The ASLA's 2021Professional Awards offer eye candy and design inspiration in equal measure—reflecting a profession continuing to increase its role in advancing social issues in the built and natural environments.

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) announced the 2021 Professional Awards earlier this month, recognizing the "highest level of achievement" in the profession. Awards are organized by category—for general design, residential design, urban design, analysis and planning, research, and communications, along with a "Landmark Award."
The 2021 ASLA Award of Excellence for the general design category goes to Design Workshop Inc. for its work in creating a "museum without walls" for the Natural History Museum of Utah. According to the ASLA announcement of the award, "the Museum offers an abstract extension and transformation of the land: its campus an expression of a landscape defined by rock, minerals, and vegetation."
The museum's design also embodies the museum’s mission to "highlight the natural world through scientific inquiry, educational outreach, multi-cultural experience, and human engagement."
Digital terrain modeling, utilized to make the steep terrain accessible for all users, blurs the line between intervention and conservation. Sustainable design elements including rainwater recapture, permeable surfaces, and native plantings resulted in a landscape that mimics and restores the natural conditions of the environment and the site.
In addition to the Award of Excellence, categories also include a list of "Honor Awards" for more examples of contemporary design excellence.
"Winners each year are chosen by a jury panel representing a broad cross-section of the profession, from the public and private sectors, as well as academia. The 40 winners were chosen from 486 submissions from around the world. Award categories include: General Design, Urban Design, Residential Design, Analysis & Planning, Communications, and Research. In addition, one Landmark Award is also selected each year," according to an ASLA press release announcing the awards on October 4.
The ASLA also announced its 2021 Student Awards earlier this month, recognizing student work in the same categories. Details of the student awards are available on the ASLA website.
FULL STORY: ASLA ANNOUNCES 2021 PROFESSIONAL AWARD WINNERS

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.

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

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie