What groundcubed does

groundcubed is a landscape architecture, urban design, and planning studio that delivers complex public realm, parks, streetscape, civic infrastructure, and zoological projects for government, municipal, institutional, and select private-sector clients. The firm operates from four integrated studios — Calgary (headquarters), Edmonton, Bow Valley (Canmore, Alberta), and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho — under a single multidisciplinary practice model. Its work spans master planning, transit-oriented development, complete streets design, athletic facilities, pedestrian bridges, urban plazas, and zoo habitats, with technical depth in Low Impact Development stormwater systems, inclusive and dementia-friendly design, and standards-based work such as World Athletics Class 2 certification and AZA/CAZA zoo accreditation.

The studio generates revenue through project-based professional services contracts, primarily won via competitive bidding, design competitions, and direct government commissions. Distribution is exclusively B2G/B2B enterprise field sales — there is no consumer product, self-serve channel, or publicly disclosed pricing. Customer acquisition leans on earned media (RAIC National Urban Design Award 2024, Calgary Mayor's Urban Design Awards 2024, 2025 Parks Excellence Award), press coverage (BBC Travel, Architecture Magazine), an active Instagram presence, and an Artist in Residence program ('resonance') that doubles as cultural marketing and talent magnet.

Notable engagements include the landscape architecture and public realm lead role on Scotia Place arena (opening fall 2027 with CMLC, City of Calgary, and Calgary Flames), the City of Calgary's first international design competition win (RiverWalk West), Edmonton's 7.3km 132 Avenue Renewal, the Nancy Pauw Pedestrian Bridge in Banff (~1 million annual pedestrians), 32km of the Canadian Rockies Rail Trail, and an ongoing zoo design practice with Wilder Institute / Calgary Zoo and Edmonton Valley Zoo. The firm differentiates through specialized domain expertise (zoological design, complete streets, LID stormwater), community-first engagement processes, and novel methodologies such as 'elastic public spaces' and 'design blitz' sessions.

Name

groundcubed

Legal name

groundcubed

Website

https://groundcubed.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

groundcubed is a landscape architecture, urban design, and planning studio with four integrated studios across Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton, Canmore) and Idaho, delivering parks, public realm, streetscape, civic infrastructure, and zoo design projects for government, municipal, and institutional clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Landscape Architecture and Urban Design Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Landscape Architectural Services (54132)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Retaining Walls & Slope Stabilization (Embankments, Rockfall Protection) (IMAFAEAH)

Keywords

• Landscape architecture services
• Urban design planning
• Public realm design
• Zoo habitat design
• Parks and open space

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Landscape architecture and design services: groundcubed generates revenue through professional services contracts for landscape architecture, urban design, and planning projects. Revenue is project-based, working primarily with government, municipal, institutional, and private-sector clients on public realm, park, streetscape, zoo, sports facility, and civic infrastructure projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

groundcubed is a landscape architecture, urban design, and planning studio delivering professional design services for parks, streetscapes, public realm, civic infrastructure, transit-oriented developments, and zoological institutions. Its portfolio spans master planning, detailed design, construction documentation, signage and wayfinding, and specialized zoo habitat design. The studio operates across four locations in Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton, Canmore) and Idaho (Coeur d'Alene) in western North America.

Product overview

Groundcubed is a noun in the lexicon of design — a landscape architecture, urban design, and planning studio offering specialized services including Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Zoo Design, and Signage & Wayfinding. The studio operates across multiple studio locations with integrated teams that collaborate on projects ranging from parks and streetscapes to major civic infrastructure. Their service portfolio includes landscape architecture for parks and open spaces, urban design for transit-oriented and master-planned communities, specialized zoo design practice (AZA/CAZA member), signage and wayfinding systems, and the resonance Artist in Residence program for fostering creativity at the intersection of art and design. Groundcubed's projects span municipal parks, athletic facilities, pedestrian bridges, urban plazas, streetscape revitalizations, and ecological restorations across Alberta and Idaho.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Landscape Architecture Core landscape architecture services for parks, open spaces, and natural environments, including site assessments, master planning, detailed design, construction documentation, and administration for diverse recreational and ecological projects. Target clients are municipal governments, developers, and cultural organizations.
• Urban Design Urban design and planning services for transit-oriented developments, streetscapes, public realm improvements, and neighborhood revitalization, with emphasis on walkable, inclusive, and climate-responsive communities. Target clients are municipalities, transit authorities, and private developers.
• Zoo Design Specialized zoological design practice creating immersive, naturalistic habitats and visitor experiences for zoos and aquariums, with expertise in animal wellbeing, conservation, and species-specific enclosure design. groundcubed is a corporate member of AZA and CAZA. Target clients are accredited zoological institutions.
• Signage and Wayfinding Design and implementation of signage systems, wayfinding elements, and interpretive features that guide visitors through public spaces while conveying cultural, historical, and educational narratives. Target clients are cultural institutions, parks, and event venues.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50,000+ visitors and 67 events hosted at Pixel Park in its first year, with 19 partner groups
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 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.

• GGA (Garner & Grimshaw Architects)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnergroundcubed partnered with GGA on the master plan for the Brookfield Residential YMCA at Seton — a 45-acre integrated community hub. GGA served as the prime design lead with groundcubed focusing on efficient multimodal transportation and exterior amenity design.
• Scheffer AndrewcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScheffer Andrew provided transportation engineering for the 132 Avenue Renewal project in Edmonton as part of the Building Great Neighbourhoods program. groundcubed led landscape architecture for the comprehensive urban design vision.
• Y StationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerY Station led public engagement for the 132 Avenue Renewal, collaborating with groundcubed's landscape architecture and Scheffer Andrew's transportation engineering to deliver a comprehensive community-driven urban design vision.
• AECOMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAECOM partnered with groundcubed on the Beaumaris Lake open space rehabilitation in Edmonton. AECOM provided engineering and technical expertise while groundcubed led detailed design for the East and West parks surrounding the lake.
• Tesla Motors CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTesla Motors Canada partnered with groundcubed at Pixel Park to install Calgary's largest EV charging site — 24 stalls including the city's first Level III superchargers — generating over 25,000 uses in its first year.
• Wilder Institute / Calgary Zoo / Edmonton Valley ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development Partnergroundcubed is a strategic design partner for the Wilder Institute, Calgary Zoo, and Edmonton Valley Zoo — holding corporate membership in both AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) and CAZA (Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums). The firm brings specialized zoo design expertise spanning habitat design, animal management, aquatics, artificial rockwork, and visitor experience.
• CMLC / City of Calgary / Calgary FlamescoreStrategic or Co-development Partnergroundcubed serves as landscape architecture and public realm design lead for Scotia Place arena — a generational civic investment involving CMLC, the City of Calgary, and the Calgary Flames, opening fall 2027 in Calgary's Culture + Entertainment District.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Janet Rosenberg & Studio: Toronto-based landscape architecture and urban design firm serving Canadian municipalities and institutions on parks, streetscapes, and public realm. Comparable practice mix and government client focus to groundcubed.
• SWA Group: Internationally recognized landscape architecture, urban design, and planning practice with strong portfolio of civic parks, public realm, and waterfront projects. Comparable as a multi-office design studio winning design competitions and serving government/developer clients on large-scale public infrastructure.
• W Architecture: Calgary-based landscape architecture studio with deep practice in civic, cultural, and park design. Strong regional peer in the same Calgary market with overlapping municipal client base.
• James Corner Field Operations: Internationally recognized urban design and landscape architecture practice with marquee public realm and waterfront projects. Comparable in winning international design competitions and serving large civic commissions as a design-led firm.
• OLIN: Landscape architecture, urban design, and planning studio known for award-winning public realm, parks, and cultural landscape projects. Comparable as a design-led practice competing for high-profile civic commissions via competitions and direct engagement.
• Sasaki Associates: Interdisciplinary design practice spanning landscape architecture, urban design, and planning with signature civic and campus projects. Directly comparable in combining landscape architecture with master planning for institutional and municipal clients.
• PFS Studio: Western Canadian landscape architecture studio with similarly broad practice across urban design, parks, and public realm projects. Directly comparable as a multi-office Canadian design firm serving municipal and developer clients on civic-scale projects.
• LandArc Design Group: Alberta-based landscape architecture and planning firm serving municipal, commercial, and residential developer clients in Western Canada. Directly comparable geographic overlap and practice scope.

Broad incumbents

• DIALOG: Large Canadian interdisciplinary design firm with integrated landscape architecture within a broader architecture/engineering portfolio. Comparable as a major Canadian firm serving municipal and developer clients across civic, residential, and institutional projects.
• Stantec (Landscape Architecture practice): Global design and engineering consultancy with landscape architecture and urban design capabilities embedded in larger infrastructure practice. Comparable as a firm competing for major public-sector landscape and urban design commissions across North America.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/groundcubed
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/groundcubed

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 groundcubed