SERC 2026 Professional and Student Awards Program

SERC 2026 Professional and Student Awards Program

Deadline for submissions is January 18, 2026 at 5pm
Invitation

The goal of SERC is to strengthen the profession by promoting the works of landscape architects in the three states. In order to promote and recognize the value of landscape architecture, The NC, SC and GA Chapters of the American Society of Landscape Architects holds an annual Professional and Student Awards Program. This years program is administered by the NCASLA Executive Committee Awards Chair.
Eligibility

The Professional Awards are open to all ASLA Members and nonmembers, Associates, and Fellows in the state of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. This includes Faculty members, and Students currently teaching or enrolled in NC, SC and GA landscape architecture programs. Entries are accepted from private practice, public agencies, non-profit, local, state and federal government entities. Entries from other professions are accepted pending pre-approval by the Awards Chair. Projects must be located in NC, SC or GA and/or have a physical office in NC, SC or GA. An example : 1) a firm in California submitted a project in NC but does not have an office in NC 2) an office in NC but did a project in Minnesota.
Jury/Award

Other than projects submitted for the Landmark Award category, all projects completed after January 1, 2018, are eligible. Once the project receives an award, it is no longer eligible for entry into future NC, SC and GA ASLA award programs. A project may be resubmitted until it wins an award. The awards will be juried by an out-of-state ASLA Chapter.
Award Levels

Awards will be given based on the merits of the project for the Category submitted. The decisions of the jury are final and solely based on the submission.

Possible Award Categories include:

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: Awarded for innovative solution that goes beyond project purpose. One Award per Category may be given if merited.

HONOR AWARD: Awarded for outstanding, imaginative, and well resolved solution. Up to 20% of the total entries may receive award, if merited.

MERIT AWARD: Given for creative and functional solution that achieves its purpose. Any number may be given per category, if merited.

RECOGNITION AWARD: Recognizes projects that exhibit high standard of achievement. Any number may be given per category, if merited.

Entries will be judged on quality of design or presentation, functionalism, context and surrounding relationships, technological advancements, pioneering efforts, and overall significance to the profession.
Categories

Awards will be given for General Design, Residential Design, Landmark, Analysis and Planning, Communications, Research, Urban Design, Student Collaboration, and Student Community Service Award.
Deadline/Fees-

Online entry form, entry fee (Visa/MasterCard) and submission must be received no later than: January 18, 2025 at 5:00pm. All entry fees must include the appropriate entry fee, at time of submission, or the entry will not be considered for judging.
TYPE OF CATEGORY*

I am submitting for a professional awardI am submitting for a student award

CATEGORIES- Select only one of the following categories for your entry:

A. GENERAL DESIGN – Site-specific works of landscape architecture. Entries in this category must be built. Typical entries include: Public, institutional or private landscapes of all kinds; historic preservation, reclamation, conservation; green roofs, stormwater management, sustainable design, design for transportation or infrastructure; landscape art or installation; interior landscape design; and more. Student projects may be entered in this category. Student entries are not required to be built.B. RESIDENTIAL DESIGN – Site-specific works of landscape architecture for residential use. Entries in this category must be built. Typical entries include: Single or multi-family residential projects; activity areas for entertaining, recreation, relaxing; sustainable landscape applications; indigenous and native landscapes; new construction or renovation projects; historic preservation; rehabilitation, reconstruction, or restoration; affordable landscape concepts and innovations; small site development; private gardens; rooftop gardens; and more. Student projects may be entered in this category. Student entries are not required to be built.C. THE LANDMARK AWARD – A distinguished landscape architecture project completed between 15 and 50 years ago that retains its original design integrity and contributes significantly to the public realm of the community in which it is located. Typical entries include: Built landscape works may include parks, plazas, gardens, river walks, of all kinds. This category can be submitted by any organization, public officials or agency. Student projects are not eligible for this category.D. ANALYSIS AND PLANNING – The wide variety of professional activities that lead to, guide, and evaluate landscape architecture design. Entries in this category are not required to be built or implemented. Typical entries include: Urban, suburban, rural or regional planning efforts and/or development guidelines; transportation planning; plans for recovery or reclamation of brownfield sites; environmental planning in relation to legislative or policy initiatives or regulatory controls; cultural resource reports. Student projects may be entered in this category.E. COMMUNICATIONS – Achievements in communicating landscape architecture works techniques, technologies, history, or theory, to an intended audience. Typical entries include: Print media, film, video, audio, CD, or DVD formats; online communications; interpretive design; exhibition design; and more. Student projects, including project presentations, may be entered in this category.F. RESEARCH – 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 or education; assessments of social, economic, or environmental impacts of landscape architecture; study of relationships of landscape architecture to law, education, public health and safety, or public policy; and more. Student projects may be entered in this category.G. URBAN DESIGN – Project that activates networks of spaces that mediate between social, equity, economic viability, infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and beautiful place-making in the public and private realm. Entries in this category must be built or currently under construction. Typical entries include: Constructed or partially constructed urban projects spatially greater than one block in the realm of public, institutional, or private landscapes; streetscapes, neighborhoods, districts, cities, place-making interventions and civic improvements that may include elements of reclamation, storm-water management, transportation or infrastructure studies, art, etc.

General Information
Project Title*
Project Location*
Primary Contact*
Firm*
Daytime Phone*
Email*
example@example.com
Names of Individuals/ responsible for project*
Client/Agency/Publisher*
All participants in the design process of the project will be recognized as part of the Awards Program.
What State are you Submitting From?*

GANCSC
Head shot*

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Head shot

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Head shot, if more than 3 individuals responsible for the project please email additional head shots to manager@ncalsa.org

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If you are chosen for an award, how many additional unframed copies of the award would you like to purchase for $50 each?*
Signature*

Uploads

Upload the documents according to the entry category and Submission Requirements and Submission Format information below. Max size for all uploads together is 1GB. If your submission can not be resized, continue filling out this form, submit payment, and email the uploads to info@ncasla.org.
Submission Requirements
Submission Format
Entry Form- Upload the completed entry form (page 5 of the Awards Packet)*

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Award Information and Order Form- Upload the completed entry form (page 6 of the Awards Packet)*

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CATEGORIES A, B, C, G- upload 3 PDFs here, per the Submission Format instructions above: 1. Project Summary, 2. Project Documentation, 3., Project Photography

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Categories D, E, and F should skip this section Cancelof
CATEGORY D- upload 2 PDFs here, per the Submission Format instructions above: 1. Project Summary, 2. Twenty sheets maximum of analysis, etc. (single PDF or PowerPoint/PDF format)

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Categories A, B, C, E, F, and G should skip this section Cancelof
CATEGORIES E and F- upload 2 PDFs here, per the Submission Format instructions above: 1. Project Summary, 2. Submit a copy of the project (single PDF or PowerPoint/PDF format)

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Categories A, B, C, D, and G should skip this section Cancelof

Payment*

Entry Fee- ASLA Member or Associate, ASLA Fellow$300.00

Entry Fee- Registered professional (nonmember) $400.00

1st entry $400.00, ea entry after $200 ea

Entry Fee- Registered professional (nonmember) 2$200.00

1st entry $400.00, ea entry after $200 ea

Entry Fee- Faculty Member of North Carolina College or University $125.00

Categories E & F

Entry Fee- Public Agency, Non- Profit, Etc, Category C$100.00

Entry Fee- Student$25.00

Entry Fee - I am requesting sponsorship as a student member$ Free

Total $0.00

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SERC 2026 Professional and Student Awards Program

Invitation

Eligibility

Jury/Award

Categories

Deadline/Fees-

General Information

Uploads

Submission Requirements

Submission Format