The ASLA FL Design Awards Program encourages the advancement, expansion, and recognition of the Landscape Architecture profession by honoring projects that blend environmental and artistic principles that emphasize beauty, function, and sustainability.

Award of Merit: Bestowed in recognition of projects that demonstrate a thorough use of landscape architectural practices. 

Award of Honor: Bestowed in recognition of projects that demonstrate the inspired use of landscape architectural practices in an imaginative and well-resolved combination that adds to the body of the Landscape Architecture profession.

Award of Excellence:  Bestowed in recognition of projects that demonstrate an inspired use of landscape architectural practices in an imaginative combination that adds to the body of the Landscape Architecture profession, and are truly exceptional, unique, innovative and goes beyond achieving its defined purpose.

Frederic B. Stresau Award:  Bestowed upon an Award of Excellence winner that best exhibits absolute innovation and design excellence of the profession. 

Environmental Sustainability Honor: At the discretion of the Awards Jury, may be bestowed upon a single project that exhibits sound sustainable practices as described by the ASLA Environmental Sustainability Policy Statement (B205, 206, R2001; available at www.asla.org), is an overlay honor that is granted by the jury. This is not a category in which to submit in.

Edward D. Stone, Jr. Landmark Award (formerly the Classic Award Category):  At the discretion of the Awards Jury, may be bestowed upon a single distinguished landscape architecture project built and completed at least 20 years ago that retains its original design integrity and contributes significantly to the public realm of the community in which it is located.  Such submission may be made by a Landscape Architect or Firm, provided that all parties to the project, who are alive/in existence, consent.  The jury will consider the project’s sustained value to the community it serves and the continued relevance of the project’s design expression.

SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

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The following categories recognize site-specific works as described. To enter, the official entrant must be an Associate, Full, or International ASLA member, or eligible to join ASLA in one of those categories. Professional entries in these categories must be built.

General Design Awards Criteria:

The jury will consider the quality of design and execution; relationship to design context; environmental sensitivity and sustainability; relevant impact to the profession, public, and/or environment, and resilience strategies; and design value to the client, community, and to other designers.

Residential Design Awards Criteria:

The jury will consider the quality of design context and execution, materiality, environmental sensitivity, community benefit, sustainability through Low Impact Development (lid) incorporation, green infrastructure or additional site-specific techniques that are innovative, site specific and maintainable. Emphasis will be given to projects that have attained or are registered for SITES certification.

The following categories recognize either site-specific or non-site-specific works as described. Professional entries are not required to be built or implemented.

Philanthropic:

Recognizes documents, projects, events or functions which contribute to a greater understanding of landscape architecture, which advances the profession, or which make a gift of services to enhance our culture, community and quality of life. Philanthropic entries can be and often are projects with minimal or no budget and will be judged accordingly.  Merely donating your services as a Landscape Architect is not sufficient to qualify in this category.

• • Criteria: Entries shall display a unique approach to spreading the vision and standards of the profession and shall include community involvement and/or direct service to the impacted community.
  • • Typical entries may include: Engaging in communities for placemaking processes, fundraising campaigns, and more.

Research and Communication:

Recognizes efforts involving investigation of landscape architecture-oriented topics and communication techniques contributing to an expanded body of knowledge. Projects that orient research that identifies and investigates challenges posed in landscape architecture, providing results that advance the body of knowledge for the profession, and achieve communicating landscape architecture works, techniques, technologies, history, or theory, and the lesson value to an intended audience. NOTE: Florida Registered Landscape Architects with a principal practice in another state may submit works; however, they must be executed in Florida or Puerto Rico. 

• • Criteria: The jury will consider projects that investigate research, studies, written works (published and unpublished), and innovative application of presentation methods or techniques (i.e. graphic techniques, digital media, and beyond). Student entries may include "Capstone” projects or graduate-level thesis work.
  • • Typical entries may include: Online communications - interactive & multimedia; print media, film, video, audio (i.e. podcasts); interpretive design; exhibition design; public awareness campaigns; investigations into methods, techniques, or materials related to landscape architecture practice; studies of relationships of landscape architecture to law, education, public health and safety, or public policy; and more. Student entries may include "Capstone” projects or graduate-level thesis work.

Planning and Analysis:

Recognizes efforts involving the wide range of professional planning and analysis activities that lead to and guide landscape architecture design.

• • Criteria: The jury will consider the quality of the analysis and planning effort; context; environmental sensitivity and sustainability; likelihood of successful implementation; and value to the client, the public, and other designers. Jury will also consider if proposal exhibits a pioneering use of previously created methodologies or a uniquely effective means of combining or presenting landscape architectural / land use techniques.
  • • Typical entries include: Urban, suburban, rural, or regional planning efforts; development guidelines; transportation planning; plans for reclamation; environmental planning; historic preservation planning; report documents; and more.

Climate Action Impact Award – Built Projects:

The climate Action category includes issues such as sea level rise, biodiversity loss, water quality, disaster resilience, rising temperatures and heat islands, Carbon drawdown, Zero GHG emissions, Sustainable transportation, Climate justice, and Incorporating Indigenous knowledge. Typical entries for the Climate Action Awards could include LEED, Park Smart, Living Building Challenge, WELL Building, Florida Green Building Coalition, NGBS, Energy Modeling.

Recognizes a landscape architect’s influence in addressing the goals of ASLA’s Climate Action Plan through Practice, Equity and Advocacy. The project shall clearly exhibit positive climate approaches, empower communities and/or demonstrate how it has built coalitions for climate action. Principles of carbon drawdown, biodiversity, climate justice and social well-being shall be evident.

Climate Action Impact Award – Unbuilt Projects:

The Climate Action category includes issues such as sea level rise, biodiversity loss, water quality, disaster resilience, rising temperatures and heat islands, Carbon drawdown, Zero GHG emissions, Sustainable transportation, Climate justice, and Incorporating Indigenous knowledge. Typical entries for the Climate Action Awards could include LEED, Park Smart, Living Building Challenge, WELL Building, Florida Green Building Coalition, NGBS, Energy Modeling. 

Recognizes a landscape architect’s influence in addressing the goals of ASLA’s Climate Action Plan through Practice, Equity and Advocacy. The project shall clearly exhibit positive climate approaches, empower communities and/or demonstrate how it has built coalitions for climate action. Principles of carbon drawdown, biodiversity, climate justice and social well-being shall be evident.

• Criteria: The jury will consider the quality of research, planning, and design; relevance of climate current issues, design context; environmental sensitivity and sustainability, minimizing vulnerability to climate-related hazards , climate adaptation, and resilience strategies; measurable and positive outcomes; community engagement; Adoption and Scalability potential, Use of sustainable materials and responsible resource use, Educational components or advocacy efforts, innovation and technology to enhance climate resilience, and prioritize equity and inclusivity; design value to the client, community, and to other designers. This category is designed for impactful works in landscape architecture for which implementation has not yet occurred. For this award, the jury will consider excellence in design thinking and methodology for projects that have been designed but not constructed.
• • Typical entries include: Design of all spaces - parks, plazas, sculpture gardens, botanical gardens, river walks, and more. It could be planning studies that have been undertaken, or research/analysis of relevant topics.

Edward D. Stone, Jr. Landmark Award (formerly the Classic Award Category)

Recognizes a project built and completed at least 20 years ago that retains its original design integrity and contributes significantly to the public realm of the community in which it is located.  Such submission may be made by a Landscape Architect or Firm, provided that all parties to the project, who are alive/in existence, consent.  The jury will consider the project’s sustained value to the community it serves and the continued relevance of the project’s design expression.

Unbuilt Projects:

Recognizes excellence in design thinking and methodology for projects that have been designed but not constructed. This category is for designed works in landscape architecture for which implementation has not yet occurred.

• Criteria: The jury will consider the quality of design resolution and connectivity to the context of the designs. Jury will consider projects with a clearly defined program, fulfillment of project’s program and intent, originality and principles of sound landscape architecture practices. Projects will also be reviewed for their design approaches that reflect a commitment to sustainability, community engagement, and civic infrastructures.
• • Typical entries include: Conceptual designs, competition-based projects, schematic designs, design works never brought to fruition, projects on hold, etc. (Professional Entries Only)

Urban Design:

Recognizes projects built or currently under construction that activate networks of spaces that mediate between social equity, economic viability, infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and beautiful place-making in the public and private realm. NOTE: Urban Design projects that are unbuilt should be submitted to the Planning and Analysis category for consideration.

• Criteria: The jury will consider the quality of design and execution; urban design context; planning context; contribution of project to a broader urban landscape; environmental sensitivity and sustainability; and attention to social justice, equity, and inclusion.
• • Typical entries include: constructed or partially constructed urban projects spatially greater than one block in the realm of public, institutional, or private landscapes; streetscapes, waterfronts, mixed-use developments, neighborhoods, districts, cities, placemaking interventions and civic improvements that may include elements of reclamation, stormwater management, transportation or infrastructure studies, art, and more.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES 

Important information and submission requirements are listed below in the section below. Please be sure to read through the information thoroughly and reach out to info@aslaflorida.org with any questions. 

1. Each submission Cost of submission: $225 for members and $675 for non-members per submission. 

2. Project Information: 

3. Project Presentation and Images: A maximum of 16 images may be submitted with a minimum of 5 images uploaded. Images must include at least (1) site plan. Click here for image examples. Quality of images (DPI resolutions) are specified below.