boston society of landscape architects

What boston society of landscape architects does

The Boston Society of Landscape Architects (BSLA) is a private nonprofit professional membership association that serves as the Massachusetts and Maine chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Founded in 1913 (firmographics data) and chartered as the regional ASLA chapter circa 1965, BSLA covers New England from Portland to Provincetown, Amherst to Augusta to Boston, and self-describes as one of the largest ASLA chapters in the country. The organization is volunteer-led and volunteer-driven, with a single disclosed paid staff member — Executive Director Gretchen Rabinkin — supported by a network of volunteer section chairs (Maine and Western Mass), advocacy co-chairs, and committees.

The organization delivers a portfolio of programs rather than a single product. Flagship offerings include the annual FIELDDAY conference (described as the largest in-person landscape architecture conference in New England), the BSLA Design Awards, Inside/Out site tours launched in 2021, free LACES continuing education, the Fieldbook publication series, a regional job board, Emerging Professionals programming, and K-12 outreach including the Middle School City Build and The Complete City: Summer of Spatial Design program piloted in 2023. There is no proprietary technology stack, no mobile app, and no API — BSLA is not a technology company.

Revenue is generated through four streams: membership dues (subscription/recurring), event and conference registration fees (one-time), partner sponsorships at multiple tiers, and Design Awards entry fees. Specific pricing is not publicly disclosed; some events are free for members, while non-members pay $10–$30 for selected events. Distribution is regional and community-led, with in-person events held across Maine and Massachusetts, a website portal, a Constant Contact newsletter, and an Instagram presence (@bslaoffice). The organization maintains strategic collaborations with ASLA National, Mass ECAN (Nature-Based Solutions case studies), the Portland Society for Architecture, and Native Plant Trust, and lists Partner Sponsors including Maglin Site Furniture, Landscape Forms, IllumiSite/Omnilite, Unilock, Pleasant Run Nursery, and Read Custom Soils.

Name

boston society of landscape architects

Legal name

Boston Society of Landscape Architects

Website

https://bslanow.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Boston Society of Landscape Architects is a nonprofit professional membership association serving as the Massachusetts and Maine chapter of ASLA, delivering education, networking, advocacy, design awards, and field programming for landscape architects across the region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Outdoor Training & Team-Building Programs (Experiential Learning) (THAAAOAE)

Keywords

• Professional membership association
• Landscape architecture education
• Continuing education programs
• Design awards program
• Professional networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees that provide access to events, resources, networking, and professional development programs.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from conferences, workshops, tours, and continuing education events such as Fieldday, Inside/Out tours, and LACES courses.
3. Sponsorships: Partner sponsorships at various levels providing promotional benefits and supporting the landscape architecture community.
4. Design Awards Entry Fees: Entry fees for the BSLA Design Awards program celebrating design excellence in the region.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BSLA is a nonprofit professional membership association serving landscape architects and designers across Massachusetts and Maine as the regional chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Its core offerings include annual membership, the BSLA Design Awards, the FIELDDAY conference, Inside/Out site tours, free LACES continuing education, the Fieldbook publication, an online job board, and emerging professional and K-12 outreach programs.

Product overview

The Boston Society of Landscape Architects (BSLA) is a professional membership organization serving as the Massachusetts and Maine chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Rather than offering a unified software product, BSLA provides a portfolio of programs and services including the BSLA Design Awards (annual design excellence awards), FIELDDAY conference (New England's largest landscape architecture conference), Inside/Out site tours, continuing education through LACES, Emerging Professionals programming, K-12 outreach initiatives including Middle School City Build, The Complete City summer design program, Climate Action Resources, the Fieldbook publication, a job board, Nature-Based Solutions case studies, and Fellowship nomination support. These offerings serve to connect, educate, and celebrate landscape architects and advance the profession throughout the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fieldday: New England Conference on Landscape Architecture - the largest annual in-person conference for landscape architects in the region.
• Fieldbook
• Inside/Out
• The Complete City: Summer of Spatial Design

Quantifiable outcome

• Fieldday is the largest annual in-person conference for landscape architects in New England
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered partner sponsor, fieldday premier sponsor, parent organization and collaborator.

• Maglin Site Furniturepartner sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner Sponsor of BSLA. Featured in Sponsor Spotlight for providing Foro Series outdoor furniture for the Christian Science Plaza restoration project. Maglin's Northeast Territory Manager is Barbara Ritter.
• Landscape Formspartner sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner Sponsor featured in Sponsor Spotlight showcasing collaboration with Mikyoung Kim Design on Boston University Booth Theater plaza. Custom benches and planters designed through Landscape Forms Studio 431.
• IllumiSite / Omnilitepartner sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner Sponsor providing lighting for Pynchon Park restoration in Springfield, MA with Copley Wolff Design Group. IllumiSite is part of Omnilite | illuminate, New England's premier source for lighting.
• Unilockpartner sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner Sponsor whose U CARA wall system was featured for Langley Terrace apartments in Newton Center, MA with G2 Collaborative.
• Pleasant Run Nurseryfieldday premier sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerFieldday Premier Sponsor. Wholesale nursery providing rare, hard-to-find, native and ornamental plants for landscape professionals, featured for sustainable practices.
• Read Custom Soilspartner sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner Sponsor (credited to Landscape Forms sponsorship). New England's most experienced precision soil blender; featured for supplying engineered soils for Harvard Science & Engineering Complex landscape.
• American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)parent organizationStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSLA is the Massachusetts and Maine chapter of ASLA, connecting the regional community to national resources, advocacy, and Fellow nominations.
• Massachusetts Ecosystem Climate Adaptation Network (Mass ECAN)collaboratorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSLA participates in Mass ECAN, a community of practice for climate adaptation practitioners. Collaboration on Nature-Based Solutions case studies.
• Portland Society for ArchitecturecollaboratorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on The Complete City: Spatial Design summer program introducing landscape architecture and architecture to students in Maine.
• Native Plant TrustcollaboratorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of events and Inside/Out tours at Nasami Farm (owned by Native Plant Trust), focused on native plant cultivation and sustainable sourcing.

Scale indicators2 records

Broad incumbents

• American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA): ASLA is BSLA's national parent organization, the membership association for the entire U.S. landscape architecture profession. Comparability is direct because both run professional membership programs, continuing education, advocacy, and awards for landscape architects — ASLA at the national scale versus BSLA at the regional chapter scale.
• American Institute of Architects (AIA): AIA is the national professional membership association for architects — the architectural peer of BSLA's landscape architecture mission. Comparable on membership model, continuing education, state/local chapters (e.g., AIA Massachusetts, AIA Maine), advocacy, and design awards programming.
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): ASCE is a national professional membership association for civil engineers that operates with regional sections/branches and runs conferences, awards, and continuing education. Comparable as a peer professional association serving licensed design professionals through chapter-based programming.
• American Planning Association (APA): APA is a national professional membership association serving urban and city planners, organized through chapters (e.g., APA Massachusetts, APA Maine). BSLA partners with APA-adjacent organizations and shares membership-driven, advocacy-focused programming aimed at design professionals.

Direct peers

• New York Chapter of ASLA (NY ASLA): NY ASLA is one of the largest regional chapters of ASLA serving New York State landscape architects. Directly comparable to BSLA: both operate as ASLA chapters delivering membership, CEUs, design awards, and conferences to licensed landscape architects in their state(s).

Others

• Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB): CLARB administers the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (LARE), a credential that BSLA members must obtain. Comparable as an adjacent, ecosystem-level organization supporting the licensure pathway that drives BSLA's licensed-professional membership base.
• Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF): LAF is the landscape architecture profession's research, education, and scholarship foundation. Compares as an adjacent enabling organization that supports the same professional community BSLA serves, through research, scholarships, and workforce pipeline initiatives.

Regional players

• Urban Land Institute (ULI) Boston/New England: ULI Boston is a regional district council of the Urban Land Institute serving real estate and land-use professionals in the same New England territory as BSLA. Comparable as a regional membership association delivering networking, education, and convening events to design-and-development professionals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/bslaoffice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bslaoffice

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 →

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