Research Category

NOTE: An official entrant in the Professional Awards Research category is not required to be a landscape architecture professional.

Recognizes: research that identifies and investigates challenges posed in landscape architecture, providing results that advance the body of knowledge for the profession.

Typical entries include: 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.

Criteria: The jury will consider how the research is framed; the context and resources of the study; the methods of inquiry; the results of investigation; and the lesson value of the research conclusions to the field at large.

Recognition: The Professional Awards Jury and the Student Awards Jury may each select one Award of Excellence and any number of Honor Awards in this category.

Entry Instructions

Entrants in this category will submit:

  • a completed official entry binder
  • a completed Concealed Identification and Credit Form
  • for professional entrants only: a copy of the complete research project (optional)
  • a CD-ROM or USB Flash Drive containing the above items in electronic format

Official Entry Binder

Upon receipt of the entry form and payment, ASLA will issue an official, numbered entry binder for each project to be submitted. Each entry kit contains a submission binder, forms, and instructions. With the exception of the complete research project (optional for professionals only), all submission materials must fit into this binder, which contains 24 page views in an 8.5” x 11” format. The jury will not consider any material that is oversized, behind other items, or submitted outside the binder, and will not remove any materials from the sleeves (such as pamphlets or brochures).

Materials in the binder and the complete research project (optional for professional entrants only) must not reveal the names of the entrant. Entrants must use an easily readable typeface, such as Times Roman, Garamond, or Arial, no smaller than 10-point size, for all text. Binder covers may not be altered in any manner.

Entry binders in the Research Category must contain the following items:

  1. Descriptive Data Summary: The first three (3) views of the entry binder must include a descriptive data summary of up to three (3) typed pages. Please use the appropriate form provided for Professionals and for Students.
  2. Images*: Include at least five (5) but no more than fifteen (15) total images (graphs, drawings, photographs) to illustrate the research. Images must be 8.5” x 11” format, portrait or landscape orientation. Brief captions of no more than 40 words each are to be placed at the bottom of each image or opposite the image in the book. Also, please submit a separate text document containing all of the captions.

Concealed Identification and Credit Form

Please list all project credits on the Concealed Identification and Credit Form.

CD-ROM / USB Flash Drive

The CD-ROM / USB Flash Drive must contain the contents of the official entry binder and the Concealed Identification and Credit Form as submitted to the awards program. Images must be in .jpg format at a minimum of 300 dpi. Label each image with the entry number and the number of the image. For example, if the entry number is “123,” label the .jpg files as 123-01, 123-02, 123-03, and so on. Please label the CD-ROM jewel case / USB Flash Drive with the entry number.

*Entrants are responsible for clearing photographs with photographers for publication and reproduction by ASLA. ASLA will provide proper photography and other project credits when using photos, but will not assume responsibility for any copyrights or photography fees. ASLA retains the right to publish photos submitted in winning entries in Landscape Architecture magazine, on the ASLA website, in promoting the awards program, and in other products in conjunction with promoting landscape architecture.