Celebrating Landscape Excellence: The 2025 ASLA Professional Awards
As the excitement builds for the 2025 ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture, set to take place in vibrant New Orleans from October 10-13, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has unveiled the winners of its prestigious 2025 Professional Awards. Recognized as the pinnacle of achievement in landscape architecture, these awards honor visionary projects that exemplify aesthetic beauty, technical prowess, and ecological responsibility.
Overview of the Awards
This year, 35 projects across various categories will be celebrated in a presentation ceremony at the upcoming conference, showcasing the exceptional talent within the landscape architecture field. The awardees were carefully chosen from a remarkable 463 entries, illustrating the competitive spirit and innovation in contemporary landscape architecture.
The selection process involved two expert jury panels, one of which was chaired by the esteemed Thomas Balsley, a co-founder and principal at SWA/Balsley in New York. Among the jury members was Matt Hickman, senior editor at Architectural Record, who will be attending the conference in New Orleans.
The Winning Projects
Highlighting the diverse nature of the winning projects, ASLA President Kona Gray remarked, “These projects demonstrate that what is good for nature is good for people.” Each project reflects not only a deep engagement with complex design challenges but also a remarkable synergy between functionality and aesthetics.
General Design Awards
One of the standout winners in the General Design category is Mill 19: A Catalytic Postindustrial Landscape in Pittsburgh, designed by Ten x Ten in collaboration with D.I.R.T. Studio. This transformative project harnesses the power of landscapes to revitalize urban spaces, echoing themes of sustainability and community engagement.
Photo © Gaffer Photography
Another notable project is More than Human: A Land Bridge for Cultural and Wildlife Connections in San Antonio, designed by Stimson. This innovative land bridge not only fosters connectivity for wildlife but also enriches cultural experiences by bridging divides within urban settings.
Images courtesy Stimson and Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy
San Francisco’s China Basin Park: A Dynamic Urban Connector, designed by SCAPE, also earned prestigious recognition. This urban oasis enhances the connection between natural landscapes and urban environments, going beyond mere functionality to create a vibrant community space.
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Photo © SCAPE/Ty Cole
Urban Design Recognition
In the Urban Design category, SCAPE’s China Basin Park and Water Street Tampa designed by Reed Hilderbrand received Honor Awards, showcasing the depth of creativity in tailoring urban spaces to enhance community life.
Additionally, the Fish Tail Park in Nanchang City, China, by Turenscape was awarded a coveted Award of Excellence, praised for its imaginative design that integrates urban needs with ecological stability.
Photo © Turenscape
Residential Design Highlights
In the Residential Design category, And the Wild Comes Right Up to the Door in Princeton, Massachusetts, by Stimson, and Springy Banks in East Hampton, New York, by LaGuardia Design Group impressed jurors with their unique approaches to integrating landscapes with living spaces. Their designs showcased harmony between residential life and nature.
Landmark Award Achievement
A significant highlight of the award ceremony is the Landmark Award, which honors projects that continue to demonstrate design integrity over time. This year, the award went to the Restoring the Glory, the Restoration of Forest Park, completed in 2000 by HOK. This project revitalized a historic park in St. Louis, emphasizing the enduring value of thoughtful landscape design in urban settings.
Photo courtesy Forest Park Forever
Conclusion: A Bright Future for Landscape Architecture
The 2025 ASLA Professional Awards not only celebrate exemplary work but also set the stage for the future of landscape architecture—one that prioritizes sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation. As the profession continues to evolve, these winners serve as inspirations, establishing new benchmarks for landscapes that nurture both people and the environment.
For a comprehensive list of all award recipients and further details about the winners, please visit the ASLA’s official awards page here. The anticipation builds as the landscape architecture community prepares to gather in New Orleans to honor these remarkable achievements!