Nancy Owens Studio

Creating dynamic, safe, and imaginative play spaces for children of all ages and abilities is a specialty at Nancy Owens Studio in New York City. Our playground design service goes beyond standard equipment layouts; we craft environments that stimulate physical activity, social interaction, and creative exploration. We work closely with community groups, schools, and park departments to understand the unique needs of each neighborhood.Our process begins with a thorough site analysis and communit...

Nancy Owens Studio provides forward-thinking green infrastructure and masterplanning services for New York City and beyond, helping communities and private developers build resilient, environmentally responsible futures. Our green infrastructure designs manage stormwater naturally through bioswales, rain gardens, permeable pavements, and green roofs, reducing runoff pollution and enhancing urban ecology.Our masterplanning work establishes a long-term vision for land use, open space, and connecti...

Tell your site's unique story through our specialized interpretive signage and cultural exhibit design services. At Nancy Owens Studio in New York City, we design and plan installations that educate, engage, and connect visitors to the history, ecology, or significance of a place. This service is perfect for museums, historic sites, parks, botanical gardens, and cultural institutions.We begin by deeply researching the narrative, collaborating with historians, ecologists, and your team. We then d...

Our landscape architecture work covers public and private spaces across the city, from a neighborhood park renovation to a quiet residential garden. We start by reading the site, its conditions, and the people who will use it, then shape a design that is durable, ecologically sound, and suited to how the space is actually lived in. Our team works with city agencies, institutions, and homeowners alike, and we stay involved from first concepts through final construction. If you have a space you wa...

Urban design is about how streets, plazas, parks, and buildings fit together and work for the people moving through them. We take a practical approach to dense, complicated city sites, balancing public needs, existing infrastructure, and long-term goals. Our projects range from revitalizing a single public square to shaping the open space around a larger development. We pay close attention to context and to the communities that will live with the result, so that the finished place feels connecte...

We design playgrounds that are imaginative, safe, and built for children of different ages and abilities. Our process starts with a site analysis and input from the families, schools, and park staff who will use the space. We then develop concepts that combine custom play structures, naturalistic elements, and durable materials, all designed to meet or exceed CPSC and ASTM safety standards. Whether the goal is active play, quiet corners, or inclusive features for every child, we aim to create a...

Green infrastructure handles stormwater with living systems instead of relying only on pipes. We design bioswales, rain gardens, permeable paving, and green roofs that slow runoff, filter pollutants, and bring plants and habitat into dense urban areas. These features can be part of a public street project, a campus, or a private site. Each design is shaped by local drainage conditions, maintenance needs, and the long-term goals of the owner, so the system works well from the start and keeps perf...

Masterplanning sets a clear long-term direction for how land, open space, and connections will develop over time. We analyze existing conditions, zoning and other regulations, and the goals of residents, institutions, or agencies, then build a plan that is both practical and forward-looking. Our work suits large residential communities, campuses, municipal parks systems, and brownfield redevelopment. We design plans to be phased and adaptable, so they can respond to changing needs while keeping...

Good interpretive signage helps visitors understand a place they are standing in. We research the history, ecology, or meaning of a site with historians, scientists, and your team, then translate that material into clear, engaging panels and wayfinding that suit the landscape around them. Signs are designed to hold up to weather and heavy use, to be readable for every visitor, and to guide people through the site without clutter. We have worked on this kind of project for museums, parks, gardens...

Exhibit installations bring a story into the physical world, combining landscape, graphics, and objects into one experience. We plan and design outdoor and indoor installations for cultural institutions and public sites, working from research through concept, layout, and fabrication coordination. Our team brings together landscape architecture and graphic design, so the exhibit fits its setting and communicates clearly. We consider durability, accessibility, and how people will move through the...