About Us
General Description
The LA Group, Landscape Architecture and Engineering, P.C. is a design
firm that provides environmental analysis, land planning, and civil engineering
for public space projects, colleges and institutions, government projects,
parks and recreational facilities, and private initiatives. Founded in
1974, The LA Group has an established reputation for excellence, which
is reflected in the number of continuing client relationships that we
maintain, in addition to awards for design excellence.
The LA Group has received numerous prestigious awards in over 30 years of business. A few of these awards are:
The LA Group was named one of the Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America
by Inc. 5000 in 2007.
In 2005, The LA Group was named one of the "Great Places to Work" in the region.
The award recognizes the company's achievements in creating a positive work environment that attracts
and retains employees through a combination of benefits, working conditions, and company culture.
In 2007 and 2006, The LA Group was ranked the #1 Landscape Architecture Firm in NY State's Capital Region by the Capital District Business Reivew. They also ranked us #7 for Engineering Firms in NY State's Capital Region in 2006.
In 1994, The LA Group was named Small Business of the Year Capital District Business Review in recognition of the firm’s growth, management strengths, and profitability over a 20-year period.
Sustainable Design Philosophy
The LA Group is a strong advocate of environmentally sensitive design. Through over three decades of experience, The LA Group has learned that successful, creative designs are those that blend a concern for environmental characteristics with client program goals, aesthetic and cultural issues and project budgets. We believe that the built environment is a complex process that calls for just the right balance: manmade structures have to complement the natural site; human needs must be accommodated in an environmentally sensitive way; and form should follow function since the success of a design depends on the way an environment is used, the purposes it serves, and the access it permits the user. We are members of the U.S. Green Building Council and have LEED Accredited Professionals.
The firm offers services in landscape architecture, civil engineering, community and regional planning, environmental analysis, and geographic information systems (GIS). We have developed specialized areas of expertise in cemetery planning and design; resort and golf course design; college, university, and school design; streetscapes; and festival planning. Our area of service extends throughout the northeast and nationally in specific market arenas.
Staff Capabilities
At the heart of The LA Group is our diverse and talented staff. The firm’s unique mixture of professional and scientific disciplines allows us to provide a comprehensive approach to land planning and design. Our professional staff includes licensed landscape architects, licensed civil engineers, engineers-in-training, and landscape designers. In addition to our design staff, we have in-house natural resource scientists, nationally certified planners, and GIS/CADD specialists, along with support staff. It is our diverse expertise that allows The LA Group to provide a comprehensive approach to land planning issues, based on an in-depth level of natural and built physical resource analysis.