Groundbreaking Work that Moves People
Toole Design is committed to designing and building spaces where people can move freely and intuitively, enjoying the experience and becoming a part of the community instead of just moving through it. Our success is built on collaborative partnerships with our clients, and thinking that goes beyond conventional solutions. For over 20 years, we’ve transformed the way people move, and helped communities thrive.
Independent, Mission-Driven, Employee-Owned
Toole Design was founded nearly 25 years ago with a mission: to support innovative streets and dynamic communities where people of all ages and abilities can enjoy walking, biking, and access to transit. This is more than just a description of what we do; it is the lens through which we see the world around us, and it defines our approach to every project we work on.
Our work is grounded in the simple belief that streets and public spaces should make people’s lives better. We bring deep technical expertise, creativity, and a commitment to excellence to the challenge of making cities and communities safer, healthier, and more joyful places. We design transportation systems that give people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, and incomes the freedom to move through their communities safely, comfortably, and with dignity.
In a world dominated by increasingly large engineering firms, Toole Design remains a unique place in our industry as a mid-sized, American-owned, employee-owned, and women-led planning and design firm.
We are proud of our legacy of leading projects with what we call the New E’s of Transportation: ethics, empathy, and equity. These values guide everything we do. They compel us to help build a transportation system that is safe, equitable, and resilient. Our approach is transforming the way the transportation industry does business, and we are committed to continuing that leadership role well into the future.
Our History
Jennifer Toole founded Toole Design in 2003 with one Maryland location and a small but mighty team. We immediately began building a portfolio of innovative, high-profile transportation projects at the local, State, and Federal levels.
In 2009, we opened our first branch office in Boston, MA. By 2013, we had grown to a staff of 50 with offices throughout the United States. In addition to planning and landscape architecture, the firm expanded our engineering capabilities, building a portfolio that included traffic analysis, concept design, and complex final design.
In 2026, Toole Design launched an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), giving our employees a stake in the company’s success. Employee ownership strengthens our commitment to one another, our clients, and the communities we serve, while helping ensure that Toole Design remains an independent, mission-driven firm for generations to come.
Today, with offices throughout the U.S., our staff of 360+ planners, engineers, landscape architects, and operations staff remain committed to delivering high-quality work that meets the needs of all people in motion.
