New Landscape Architecture Prize the First of its Kind

The Cultural Landscape Foundation last week announced the creation of an international landscape architecture price, to be awarded for the first time in 2021.

2 minute read

August 20, 2019, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Millennium Park Fountain

The Crown Fountain in Chicago's Millennium Park was designed by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa. | f11photo / Shutterstock

The Cultural landscape Foundation will offer $100,000 to the winner of a biennial landscape architecture prize, according to a press release.

In addition to the cash prize, "the Prize features two years of related public engagement activities to honor a living practitioner, collaborative or team for their creative, courageous, and visionary work in the field of landscape architecture," according to the release.

The $100,000 prize is made possible by a donation from TCLF board co-chair Joan Shafran and her husband Rob Haimes. The lead gift of US$1 million to underwrite the Prize was collectively matched by the rest of the board and other donors, launching a US$4.5 million fundraising campaign to endow the prize in perpetuity. 

The first prize will be awarded in 2021, with a prize committee already appointed to select the inaugural prize winner. "The Prize will examine the state of landscape architecture through the honoree’s practice, showcasing how landscape architecture and its practitioners are transforming the public realm by addressing social, ecological, cultural, environmental, and other challenges in their work," according to the release.

The Cultural Landscape Foundation has also launched a website in connection with the announcement, sharing the press release along with a number of other pages to provide more background on the prize and its raison d'être. There's even a page that imagines who might have won the prize if it had existed 50 years ago.

Monday, August 12, 2019 in The Cultural Landscape Foundation

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business