AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 2022 OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS
GUIDELINES AND ENTRY FORM
PURPOSE
The purpose of the APALA Awards of Excellence program is to:
Recognize and promote excellence in all aspects of the profession in Atlantic Canada.
Communicate a strong awareness of the profession of landscape architecture to related professions, potential clients, and the general public.
DEADLINE
All submissions must be received by 5:00pm Atlantic time on Friday, December 9, 2022. Submissions must be sent by email or file-share (Dropbox or similar) to admin@apala.ca
ELIGIBILITY
The APALA Awards of Excellence is open to:
Landscape architects practicing within or outside of Atlantic Canada are eligible to enter, provided that at least one member of the project team is a Full Member in good standing of APALA and played a leading role in the project.
For submissions initiated by the client, the lead design firm and/or landscape architect must agree with the information as submitted in the entry form.
PROJECTS
Projects must be in one of the four Atlantic Canadian provinces.
Unsuccessful submissions may be re-submitted in the same category provided they have not previously received an APALA Award of Excellence and declared as such in the entry form.
Projects which have received an APALA Award of Excellence may be re-submitted in a different category.
TYPES OF AWARDS
Awards of Excellence (up to five per year)
Award of Special Recognition (one per year)
The Award of Special Recognition represents a single award, chosen from the category winners, that demonstrates excellence against all judging criteria. This award will be submitted to the CSLA Awards of Excellence program. APALA will pay for the CSLA entry fees, however completion of the CSLA entry form and supporting material will be the responsibility of the nominated individual.
AWARDS CATEGORIES
The selection of submission categories is the responsibility of the entrant. Entrants may submit the project in more than one category. The jury reserves the right to change the category in which the entry is considered.
Large-Scale Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect (over 1 ha)
Includes newly constructed or renovated works, such as:
Public and civic landscapes (parks, streets, plazas, gardens).
Commercial and institutional landscapes (schools, hospitals, businesses, corporate headquarters).
Projects must have been constructed before the submission date.
Small-Scale Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect (up to 1 ha)
Includes newly constructed or renovated works, such as:
Public and civic landscapes (parks, streets, plazas, gardens).
Commercial and institutional landscapes (schools, hospitals, businesses, corporate headquarters).
Projects must have been constructed before the submission date.
Planning and Analysis
Includes large-scale projects such as:
Regional planning and assessment.
Land reserves, national parks, watershed and protected area planning.
Natural resource management, environmental assessment, restoration, conservation or enhancement plans.
Remediation plans.
Community development plans.
Master plans.
Historical management plans
Communication
Includes initiatives which have achieved success in communicating information relating to landscape architecture within or outside of the profession, such as:
Presentation materials or supporting documents.
Promotional plans and campaigns including marketing materials, such as a leaflet or press releases with cuttings/broadcast coverage generated.
Websites or blogs, company or project-specific publications.
Information for the general public introducing them to the profession.
Public or community consultation/engagement materials.
Explanatory or promotional documents, films, publications.
Materials used in schools such as lesson plans and handouts.
Residential Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect
Newly developed or renovated single or multifamily residential projects constructed before the submission deadline such as:
Renovation or restoration projects.
Rooftop gardens.
Activity areas for cooking, entertaining, recreation, or relaxation.
Sustainable landscape applications; new construction or renovation projects.
Affordable landscape concepts and innovation.
JURY
The jury will be comprised of three (3) or more professionals within Atlantic Canada as follows (whenever possible) with a minimum of two members, each from different Atlantic Canadian provinces.
ASSESSMENT
All entries will be assessed according to the following criteria (all criteria weighted equally):
Demonstration of a deep understanding of the craft of landscape architecture and attention to composition and detail:
Functionality: how the project achieves its stated goals.
Details: which make the project unique, functional, and exemplary.
Aesthetics: the overall aesthetic attributes of the project.
Demonstration of excellence in leadership, project management, breadth of work, new directions or new technology:
Role of the landscape architect in the project: what was the landscape architect's role and how did it enhance the project?
Excellence of the project: what makes it excellent or different from other projects?
Leadership: how the project demonstrates leadership within the profession of landscape architecture.
Innovation: how the project demonstrates innovation in processes, working relationships, management and design.
Use of technology: how new or old technologies contribute to the design function and usability.
Usability: how the public (or owners/clients) utilize the various areas of the project and its long-term viability as a useful space.
Innovation in concept, process, materials or implementation:
Materials: the use of materials in new and different applications and/or new materials.
Construction: innovation in construction methods or schedules, including equipment, timing, use of volunteers.
Thought process: the creativity shown by demonstrated though process to create the end design.
Engagement: the process for user and stakeholder engagement during the project.
Promotion of the discipline amongst related professions, clients and the general public:
Involvement: how the project reaches out to or involves the general public or the client.
Cross-disciplinary scope: how the project reaches across more than one discipline.
Demonstration of exemplary environmental and/or social awareness:
Environmental impact: how the project considers environmental processes and functions and the impact of the project on climate adaptation and mitigation.
Social impact: how the project engages issues of social awareness, engagement and acceptance, the impact on the project on reconciliation with Indigenous Communities in relation to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action.
HOW TO APPLY
The following items must be submitted electronically by email or file-share (Dropbox or similar) to admin@apala.ca
Completed entry form.
Digital copies of relevant supporting materials (if applicable): including copies of drawings, plans, reports, or other project-related material that will assist with judging.
Letter from the client or owner stating that they are aware and supportive of the submission, and granting of the right to submit, publish, and/or exhibit the materials submitted as part of the entry.
Digital images of the project for judging and publicity purposes: submissions of a minimum of 5 and maximum of 20 project images in .jpg format saved as “Image 1.jpg, Image 2.jpg” etc. Low resolution (100 dpi) images are acceptable for judging purposes, however high resolution (300 dpi) images may be requested. The images must include a location map and/or site plan sufficient to allow the site to be located in software such as Google Earth.
A summary of how the applicant feels the project meets the evaluation criteria (maximum 500 words).
A short written paragraph suitable for a press release or inclusion in social media content (maximum 75 words).
Please note, there is no entry fee for submission to the APALA Awards of Excellence.
INQUIRIES
Entrants will be notified of receipt of their project within ten days of the deadline. For further information, questions, or clarifications, please contact the Executive Assistant via email at admin@apala.ca