Championing urban identity, civic values, and quality of life through iconic public spaces at all scales
SWA/Balsley, our New York office, joined the firm in 2017 after over four decades as Thomas Balsley Associates, one of the most influential landscape architecture practices in the U.S. Best known for over 100 public parks, plazas, and privately-owned public spaces (POPS) across NYC alone, the studio played a pivotal role in transforming the city’s relationship with its waterfront and open space—most recently through the widely lauded Hunter’s Point South Park in Long Island City, Queens, winner of two national ASLA Honor Awards and one of the most successful public spaces in the Northeast. Today, SWA/Balsley leads a wide variety of projects across the country and abroad in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, leveraging its deep experience in socially-oriented design on campuses, master plans, parks, and more.
Under the leadership of Thomas Balsley, FASLA, winner of the 2015 ASLA Design Medal, and a major influence across the design profession, SWA/Balsley is a catalyst for the firm’s public work. The office is located in the heart of New York City in the vibrant NoMad neighborhood.