Studio Balcones
Studio Balcones is a women-owned, WBE/DBE/HUB-certified landscape architecture firm founded in 2009 in Austin, Texas, serving residential, commercial, hospitality, and civic clients across the Southwest. In March 2025, it merged with Lionheart and Connect One Design.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Studio Balcones does
Studio Balcones is a women-owned landscape architecture firm founded in 2009 in Austin, Texas by Ilse Frank and Jennifer Orr. The firm is WBE, DBE, and HUB certified, and operates with 1-10 employees. It provides landscape architecture services across residential, commercial, hospitality, affordable housing, and civic and institutional segments, with a geographic focus on Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. Its project portfolio includes high-visibility public-sector commissions such as the Austin Light Rail Implementation Plan (Project Connect) and the City of Austin Long Range Parks Plan, alongside private development work. The firm is multi-award-winning and recognized in the regional landscape architecture community.
In 2023, Michael Meihaus joined as the firm's third principal, transitioning it from a two-founder partnership into a three-principal structure. In March 2025, Studio Balcones merged with Lionheart (a planning firm) and Connect One Design under the Lionheart name, broadening the combined entity's service lines into urban planning, urban design, and engineering. The firm operates on a project-based professional services billing model and has no disclosed external funding or venture capital involvement, functioning as a privately held partnership.
Post-merger, the combined entity competes as a multi-disciplinary planning and design platform rather than a standalone landscape architecture boutique, though the Studio Balcones brand and WBE/DBE/HUB certifications remain a distinct competitive asset within the new structure. The firm's competitive positioning is built on principal-level expertise, visible public-sector wins, and diversity certifications that confer preferential treatment on publicly funded bids.
Studio Balcones firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Studio Balcones
- Legal name
- Studio Balcones
- Website
- https://studiobalcones.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Studio Balcones is a women-owned, WBE/DBE/HUB-certified landscape architecture firm founded in 2009 in Austin, Texas, serving residential, commercial, hospitality, and civic clients across the Southwest. In March 2025, it merged with Lionheart and Connect One Design.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Studio Balcones industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Landscape Architecture Services
- NAICS
- Landscape Architectural Services (54132)
- SIC
- Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)
Keywords
Where Studio Balcones is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Studio Balcones business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Landscape Architecture Services: Professional landscape architecture services provided directly to residential, commercial, and civic clients. Revenue is generated through design consulting fees for landscape architecture design, planning, and project management services. Projects range from residential gardens to large-scale civic/institutional developments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Studio Balcones product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Studio Balcones provides ecologically-sensitive landscape architecture services including master planning, site design, green stormwater infrastructure design, native plant community design, wildland restoration, and urban park planning. The firm serves residential, commercial, civic/institutional, and affordable housing clients across Central Texas and the Southwest, with expertise in LEED, SITES, and Austin Energy Green Building certification standards. Revenue is generated through project-based professional design fees.
Product overview
Studio Balcones is a women-owned landscape architecture studio offering comprehensive landscape architecture services across residential, commercial, civic/institutional, and planning sectors. The firm specializes in ecologically-sensitive design that integrates natural systems into urban environments, with particular expertise in green stormwater infrastructure, native plant communities, and resilient landscapes. Their portfolio spans projects including mixed-use developments (Frank.), commercial transformations (Austin Oaks), civic transportation hubs (CARTS Bus Plaza), public parks (Roger Lavon Taylor Sr Plaza), affordable housing (Cardinal Point, Homestead Oaks), and urban planning initiatives (Austin Parks Long Range Plan). Projects consistently incorporate SITES certification standards, LEED ratings, and sustainable design principles including rainwater harvesting, native plantings, and habitat restoration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Landscape Architecture Services Ecologically-sensitive landscape architecture services for residential, commercial, civic/institutional, and planning projects, including master planning, site design, green stormwater infrastructure design, native plant community integration, and wildland restoration. Expertise covers SITES and LEED certification standards with deliverables spanning from residential gardens to large-scale civic and institutional developments.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% stormwater capture and treatment on-site achieved at CARTS Bus Terminal
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Studio Balcones
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Studio Balcones technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Studio Balcones partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- LionheartflagshipStrategic merger combining three award-winning, women-owned firms. Studio Balcones, Lionheart, and Connect One Design have joined forces under the Lionheart name. This merger creates a powerhouse of planners and landscape architects serving Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. Founded in 2016 by Rebecca Leonard, Lionheart brings inclusive design process and commitment to reconnecting people with nature.
- Connect One DesignflagshipStrategic merger combining three award-winning, women-owned firms. Founded in 2010 by Gyles Thornley and Sara Tie, Connect One Design is based in Basoft, Colorado, bringing expertise in sustainable and resilient landscapes that celebrate the intersection of people and place.
- Austin Transit PartnershipcoreCollaboration on Austin Light Rail Implementation Plan. Studio Balcones (now Lionheart) is spearheading landscape design for stations along the new Austin Light Rail in collaboration with HKS, UNStudio, and Gehl.
- The Trail Conservancy (formerly The Trail Foundation)coreLong-standing partnership on Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail projects. Studio Balcones has worked on multiple trail projects including Boardwalk Furnishings design using reclaimed white oak trees, and Green Stormwater Infrastructure installations. Team members volunteer on various Trail Conservancy committees.
- Jackson McElhaney ArchitectscoreCollaborated on CARTS | CapMetro | Richard Moya Bus Plaza project as part of the design team.
- McCann Adams StudiocoreCollaborated on CARTS | CapMetro | Richard Moya Bus Plaza project as part of the design team.
- CivilitudecoreCollaborated on CARTS | CapMetro | Richard Moya Bus Plaza project as part of the design team.
- Michael Hsu Office of ArchitecturecoreLong-standing collaboration on multiple projects including Austin Oaks Business Park and Home Slice Pizza North Loop.
- DunawaycoreCollaborated on Austin Oaks Business Park project.
- Strata LandscapecoreCollaborated on Austin Oaks Business Park project.
- StorybuiltcoreDeveloper for Frank. mixed-use development project at 900 S 1st Street.
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Ecological Design GroupcoreCollaborated on Frank. project for ecological design guidance.
- Kirksey ArchitecturecoreCollaborated on Pharr Tennis Center renovation project.
- Carter Design AssociatescoreCollaborated on Pharr Tennis Center renovation project.
- PGALcoreCollaborated on Marshalling Yard project for City of Austin Convention Center expansion.
- City of AustincoreOngoing collaborative contract with City of Austin for design of landscapes at 5 Fire and EMS stations. Also collaborated on Marshalling Yard project and parks planning.
- WRT DesigncoreStudio Balcones served as local subconsultant for Austin's Long Range Plan: Our Parks, Our Future in collaboration with WRT Design.
- RIOScoreCollaborating on Austin Light Rail Implementation Plan landscape design.
- HKScoreCollaborating on Austin Light Rail Implementation Plan landscape design.
- UNStudiocoreCollaborating on Austin Light Rail Implementation Plan landscape design.
- GehlcoreCollaborating on Austin Light Rail Implementation Plan landscape design.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Studio Balcones competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SWA Group: SWA Group is a large, established national landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm with deep roots in Texas. Comparable in serving civic, commercial, and large-scale planning projects but at much larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Studio Balcones.
- LandDesign: LandDesign is a large multi-office landscape architecture, civil engineering, and urban design firm operating across the US Southeast and Mid-Atlantic with growing Southwest presence. Comparable in service mix and civic/commercial project focus but at significantly larger scale.
Direct peers
- Design Workshop: Design Workshop is a nationally recognized landscape architecture and urban design firm with deep ecological-restoration and environmental-consulting expertise, directly comparable to Studio Balcones' sustainable-design positioning. Operates across multiple US regions with similar mixed residential/commercial/civic project mix.
- Asakura Robinson: Asakura Robinson is an Austin-based urban design, landscape architecture, and planning firm founded by academics/practitioners. Comparable in size, Austin focus, and emphasis on ecologically-sensitive design for civic and planning projects.
- dwg. landscape architecture: dwg. is an Austin-based landscape architecture studio with a similar boutique size and design-led approach focused on residential, commercial, and hospitality projects in Central Texas. Directly competes with Studio Balcones in the Austin market.
- MESA Design Group: MESA Design Group is a Dallas-based landscape architecture firm with offices across Texas and Oklahoma. Directly comparable as a Texas-based regional LA firm serving residential, commercial, and institutional clients at similar boutique scale.
- Coleman & Associates: Coleman & Associates is a Texas-based landscape architecture and urban design firm with offices in Dallas and Austin. Directly comparable boutique competitor serving commercial, residential, and civic clients in the Texas market.
- Lionheart: Lionheart is the surviving entity from Studio Balcones' March 2025 merger; it is now Studio Balcones' parent brand. A Houston-based planning and landscape architecture firm founded by Rebecca Leonard in 2016 with comparable women-owned, inclusive-design positioning and a Southwest US service area.
- WRT Design: WRT Design is an established planning, urban design, and landscape architecture firm that collaborated with Studio Balcones as lead consultant on Austin's Long Range Parks Plan. Comparable in civic/master-planning expertise and scale; serves similar government and institutional clients.
- TBG Partners: TBG Partners is one of Texas's largest landscape architecture firms with offices in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin. Directly comparable as a Texas-based competitor serving residential, commercial, and civic clients with similar project scale and sustainability focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Studio Balcones social profiles
Digital presenceStudio Balcones compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Studio Balcones financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Studio Balcones leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Studio Balcones funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Studio Balcones 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 Studio Balcones
What does Studio Balcones do?
Studio Balcones provides ecologically-sensitive landscape architecture services including master planning, site design, green stormwater infrastructure design, native plant community design, wildland restoration, and urban park planning. The firm serves residential, commercial, civic/institutional, and affordable housing clients across Central Texas and the Southwest, with expertise in LEED, SITES, and Austin Energy Green Building certification standards. Revenue is generated through project-based professional design fees.
Is Studio Balcones a public or private company?
Studio Balcones is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Studio Balcones founded?
Studio Balcones was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Studio Balcones based?
Studio Balcones is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Studio Balcones make money?
One revenue line is on record: landscape Architecture Services.
Who are Studio Balcones's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SWA Group and LandDesign. Direct peers are Design Workshop, Asakura Robinson, dwg. landscape architecture, MESA Design Group, Coleman & Associates, Lionheart, WRT Design and TBG Partners.
Does Studio Balcones have an API?
No public API is recorded for Studio Balcones.
What industry is Studio Balcones in?
Studio Balcones's product category is Landscape Architecture Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAC, Landscape Architecture & Site Design, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAG, Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting. Its NAICS code is 54132 and its SIC code is 1700.