Purpose: The Olmsted Medal was instituted in 1990 to recognize individuals, organizations, agencies, or programs outside the profession of landscape architecture for environmental leadership, vision, and stewardship. The Medal honors Frederick Law Olmsted, considered the founder of the American landscape architecture profession and steward of the environment.
Eligibility: Individuals, organizations, agencies, or programs outside the landscape architecture profession that have demonstrated consistent and effective environmental leadership, vision, and stewardship.
Frequency: One medal is awarded annually.
Nomination Process: Nominations may be made by an ASLA professional member or an ASLA chapter. Nominations are to be kept confidential. Nominees should not be made aware of their nominations or asked to participate in the preparation of their nomination materials.
All nominations must be submitted as a high resolution PDF and sent via WeTransfer to honorsawards@asla.org by February 12, 2024, 6:00 pm EST.
NOTE: Email subject line must read "OLMSTED MEDAL."
Each nomination to include:
- A letter of nomination describing the nominee's qualifications for the medal; the letter may be no more than five (5) pages in length
- Include four (4) to five (5) images representing the nominee’s work
- Portrait style photo of nominee (if applicable)
- Up to five (5) letters of endorsement
- Nominee contact details – current email, address, and phone number, including current title and firm/organization
Please be sure the images within your PDF submission meet the following requirements:
Project images should be at least 2000x1500px at 300ppi (pixels / inch). They may be larger but must have a minimum width of 2000px, minimum height of 1500px, and minimum pixel density of 300 pixels / inch (i.e. 2000x2500px at 300ppi, 3000x1500px at 300ppi, 2000x1500px at 600ppi would be acceptable images).
Nominee images should be at least 1200x1200px at 300ppi (pixels / inch). It may be larger but must have a minimum width of 1200px, minimum height of 1200px, and minimum pixel density of 300 pixels / inch.
Nomination letters may be addressed to:
Olmsted Medal Nominations
c/o Honors and Awards
636 Eye Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001-3736
Selection Process: The Olmsted Medal recipients are selected on the basis of their commitment to safeguarding our natural heritage either nationally or regionally. The nominee's work may take the form of policy or action, embodying ASLA's commitment to stewardship of the land and quality of life. The Executive Committee reviews all nominations and forwards no more than two nominees to the Board of Trustees (BOT) for final selection. The BOT selects the medal recipient by secret ballot during the Spring meeting. The medal recipient is notified by the president and invited to attend the ASLA Annual Meeting, held in the Fall, where the medal will be awarded.
Questions? Contact Honors and Awards Manager, 202-216-2331 or honorsawards@asla.org