General Design – Site-specific works of landscape architecture or urban design. Entries in this category must be built. Typical entries include: public, institutional or private landscapes of all kinds; historic preservation, reclamation, conservation, or sustainable design; design for transportation or infrastructure; landscape art or installation; interior landscape design; green roofs; and more. Student projects may also be entered in this category. Student entries are not required to be built.

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 also be entered in this category. Student entries are not required to be built.

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 also be entered in this category.

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 also be entered in this category.

Communications – Achievements in communicating landscape architecture works, techniques, technologies, history, or theory, and the lesson value 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 may also be entered in this category

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 of all kinds. Student projects are not eligible for this category.

Student Collaboration – Collaborative work by landscape architecture students from allied and complementary disciplines, including those in other design fields, business, and the natural and social sciences. Student entries are not required to be built.  Typical entries include:  landscape architecture projects that meet the criteria within the categories of General Design, Residential Design, Analysis & Planning, Research, and Communications, brought about through collaborative effort among students from landscape architecture programs and allied and complementary disciplines, including other design fields, business, and the natural and social sciences.

The Student Community Service Award – Pro bono community service by students demonstrating sound principles and values of landscape architecture.  Typical entries include:  individual students or student organizations providing community-based advocacy or public service.