Landscape Architectural Services
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 4,900 landscape architectural services in the US plan and design the development of land areas related to private homes, businesses, recreational facilities, campuses, parks, recreational facilities, and other open spaces. Firms may also offer urban planning, residential landscaping, project site master planning, and other consulting services.
Dependence on Construction Market and Economy
Demand for landscape architectural services is dependent on construction activity, which is cyclical and influenced by economic conditions.
Mitigating Climate Change
Public and private sector clients are demanding landscape architecture solutions that address climate change.
Industry size & Structure
The average landscape architectural service provider operates out of a single location, employs about 7 workers, and generates about $1.2 million annually.
- The landscape architectural services industry consists of about 4,800 firms that employ 33,000 workers and generate $5.8 billion annually.
- The industry is fragmented; the top 50 companies account for 20% of industry revenue. More than half of firms generate less than $1 million annually.
- Stantec is one of the largest architectural firms in the US and offers landscape architectural services. The biggest landscape architectural services companies typically have offices in multiple major metropolitan areas in the US, but none are truly national in scope.
- The largest client groups are private homeowners, architects, and cities/municipalities, according to the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). The largest client group for firms with four employees or fewer is private homeowners. Large firms typically serve commercial and government clients.
Industry Forecast
Landscape Architectural Services Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Mar 7, 2025 - Construction Spending Drops
- High interest rates continue to weigh on US construction activity, and import tariffs could present additional headwinds, according to Reuters. Landscape architects depend on the construction sector to drive new business. The value of total US construction spending decreased by 0.2% in January 2025 compared to December, according to the US Census Bureau. Residential spending fell by 0.5%, while nonresidential spending grew by 0.1%. Within the nonresidential building construction subsector, growth in January was led by a 0.7% rise in spending for lodging projects, followed by healthcare (+0.6) and office (+0.4%). Drops in commercial, educational, and multifamily housing spending dragged overall building construction spending in January.
- The total value of nonresidential building construction starts decreased 18% in January 2025 from December, according to Dodge Construction Network. Commercial starts fell 41% amid weak office and hotel construction starts. An uptick in healthcare and recreational projects helped drive a 4% rise in institutional starts, while manufacturing starts were down 16%. January’s nonresidential building starts were off by 22% compared to a year earlier. Dodge’s associate director of forecasting Sarah Martin said, “After robust data center starts in November and December, total office starts fell back in January to more historically typical levels and drove a sizable piece of the month-to-month decline. However, most nonresidential sectors saw weakness over the month. Ongoing labor shortages and high material costs will continue to pose risks to the sector, along with concerns over tariffs and stricter immigration enforcement. Projects are likely to continue moving through the planning queue slowly, until the Federal Reserve resumes cutting rates in the back half of the year.”
- Home builder confidence in the single-family market moved lower in January 2025 amid rising tariff concerns and high mortgage rates and home prices, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Home builder sentiment, as measured by the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), fell five points to 42 in February from 47 the previous month. Any HMI reading over 50 indicates that more builders see conditions as good than poor. Builders are concerned that tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada could increase costs. Builders have relied on price cuts to attract buyers, but the strategy may be weakening as high interest rates keep more would-be buyers on the sideline. In February, 26% of builders said they cut prices compared to 30% who did so in January. New home sales are a demand indicator for landscape architecture services.
- North American construction and engineering spending in 2025 is expected to grow by 2% after increasing an estimated 6% in 2024, according to FMI’s first-quarter 2025 North American Engineering and Construction Outlook. With growth of 19%, the data center sub-sector will lead 2025 nonresidential building construction, followed by public safety (9%), amusement and recreation (7%), and manufacturing (6%). Commercial construction spending is expected to decline 9% in 2025 amid a 6% drop in warehouse demand, which accounts for more than half of annual commercial spending. Lodging construction spending is forecast to fall 7%, and stubbornly high office vacancies are expected to hold new office construction to 2% growth in 2025. Amid high mortgage interest rates and a lack of affordability, single-family construction spending is forecast to rise by 4% in 2025. A recent jump in new apartment supply and unfavorable cost conditions will reduce multifamily spending by 13% in 2025.
Get A Demo
Vertical IQ’s Industry Intelligence Platform
See for yourself why over 60,000 users trust Vertical IQ for their industry research and call preparation needs. Our easy-to-digest industry insights save call preparation time and help differentiate you from the competition.
Build valuable, lasting relationships by having smarter conversations -
check out Vertical IQ today.