# CROWLEY COTTRELL

**Trade:** Landscaping · **Address:** 7 Liberty Sq Fl 3, Boston, MA 02109 · **Phone:** (617) 338-8400 · **Website:** https://www.crowleycottrell.com/ · **Languages:** English

**Rating: 3.8/5** (low confidence) — from 0 reviews across 6 sources.

## The honest read

Crowley Cottrell draws the plan, takes it through permitting and sees it built — it is a landscape architecture practice, not a crew with shovels. Michelle Crowley and Naomi Cottrell founded it in Boston in 2011 and still run it from Liberty Square.

The work spans parks, campuses, civic spaces, housing and private property. Brewster Academy announced in April 2026 that Naomi Cottrell is leading the landscape design for its courtyard alongside studioDSK. Banker & Tradesman named the firm in September 2023 as the woman-owned landscape architect on a development team with CBT, EMBARC and Buro Happold. A Pro Landscaper Magazine piece in May 2026 described Michelle Crowley as president of the Boston Society of Landscape Architects.

The residential side shows up too. A March 2021 Gardenista article described Michelle and her team reworking the boundary between a house and its garden, with a separate company running the landscape construction — which is how a practice like this usually operates: they design and administer, a contractor builds. Back in October 2018, North Shore CDC described the firm leading a design process on Ward Street that brought residents in to set the priorities.

Its Houzz profile carries no reviews; the page is still showing its empty state. What the directories do show is the work — eight projects on Houzz, eleven on Procore since the firm joined that network in February 2023 — plus an A+ letter grade from the Better Business Bureau, on a profile that is not BBB accredited. Houzz also lists professional landscape architecture licences in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Maine and Vermont, LEED accreditation, and a women's business enterprise certification; those are the directory's entries rather than something checked against a state board.

For a homeowner the fit turns on the size of the job. A practice that designs campus courtyards and civic plazas is built for a project with drawings, a permit path and a construction contract behind it — a whole-property plan, a grading and drainage scheme, a garden that has to clear a town review. Ask which principal will actually run your project, whether the fee includes construction administration once work starts, and who they expect to build it.

**Strengths:**
- Campus and civic work — Brewster Academy courtyard design led in 2026
- Professional standing — a 2026 article names Crowley as BSLA president
- Community design process — 2018 Ward Street work engaged residents on priorities
- Multi-state licences — Houzz lists seven Northeast states for landscape architecture
- Woman-owned firm — listed as a WBE by Houzz and Procore

**Concerns:**
- No Houzz reviews — the profile's review section is still empty
- Licences listed only — the seven states come from the Houzz page
- Years disagree — the site says 15, the BBB page says 12
- Not BBB accredited — the A+ grade sits on an unaccredited profile

**Where sources disagree:**
- Time in business differs by source: the firm's own site gives a 2011 founding and self-reports 15 years, while the Better Business Bureau page records 12 years in business.

## Claims & citations

Every claim below is backed by real evidence rows — uncited claims are dropped in code before publication.

- Michelle Crowley and Naomi Cottrell founded the Boston practice in 2011 and lead it as principals _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Official Website](https://www.crowleycottrell.com) — “Company history (self-reported): Founded in 2011 by Michelle Crowley and Naomi Cottrell.”
  - [Official Website](https://www.crowleycottrell.com) — “Ownership (self-reported): Founded and led by principals Michelle Crowley and Naomi Cottrell.”
- Site planning, permitting, community planning and land-use design for parks, campuses, civic spaces, housing and residential projects _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Official Website](https://www.crowleycottrell.com) — “A Boston-based landscape architecture practice offering site planning, permitting, community planning and land-use design for parks, campuse…”
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/crowley-cottrell-pfvwus-pf~1579486700) — “Services offered (Houzz): Landscape Design, Site Planning, Design Consultation”
- Brewster Academy said in April 2026 that Naomi Cottrell, PLA, ASLA, LEED AP, is leading the landscape design for its courtyard in collaboration with studioDSK _(confidence: medium)_
  - [brewsteracademy.org](https://www.brewsteracademy.org/news/newly-designed-academic-courtyard) — “brewsteracademy.org — The landscape design for the courtyard is led by Naomi Cottrell, PLA, ASLA, LEED AP, principal of Boston-based Crowley…”
- Banker & Tradesman reported in September 2023 that the firm is the woman-owned landscape architect on a development proposal designed with CBT, EMBARC and Buro Happold _(confidence: medium)_
  - [bankerandtradesman.com](https://bankerandtradesman.com/convention-center-parcels-re-do-attract-same-developers/) — “bankerandtradesman.com — The BGI proposal is designed by CBT, EMBARC Buro Hapold and woman-owned landscape architecture firm Crowley Cottrel…”
- A May 2026 Pro Landscaper Magazine article described co-owner Michelle Crowley as president of the Boston Society of Landscape Architects _(confidence: medium)_
  - [prolandscapermagazine.com](https://www.prolandscapermagazine.com/us/2026/05/11/lets-hear-it-from-michelle-crowley/) — “prolandscapermagazine.com — Michelle Crowley, president of the Boston Society of Landscape Architects (BSLA) and co-owner of Crowley Cottrel…”
- A March 2021 Gardenista article described Michelle and her team redrawing the line between a house and its garden, with a separate company handling the landscape construction _(confidence: medium)_
  - [gardenista.com](https://www.gardenista.com/posts/landscape-architect-visit-dreamy-property-concord-ma-invites-meadow/) — “gardenista.com — Michelle and her team at Crowley Cottrell Landscape Architecture, along with Robert Hanss, whose company oversaw the landsc…”
- North Shore CDC described the firm in October 2018 leading a design process that engaged Ward Street residents in setting priorities _(confidence: medium)_
  - [northshorecdc.org](https://northshorecdc.org/properties/ward-st-pocket-park/) — “northshorecdc.org — The design process, led by Crowley-Cottrell Landscape Architecture, engaged Ward Street residents to identify prioriti”
- Houzz lists professional landscape architecture licences in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Maine and Vermont, along with LEED AP accreditation _(confidence: low)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/crowley-cottrell-pfvwus-pf~1579486700) — “Listed certification: LEED AP”
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/crowley-cottrell-pfvwus-pf~1579486700) — “Licence listed on Houzz: Professional landscape architecture licenses in MA, CT, NH, NY, RI, ME and VT”
- Houzz and the Procore Construction Network both list the firm as woman-owned with a Women's Business Enterprise certification _(confidence: low)_
  - [Procore Construction Network](https://network.procore.com/p/crowley-cottrell-boston) — “Listed certification: Women's Business (WBE)”
  - [Procore Construction Network](https://network.procore.com/p/crowley-cottrell-boston) — “Stated ownership (Procore Construction Network): Woman-owned”
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/crowley-cottrell-pfvwus-pf~1579486700) — “Listed certification: Women-owned Business Enterprise (WBE)”
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/crowley-cottrell-pfvwus-pf~1579486700) — “Stated ownership (Houzz): Woman-owned”
- Eight projects are shown on Houzz and eleven on the Procore Construction Network, which the firm joined in February 2023 _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Procore Construction Network](https://network.procore.com/p/crowley-cottrell-boston) — “11 project(s) shown on Procore Construction Network”
  - [Procore Construction Network](https://network.procore.com/p/crowley-cottrell-boston) — “Procore network profile for Crowley Cottrell — a claimed landscape design and engineering firm in Boston, MA classified as a Women's Busines…”
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/crowley-cottrell-pfvwus-pf~1579486700) — “8 project(s) shown on Houzz”
- The Better Business Bureau grades the firm A+ and lists Michelle Crowley as owner, on a profile that is not BBB accredited _(confidence: high)_
  - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/profile/landscape-contractors/crowley-cottrell-llc-0021-237846) — “Better Business Bureau grade: A+”
  - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/profile/landscape-contractors/crowley-cottrell-llc-0021-237846) — “BBB profile for Crowley Cottrell LLC — an A+ rated but not BBB-accredited landscape contractor in Boston, MA, in business 12 years under own…”
- There is no customer review history behind this page; what exists is trade and local press coverage of named projects from 2018 to 2026 and the directory listings _(confidence: medium)_
  - [prolandscapermagazine.com](https://www.prolandscapermagazine.com/us/2026/05/11/lets-hear-it-from-michelle-crowley/) — “prolandscapermagazine.com — Michelle Crowley, president of the Boston Society of Landscape Architects (BSLA) and co-owner of Crowley Cottrel…”
  - [gardenista.com](https://www.gardenista.com/posts/landscape-architect-visit-dreamy-property-concord-ma-invites-meadow/) — “gardenista.com — Michelle and her team at Crowley Cottrell Landscape Architecture, along with Robert Hanss, whose company oversaw the landsc…”
  - [brewsteracademy.org](https://www.brewsteracademy.org/news/newly-designed-academic-courtyard) — “brewsteracademy.org — The landscape design for the courtyard is led by Naomi Cottrell, PLA, ASLA, LEED AP, principal of Boston-based Crowley…”
  - [northshorecdc.org](https://northshorecdc.org/properties/ward-st-pocket-park/) — “northshorecdc.org — The design process, led by Crowley-Cottrell Landscape Architecture, engaged Ward Street residents to identify prioriti”
  - [bankerandtradesman.com](https://bankerandtradesman.com/convention-center-parcels-re-do-attract-same-developers/) — “bankerandtradesman.com — The BGI proposal is designed by CBT, EMBARC Buro Hapold and woman-owned landscape architecture firm Crowley Cottrel…”
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/crowley-cottrell-pfvwus-pf~1579486700) — “Houzz profile for Crowley Cottrell, a Boston, MA landscape architecture/design firm; the reviews section is the empty-state ('You could be t…”
- Specializes in Landscaping _(confidence: high)_
  - [Official Website](https://www.crowleycottrell.com) — “A Boston-based landscape architecture practice offering site planning, permitting, community planning and land-use design for parks, campuse…”
  - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/profile/landscape-contractors/crowley-cottrell-llc-0021-237846) — “Services offered (Better Business Bureau): Landscape Contractors”
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/crowley-cottrell-pfvwus-pf~1579486700) — “Services offered (Houzz): Landscape Design, Site Planning, Design Consultation”

## Ownership

- Identifies as woman-owned — the business's own statement, not independently verified.

## License

Status: **not_found** — verified against the official MA state registry, never self-reported.
Re-check at the official registry: https://contractorhub.mass.gov/s/hic-contractor-search

## Sources

- [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/crowley-cottrell-pfvwus-pf~1579486700): Listed on this source
- [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=CROWLEY%20COTTRELL&query_place_id=ChIJV12VUgV644kRUAgcR5xSOFE): Listed on this source
- [Official Website](https://www.crowleycottrell.com): 15 yrs in business · Self-reported profile and service details
- [Exa](https://www.bostonmagazine.com/sponsor-content/michelle-crowley-and-naomi-cottrell/): 6 web mentions across the open web (each linked to its source)
- [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/boston/profile/landscape-contractors/crowley-cottrell-llc-0021-237846): Listed on this source
- [Procore Construction Network](https://network.procore.com/p/crowley-cottrell-boston): Listed on this source

## Mentions

Unverified third-party mentions found on the open web — relay with attribution ("a Reddit commenter said…"), never as Tavlee's own finding.

- “Michelle Crowley, president of the Boston Society of Landscape Architects (BSLA) and co-owner of Crowley Cottrell Landscape Architecture, has built her career on bridging communication gaps between pr…” — prolandscapermagazine.com (2026-05-11) — https://www.prolandscapermagazine.com/us/2026/05/11/lets-hear-it-from-michelle-crowley/
- “The landscape design for the courtyard is led by Naomi Cottrell, PLA, ASLA, LEED AP, principal of Boston-based Crowley Cottrell, in collaboration with studioDSK.” — brewsteracademy.org (2026-04-09) — https://www.brewsteracademy.org/news/newly-designed-academic-courtyard
- “The BGI proposal is designed by CBT, EMBARC Buro Hapold and woman-owned landscape architecture firm Crowley Cottrell.” — bankerandtradesman.com (2023-09-27) — https://bankerandtradesman.com/convention-center-parcels-re-do-attract-same-developers/
- “Michelle and her team at Crowley Cottrell Landscape Architecture, along with Robert Hanss, whose company oversaw the landscape construction, were charged with moving that line closer to the house and …” — gardenista.com (2021-03-03) — https://www.gardenista.com/posts/landscape-architect-visit-dreamy-property-concord-ma-invites-meadow/
- “The design process, led by Crowley-Cottrell Landscape Architecture, engaged Ward Street residents to identify prioriti” — northshorecdc.org (2018-10-02) — https://northshorecdc.org/properties/ward-st-pocket-park/
- “Crowley Cottrell, LLC is a Boston-based landscape architecture practice led by Michelle Crowley and Naomi Cottrell. Over the past 15 years, they have built a firm recognized for thoughtful design, str…” — bostonmagazine.com — https://www.bostonmagazine.com/sponsor-content/michelle-crowley-and-naomi-cottrell/

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Data freshness: last scanned 2026-09-09T09:21:06.283Z.
Cite as: CROWLEY COTTRELL — Tavlee (https://tavlee.com/contractor/crowley-cottrell-boston)
Source: https://tavlee.com/contractor/crowley-cottrell-boston