Refugia Design/Build
Refugia Design/Build is an ecological landscape design-build firm founded in 2015 and based in Narberth, Pennsylvania, serving residential, commercial, nonprofit, and public-garden clients across the Philadelphia Main Line, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Washington DC with native plant design, installation, and recurring stewardship services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersNarberth, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Refugia Design/Build does
Refugia Design/Build is a privately held, bootstrapped ecological landscape design-build firm founded in 2015 by Jeff Lorenz and headquartered in Narberth, Pennsylvania, on Philadelphia's Main Line. The company designs, installs, and maintains native plant landscapes for residential homeowners, commercial properties, nonprofits, and public gardens across the Philadelphia Main Line, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Washington DC. Core services include full-service design (priced $1,200 to $4,800+ across Yard, Townhome, Cottage, and Farm & Estate tiers), installation ($5,800 to $68,000+), and recurring Land Stewardship Services including a one-year plant guarantee and ongoing site visits. The proprietary Greenway Network, a connected system of 320+ native habitat gardens functioning as stepping-stone ecological corridors, and the annual Ecological Literacy Ambassador Program together form the firm's category-defining community and methodology layer.
The underlying technical approach is centered on native plant selection adapted to local ecotypes, meadow and rain garden design for stormwater management, sustainable hardscaping (locally sourced Pennsylvania bluestone, pine straw mulch, electric tools), and biodiversity-supportive planting design. Delivery is consultative and direct: on-site consultations, design proposals with revisions, installation, and stewardship, with project phasing available across multiple seasons. Distribution combines direct field sales, virtual design consultations, and a strong referral network leveraging Greenway Network members and earned media from the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show (a major exhibiting platform since 2016) plus coverage in Fine Gardening, Martha Stewart, Architectural Digest, Gardenista, and Landscape Architecture Magazine.
Revenue mechanics are project-based professional services (design fees plus installation labor and plant materials) supplemented by subscription-like recurring stewardship contracts. Pricing is tiered by property size and complexity, with built elements (hardscaping, fencing, lighting, outdoor living) quoted separately and frequently phased across multiple years. Customer acquisition relies on brand-led demand generation (Flower Show exhibitions, press, speaking engagements) plus community referral, with the firm carrying a design team led by a registered landscape architect, install crews, and a dedicated stewardship team that supports the recurring-revenue stream.
Refugia Design/Build firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Refugia Design/Build
- Legal name
- Refugia Design
- Website
- https://refugiadesign.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Refugia Design/Build is an ecological landscape design-build firm founded in 2015 and based in Narberth, Pennsylvania, serving residential, commercial, nonprofit, and public-garden clients across the Philadelphia Main Line, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Washington DC with native plant design, installation, and recurring stewardship services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Refugia Design/Build industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Landscape Design Services
- NAICS
- Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Landscaping Services (561730), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Landscape Design, Build & Installation (Hardscapes/Softscapes) (BPABADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Residential Landscape Design (HSAIABAA), Commercial Landscape Design & Installation (HSAIABAJ), Landscape Renovation & Re-Design (Yard Makeovers) (HSAIABAC), Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)
Keywords
Where Refugia Design/Build is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Narberth
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Refugia Design/Build business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Landscape Design Services: Custom landscape design for entire properties with comprehensive site analysis, concept design, revisions, and final design detailing all plants, materials and cost of installation. Design costs range from $1,200 to $4,800+ depending on property size.
- Landscape Installation: Full-service installation of designed landscapes including native plantings, hardscaping, and outdoor living components. Planting costs range from $5,800 to $68,000+ depending on property size.
- Comprehensive Landscape Management: Ongoing stewardship and maintenance services including plant health assessment, invasive management, mulching, and spring clean-up. Includes one year plant guarantee with regular visits throughout the first year.
- Hourly Consultations: At their discretion, Refugia offers hourly consultations for clients seeking guidance without full design-build services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Yard (200-800 sf): Defined areas such as a yard, pool deck or patio edge, bed/planted space |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Townhome (800 sf – 1/4 acre): Entire Property |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Cottage (1/4 acre – 1/2 acre) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Farm & Estate (1/2 acre +) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Refugia Design/Build product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Refugia Design/Build provides full-service native landscape design, installation, and ongoing land stewardship for residential, commercial, and nonprofit clients in the Mid-Atlantic region. Services span consultation and site analysis, concept and final landscape design, native plantings, hardscaping, rain gardens, meadow conversions, and one-year plant-guaranteed stewardship. Revenue is generated primarily through design fees ($1,200 to $4,800+) and planting/installation costs ($5,800 to $68,000+) tiered by property size, plus recurring stewardship contracts.
Product overview
Refugia Design/Build is a native landscape design-build company operating since 2015 as a single unified service offering that encompasses consultation, landscape master planning, installation, and ongoing land stewardship. Their core product is Native Landscape Design-Build, which integrates design, installation, and stewardship into a cohesive offering. Key portfolio products include the proprietary Greenway Network methodology (a network of 320+ connected native habitats promoting ecological connectivity), the Ecological Literacy Ambassador Program (annual community education initiative), and specialized services including Meadow Installation, Rain Garden Design, and Custom Hardscaping & Outdoor Living. They serve residential clients (with tiered Property Type Packages ranging from Yard to Farm & Estate) as well as commercial, nonprofit, and public garden clients. Their Integrated Approach combines design philosophy with installation craft and ecological stewardship, all grounded in sustainable practices and native plant expertise.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Native Landscape Design-Build Full-service landscape design, installation, and stewardship using native plants that emphasizes ecological function, beauty, and resilience. Includes on-site consultation, site analysis, concept design, revisions, final design with full plant and material specification, installation, and one-year plant guarantee with ongoing land stewardship. Targeted at residential homeowners, commercial properties, and nonprofit/public garden clients in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Quantifiable outcome
- 320+ native landscapes connected through Greenway Network
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Refugia Design/Build
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Refugia Design/Build technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Refugia Design/Build partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Douglas W. TallamycoreDoug Tallamy, Entomologist, Ecologist & Conservationist and best-selling author of 'Bringing Nature Home', 'Nature's Best Hope', and 'The Nature of Oaks', has provided endorsement and advocacy for Refugia's Greenway Network initiative. He has publicly stated support for Refugia's conservation efforts addressing climate change and biodiversity loss through landscape design.
- Ecological Literacy Ambassadors (various organizations)coreAnnual co-sponsored projects with 501(c)(3) organizations, for-profit businesses, local government, foundations, public gardens and philanthropists. Refugia provides donation of materials, labor and project management to support matching funds. Partners include entities like Media-Upper Providence Library for rain garden projects.
- Bryn Mawr Film InstitutecoreCollaboration to fulfill Township Natural Features Code requiring conservation of natural features for ecosystem function. Created holistic ecosystem within BMFI's landscape beds for functional, resilient landscape promoting health of humans and wildlife.
- Local Wholesale GrowersminorLocal wholesale growers who share Refugia's values including using local ecotypes, limiting pesticide and herbicide-use, and producing high quality plant material that will thrive in the landscape.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Refugia Design/Build competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Davey Tree Expert Company: Large national landscape and tree services company offering residential and commercial grounds care, design, and installation; competing in adjacent categories at much larger scale.
- Bartlett Tree Experts: National tree care and landscape services firm with residential and commercial services including planting and design; broader portfolio at much greater scale, overlapping on plant care and stewardship services.
- OLIN: Philadelphia-headquartered landscape architecture firm where Refugia's COO previously worked; operates at much larger corporate/institutional scale but with overlapping plant design expertise and ecological practice.
Direct peers
- Level Green Landscaping: Mid-Atlantic full-service commercial and residential landscape firm operating in the same geographic corridor; comparable service mix (design, installation, maintenance) though broader and less ecology-focused.
- Mariani Landscape: Private luxury residential landscape design-build firm with comparable high-end design aesthetic and large-property service model; similar consultative sales approach and premium pricing.
Regional players
- Mt. Cuba Center: Hockessin, DE-based native plant and ecological gardening research center; overlapping mission around native plants and ecological literacy, with comparable Mid-Atlantic geographic focus and ecosystem partnerships.
Others
- SiteOne Landscape Supply: Largest national distributor of landscape supplies, hardscapes, and nursery products; adjacent industry infrastructure rather than competitor, but a benchmark for category scale and supply economics.
- Wild Ones: National native plant advocacy organization driving homeowner demand for ecological landscaping; an ecosystem/advocacy partner rather than competitor, but a primary demand-generation channel for Refugia's category.
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Native plant research, education, and demonstration center affiliated with UT Austin; ecosystem enabler that legitimizes and educates the native landscaping category that Refugia monetizes commercially.
- North Creek Nurseries: Pennsylvania-based wholesale nursery specializing in native plants; key upstream supplier category participant whose plant availability and quality directly shape Refugia's installation economics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Refugia Design/Build social profiles
Digital presenceRefugia Design/Build financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Refugia Design/Build leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Refugia Design/Build funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Refugia Design/Build M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Refugia Design/Build
What does Refugia Design/Build do?
Refugia Design/Build provides full-service native landscape design, installation, and ongoing land stewardship for residential, commercial, and nonprofit clients in the Mid-Atlantic region. Services span consultation and site analysis, concept and final landscape design, native plantings, hardscaping, rain gardens, meadow conversions, and one-year plant-guaranteed stewardship. Revenue is generated primarily through design fees ($1,200 to $4,800+) and planting/installation costs ($5,800 to $68,000+) tiered by property size, plus recurring stewardship contracts.
Is Refugia Design/Build a public or private company?
Refugia Design/Build is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Refugia Design/Build founded?
Refugia Design/Build was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Refugia Design/Build based?
Refugia Design/Build is headquartered in Narberth, United States, in the North America region.
How does Refugia Design/Build make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Landscape Design Services are the primary driver. The others are landscape Installation, comprehensive Landscape Management and hourly Consultations.
Who are Refugia Design/Build's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Davey Tree Expert Company, Bartlett Tree Experts and OLIN. Direct peers are Level Green Landscaping and Mariani Landscape. Mt. Cuba Center is listed as a regional player. Others are SiteOne Landscape Supply, Wild Ones, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and North Creek Nurseries.
Does Refugia Design/Build have an API?
No public API is recorded for Refugia Design/Build.
What industry is Refugia Design/Build in?
Refugia Design/Build's product category is Landscape Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPABADAF, Landscape Design, Build & Installation (Hardscapes/Softscapes), with a secondary code of HSAIABAA, Residential Landscape Design. Its NAICS code is 541320.