Sasaki Associates is a landscape architecture and urban design firm that plans parks, waterfronts, campuses, and mixed-use neighborhoods

Sasaki Associates is a private firm based in Boston that employs landscape architects, urban planners, and designers. They work on projects that range from small public parks to large regional master plans. Their clients include cities, universities, real estate developers, and government agencies. The firm has completed work across the United States and internationally.

If you are researching landscape architecture firms for a project, Sasaki is one of many established practices. Understanding what they do, how they approach projects, and what their work looks like can help you decide whether to contact them or explore other options.

Key Takeaways

  • Sasaki Associates specializes in landscape architecture, urban design, and master planning for public and private clients.
  • The firm's work includes parks, waterfronts, college campuses, downtown revitalization, and mixed-use developments.
  • You can view their completed projects and team information on their website to understand their design approach and experience.
  • Contacting them directly is the way to discuss whether they take on projects of your scale and type.

Types of Projects Sasaki Associates Undertakes

Sasaki works on landscape architecture projects that shape how people use outdoor and public spaces. This includes designing parks from the ground up, reimagining waterfronts, planning university and corporate campuses, and creating streetscapes in downtown areas. They also do master planning — laying out how a large area should develop over time, including where buildings, roads, and green space go.

Their portfolio includes both renovation of existing spaces and entirely new designs. Projects often involve working with multiple stakeholders: city officials, neighborhood groups, property owners, and environmental consultants. The firm's work is visible in the finished landscape — the paths, plantings, water features, and gathering spaces that people actually use.

How Sasaki Approaches Design and Planning

Sasaki's process typically begins with research and community input. They study the site's history, existing conditions, and how people currently move through and use the space. They hold meetings with stakeholders to understand what the community needs and wants. This information shapes the design direction.

The firm then develops design concepts, usually presenting multiple options before settling on a direction. They create detailed plans, drawings, and sometimes 3D models so clients can visualize the final result. Throughout the process, they coordinate with engineers, architects, and other specialists to make sure the design is buildable and meets all requirements.

Finding and Reviewing Sasaki's Past Work

The best way to understand what Sasaki does is to look at their completed projects. Their website displays a portfolio organized by project type and location. You can see photographs of finished work, read descriptions of the design process, and learn what challenges the team solved.

If you are considering hiring them, reviewing their portfolio tells you whether their style matches what you envision. You can also see the scale of projects they typically handle — whether they work on neighborhood parks, large regional plans, or both. Many of their project pages include information about the team members involved, which can help you understand who would lead your work.

When to Contact Sasaki Associates

Reach out to Sasaki if you have a landscape architecture or urban design project and want to explore whether they are the right fit. This might be a park renovation, a campus master plan, a downtown revitalization effort, or a waterfront development. They work with public agencies, nonprofits, universities, and private developers.

Before contacting them, have a clear sense of your project scope, budget range, and timeline. Firms of Sasaki's size typically work on projects of significant scale and complexity. If your project is very small or highly specialized, you may want to explore smaller local firms as well. Contacting multiple firms and comparing their experience, approach, and fees is standard practice.

How Landscape Architecture Firms Charge for Work

Landscape architecture firms typically charge in one of three ways: a fixed fee for the entire project, an hourly rate for time spent, or a percentage of the construction budget. The method depends on the project type and what both sides agree to. A master plan for a large area might be a fixed fee; ongoing consultation during construction might be hourly.

When you contact Sasaki, they will ask questions about your project scope to give you a sense of cost and timeline. Costs vary widely based on the size of the area, how much existing research is needed, how many design iterations you want, and how involved the permitting and construction phases will be. Getting proposals from multiple firms lets you compare approaches and pricing.

Other Landscape Architecture Firms to Consider

Sasaki is one of many established landscape architecture practices. Other well-known firms include OLIN, Stoss Landscape Urbanism, Hargreaves Associates, and many regional practices. Each has a different design philosophy, geographic focus, and project type preference. Some specialize in parks; others focus on corporate campuses or waterfront work.

Your choice of firm should depend on their experience with projects like yours, their design approach, their availability, and their fees. Talking to three or four firms before deciding is common. You can also ask for references — past clients who can speak to how the firm worked and what the final result was like.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I contact Sasaki Associates about a project?

Visit their website and look for a contact page or project inquiry form. You can also call their Boston office directly. Have a brief description of your project, its location, and your timeline ready when you reach out. They will let you know if they are interested in discussing it further.

Does Sasaki work on small neighborhood parks or only large projects?

Sasaki's portfolio includes projects of varying scales, but they are known for larger, more complex work. If your project is a small neighborhood park, you may want to contact them to ask, but also explore local and regional firms that specialize in smaller-scale work.

How long does a typical landscape architecture project take?

Timeline depends on project size and complexity. A park design might take six months to a year from start to finished plans. A large master plan could take one to two years. Construction itself happens after design is complete and can take months or years depending on scope.

What is the difference between a landscape architect and an urban planner?

Landscape architects design outdoor spaces and how people move through them. Urban planners focus on how entire areas develop — zoning, transportation, housing, and long-term growth. Sasaki does both; many projects need both skills working together.

Can I see examples of Sasaki's work in my area?

Search their website by location or project type. If they have completed work near you, you can visit in person to see how the space functions and looks. This is one of the best ways to evaluate whether their design approach appeals to you.