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The Ring - CCxA

Pinnacle Award for Landscape Architectural Excellence

The Award

This award acknowledges excellence by an OALA member and their exemplary overall body of professional work and accomplishments. The award promotes awareness of landscape architectural works and achievements among landscape architects, allied professionals, clients and the public.

A maximum of one award will be given annually.

The Nominee

To be considered, the nominee must be a Full Member of the OALA practicing in Ontario, in Canada and/or around the world.

Nominator and Endorser

The nominator must be a Full Member or a Committee of the OALA.

In addition to the nominator: A minimum of 2 letters of endorsement are required, signed by members from any category of the OALA membership (not including student or affiliate members).

Submission Requirements and Evaluation Criteria

The submission may highlight the accomplishments of a specific project or projects and draw attention to an overall lifetime body of work, which demonstrates outstanding professional accomplishment in such areas as:

Design – newly constructed or renovated sites of specific works in landscape architectural design including residential, urban, commercial, industrial or institutional designs, parks and recreational facilities, historic preservation and restoration, transportation, landscape conservancy and reclamation, as well as landscape as an art form, among others.

Planning and Analysis – urban, rural, community and regional planning involving various landscape analysis such as environmental assessments, suitability studies, natural and visual resource inventories, and post-construction evaluations.

Research – original studies, theses or reports which give evidence of a thorough examination of a problem or issue, using analytical methods which support original findings, and/or solutions which are of value to the profession.

Communication – written or published documents and audio/visual presentation materials intended for use within and/or outside the profession (technical books, publications or films related to such topic as documentaries, landscape architectural history, art and plant material catalogues, etc.).

Non-traditional areas of practice – un-built commissions, concepts, project management (e.g., events), innovation/leading edge projects prepared for and accepted by a client.

The award recipient and nominator will be asked to assist the OALA and its HAP Committee with materials they have available (display boards, slides, models, etc.) to appropriately document and publicize the award.

Submit your nomination

Previous Recipients

Recent recipients of the OALA Pinnacle Award for Landscape Architectural Excellence are:

  • 2023 - Donna Hinde
  • 2022 - John Hillier
  • 2020 - Jim Melvin
  • 2019 - Carolyn Woodland
  • 2018 - David Leinster