municipality Services, and HOA Services. The company organizes its work across multiple portfolio categories spanning Community Development, Education, Civic, Libraries, Parks, Commercial, Federal/Government, Streetscapes, Homeowners Associations, Water Resource Management, Hospitality, and Trails. Projects range from small-scale residential improvements to large-scale municipal parks, federal cemeteries, commercial campuses, and regional trail systems. The firm operates as a single-service business model rather than a platform with modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Landscape Architecture and Site Planning Comprehensive landscape architecture and site planning services for parks, streetscapes, civic spaces, and private developments, delivered to public agencies, developers, and institutional clients.
• Irrigation Design Services Design of efficient irrigation systems integrated with landscape plans, including hydraulic calculations and water-conserving irrigation strategies suitable for Southern California projects.
• Construction Documentation and Administration Preparation of bid-ready construction documents, bid support, and on-site construction observation/administration to ensure the built work conforms to the design intent.

Quantifiable outcome

• Secured over $30,000 in water conservation rebates from Vallecitos Water District for San Elijo Hills project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Martin & Libby Structural EngineersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVDLA worked closely with Martin & Libby Structural Engineers to develop final design and details for the Paseo Santa Fe theme archway monument in Vista, CA.
• Ravatt Albrecht & AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVDLA served as landscape architecture subconsultant to project architect Ravatt Albrecht & Associates for the VA Medical Center design-build facility project in Menlo Park, CA.
• PSOMASminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVDLA served as landscape architect subconsultant to PSOMAS for the Catalina Street/El Camino Del Mar/Los Robles roundabout project for the City of Laguna Beach.
• Site Design GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVDLA worked closely with skate feature design firm Site Design Group, the City of Solana Beach, and the community for La Colonia Skate Park project.
• Gravel (Design-Builder)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVDLA teamed with local artist Betsy K. Schultz and design-builder Gravel in a collaborative effort to develop the unique 'Fire Wall' concept for Solana Beach Fire Station.
• Betsy K. Schultz (Artist)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVDLA collaborated with artist Betsy K. Schultz for the Fire Wall sculpture and landscape design at Solana Beach Fire Station.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Design Workshop: Design Workshop is a landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm with offices in the western U.S. It is highly comparable to VDLA in scope of services, public-sector focus, and water-conscious design philosophy for the arid West.
• LandDesign: LandDesign is a national landscape architecture, civil engineering, and urban design firm with deep public-sector and master-planned community expertise. It competes with VDLA on HOA, municipal, and commercial development projects, with broader geographic reach.
• MIG: MIG is a planning, design, and communications firm with a strong landscape architecture and public engagement practice in California. It is directly comparable to VDLA on civic, parks, and municipal projects, with deeper community outreach capacity.
• James Corner Field Operations: Field Operations is a high-profile landscape architecture and urban design firm known for large-scale public projects. It is comparable to VDLA in service category but competes at a premium, larger-project tier.
• Wenk Associates: Wenk Associates is a landscape architecture and urban design firm with deep expertise in water-sensitive design across the western U.S. Its sustainability, irrigation, and public-sector focus closely mirrors VDLA's value proposition.
• Sasaki: Sasaki is an integrated design practice spanning landscape architecture, urban planning, and architecture. Its public realm, campus, and waterfront work overlaps significantly with VDLA's higher-end institutional and civic portfolio.
• OLIN: OLIN is a landscape architecture, urban design, and planning studio with national and international reach. It competes for high-profile public realm, civic, and commercial projects of the type VDLA pursues but operates at a larger scale.
• SWA Group: SWA Group is one of the largest landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firms in the world, with a strong Southern California presence. It directly competes with VDLA on municipal, commercial, and master-planned community projects across the same geography.
• RHAA: RHAA is a landscape architecture and planning firm with California roots and a strong public-sector portfolio. It is a direct competitor to VDLA on municipal, education, and transit-adjacent landscape projects.

Broad incumbents

• AECOM (Landscape Architecture): AECOM is a global infrastructure and design firm with a substantial landscape architecture practice. It competes with VDLA on large public-sector and federal projects but operates at vastly greater scale and across broader geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/vdla.us
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vdlalandscapearchitects
• Instagraminstagram.com/vdla.us

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Van Dyke Landscape Architects