PROFESSIONAL AWARD CATEGORIES

General Small Scale Design (Construction Cost < $500,000)

This General Design category recognizes site-specific works of landscape architectural design with a total construction budget of less than $500,000. Typical entries may include public open spaces; environmental, commercial, institutional or private landscapes; residential projects; historic preservation; reclamation and conservation projects; transportation or infrastructure-related design; landscape art; interior landscape design; green roofs; and similar works.

For built works (Categories 1-3) consisting of large or phased projects, at least the first constructed phase must be complete to be eligible for an award.

General Medium Scale Design (Construction Cost $500,000-$3,000,000)

This General Design category recognizes site-specific works of landscape architectural design with a total construction budget between $500,000 and $3,00,000. Typical entries may include public open space; environmental, commercial, institutional or private landscapes; residential projects; historic preservation; reclamation and conservation projects; transportation or infrastructure-related design; landscape art; interior landscape design; green roofs; and similar works.

General Large Scale Design (Construction Cost $3,000,000+)

This General Design category recognizes site-specific works of landscape architectural design with a total construction budget of $3,000,000 or more. Typical entries may include public open space; environmental, commercial, institutional or private landscapes; residential projects; historic preservation; reclamation and conservation projects; transportation or infrastructure-related design; landscape art; interior landscape design; green roofs; and similar works.

Un-Built Works (Design)

The Un-Built Works category recognizes site-specific projects which have been designed but are not constructed or may not ultimately lead to construction. Projects may include conceptual site plans, site studies, design competition submissions, master/framework/vision plans, and similar design-based work.

Analysis and Planning

This category recognized professional landscape architectural analysis and planning efforts that inform decision-making, policy, and design outcomes. Typical entries may include general development plans; government policies, programs, legislation, or regulations; site analysis; natural and visual resource inventories; natural resource protection initiatives; conservation planning; and similar work.

Research

This category recognizes scholarly or professional research that examines a clearly defined problem using accepted research methods and results in supported, original findings or solutions that are of value to the landscape architecture profession. Examples may include peer-reviewed publications, theses, applied research, or professional coursework.

Communication

This category recognizes excellence in communicating landscape architectural ideas, information, technology, theory, or practice to audiences within or outside the profession. Eligible submissions may include published or written documents, exhibitions, graphic or digital media, or video presentations.

Video submissions may not exceed five-minutes in length.

Student Work

This category recognizes projects produced by individual students or student groups that demonstrate excellence in landscape architectural thinking, methods, and expression. Examples may include site-specific or framework-level design, analysis and planning, research, or communication. Projects may be produced through studio coursework, research initiatives, or independent academic exploration. Work completed as part of professional employment or internships is not eligible for submission.

CRITERIA FOR JUDGING:

All submissions, across all award categories, will be evaluated by the jury according to the following criteria:

Quality of Work
Functionality
Relationship to Context
Environmental Responsibility
Relevance to the Profession, the Public, and the Environment
Effectiveness for the Intended Audience (Analysis and Planning, Research, and Communication only)