2016 Excellence in Landscape Awards Call for Entries Entry Deadline Wednesday, August 3, 2016 Grow smarter with the landscape experts.
General Information Entry Fees $250 LCA Member $375 Non-Member Fee is required for each entry. Entry Form must be filled out completely. Entry fee covers the judging process only. Entry Deadline Entries must be received at LCA headquarters by 5:00 pm, Wednesday, August 3, 2016. Entries will not be accepted after this date and time. Entry Restrictions Entrant must obtain permission from the client prior to entry. Previous Grand Award winning projects may not be entered in the same category, at any point in the future, by the same company, unless they are being entered for a Heritage or Decade Award. Project time shall not exceed five years from completion date, with the exception of the Heritage and Decade Awards. Enclosed architectural additions are not eligible. There are no geographic restrictions. Entry Procedures 1. Complete all five parts of the Entry Form. Go to the LCA website (www.lcamddcva.org) to access the writeable PDF of this form. 2. Type project description on the Entry Form. Do not attach separate sheets or exceed the space provided. Do NOT include company, subcontractor(s), or employee name(s) in descriptions. 3. Include 10 to 15 photos of the project in both high and low resolutions on a USB flash drive labeled with your company and project name. Include a printed photo index showing a thumbnail of each photo and its number. (See additional photo requirements.) 4. For Installation entries, note the date the project was completed in Section 4. 5. For Maintenance entries, note the date maintenance began in Section 4. 6. For Design/Build entries, include a photo of the site plan. 7. For Craftsmanship entries, include at least five close-up photos showing details. 8. Keep a copy of the entry (including photos) for your records. 9. Entry materials (entry form, photos, printed photo index) and payment must be received at LCA headquarters by 5:00 pm, Wednesday, August 3, 2016. Entries will not be accepted after this date and time. Photo Requirements A. A minimum of 10 and maximum of 15 photos in both highresolution (300 dpi JPEG) and low-resolution (72 dpi JPEG) digital formats must accompany each entry. B. DO NOT include company or contractor names or logos anywhere on the photos. This includes company name or logo appearing on uniforms, hats, and equipment. C. Place the photos into two separate folders on a USB flash drive one folder for the low-resolution photos and another folder for the high-resolution photos. The project name and company name should appear on the face of the USB flash drive. D. Include a printed photo index showing a thumbnail of each photo and its number. Label the photos in the order you would like them viewed during judging (e.g., 01, 02, 03). The USB flash drive must also include the photo index. E. Before photos are strongly recommended. F. Interior entries are encouraged to submit detailed photos of drainage and watering systems in progress. G. All Design/Build entries must include a photo of the site plan as one of the required photos. For other entries, a site plan photo is highly recommended but not required. H. Craftsmanship entries must include at least five close-up shots showing details (e.g., joint connections, stone caps). Photos of detail drawings are also encouraged. All photos and USB flash drives become the property of LCA and may be used for any purpose LCA deems appropriate. LCA accepts no responsibility for copyright or photographic fees. USB flash drives will not be returned. No project entry will be accepted without a USB flash drive of photos adhering to the requirements listed above. Entry Checklist Obtain owner s permission to enter the project. Complete all five parts of the Entry Form. Do not include company, subcontractor(s), or employee(s) names in descriptions. Include 10 to 15 photos of the project. DO NOT SHOW COMPANY NAME OR LOGO IN ANY PHOTO. Include project name and company name on USB flash drive. Include photo index, both printed and on USB flash drive. For all Installation entries, note the date the project was completed in Section 4. For Craftmanship entries, include at least five close-up photos showing details. For Design/Build entries, include a photo of the site plan. For Maintenance entries, note the date maintenance began in Section 4. Make a complete copy of your entry for your records. Page 2
Award Categories Grand, Distinction, and Honorable Mention Awards may be given in categories 1 13. More than one award of equal value may be given in each category. 1. Total Residential Contracting Front and Backyard: Single family residence 2. Outdoor Living Area Backyard or Special Area: Single family residence 3. Front Residential Planting and Entranceway 4. Residential Maintenance: Single family residence. Programmed care 12 months prior to entry. Minor duties may be performed by owner. One-time projects are not considered maintenance. 5. Commercial Landscape Installation 6. Commercial Maintenance: Programmed care 12 months prior to entry. 7. Interior Landscape Installation 8. Interior Landscape Maintenance: Programmed care 12 months prior to entry. 9. Interior Containerized Plantings 10. Craftsmanship: Outstanding examples of craftsmanship in landscape construction (e.g., walls, decks, gazebos, waterfalls). 11. Ecological Plantings: Projects that involve the restoration, reclamation, or creation of natural landscapes that include function and value similar to native landscapes. 12. Green Roof Installation: An extension of the existing roof involving high-quality waterproofing and root repellant system, drainage system, filter cloth, lightweight growing medium, and plants. Involves creating contained green space on top of a human-made structure. This green space could be below, at, or above grade, but in all cases, the plants are not planted in the ground. Components may be modular (prepared in movable, interlocking grids) or installed separately. Does not include rooftops utilizing free-standing containers or planters. 13. Special Events: Short-term projects (both interior and exterior) that exhibit creativity in displays (e.g., Christmas planting, banquet, showroom, exhibit). 14. Heritage and Decade: Indicates the highest level of achievement over time in award categories 1 10 listed above. Project must be of Grand Award-winning quality in its main award category but need not have won an Excellence in Landscape Award in a previous year to qualify. Select the Heritage Award category in addition to the project s main award category (1 10 listed above) if your project was installed more than five years ago and is being entered by the original installer, or it has been continuously maintained by a maintenance firm for more than five years. Select the Decade Award category in addition to the project s main award category (1 10 listed above) if your project was installed more than 10 years ago and is being entered by the original installer, or it has been continuously maintained by a maintenance firm for more than 10 years. Page 3 Judging Criteria A panel of professionals in the landscape field will evaluate all descriptive information and photos. All entries will be judged on their attention to detail, degree of difficulty, and overall appearance. Exterior and Interior Installation categories will also be judged on the quality of plant material, quality of plant material installation, quality of construction work, and attention to drainage and finish grade. Exterior installation projects will also be judged on the quality of the turf. Design/Build entries will be judged on the design program, degree of comprehensiveness or scope of design, design and execution of construction details, selection and location of plant material, harmony of design with surroundings, and criteria for exterior or interior installation. Exterior Maintenance will be judged on the quality of the turf, condition of plant material, pruning of plant material, seasonal color treatment, and mulch and surface treatment of planting beds. Interior Maintenance will be judged on the pruning of plant material; freedom from insect or disease damage; mulch or surface treatment of beds and planters; seasonal color; and luster, color, and condition of trees and plantings. Craftsmanship will be judged on the execution of construction details, structural integrity, and quality of materials. Ecological Plantings will be judged on the quality of plant materials and installation as well as their function within the environment. Green Roof Installation will be judged on the following six criteria: 1. Degree of difficulty Were there access issues associated with street closures or restricted work times? Was the crane height or reach challenging? Are the roof panels flat, sloped, or multi-terraced, or were there several individual green roofs? Was the volume of soil or size of the green roof a challenge? 2. Overall appearance. 3. Quality of plant material. 4. Quality of construction Is the grade consistent? Are trays aligned? Are seams evident? Is unsightly fabric or plastic evident? Are plants installed in rows and at the right planting height? 5. Functionality How is the excess runoff addressed? Is the runoff recycled? Is the green roof an outside living area? Is it easily accessible? 6. Innovation in materials or construction How were the obstacles or challenges overcome? How were design or environmental challenges such as wind, reflective light, or heat addressed? Was special equipment used or fabricated specifically for this green roof? Special Events will be judged on the overall appearance and degree of difficulty of the project.
Download PDF for writable form. For each entry, complete all five parts of this Entry Form. Provide duplicate forms for each additional entry. 1 Entry Form Entry Deadline: Wednesday, August 3, 2016 Entry Fees $250 LCA Member $375 Non-Member Office Use Only 2016 LCA Member Yes No Contact Name Firm Name Address City State ZIP Phone Fax Email Project Name Project Entered By Design / Build Contractor Contractor Landscape Architect or Design Firm Name of Photographer Payment Information Check (made out to LCA) MasterCard VISA Amount Enclosed $ Acct. No. / Exp. Date Security Code Name on Card Signature Project Category Total Residential Contracting Outdoor Living Area Front Residential Planting and Entranceway Residential Maintenance Commercial Landscape Installation Commercial Maintenance Interior Landscape Installation Interior Landscape Maintenance Interior Containerized Plantings Craftsmanship Ecological Plantings Green Roof Installation Special Events Heritage* Decade* * If selecting Heritage or Decade category, please also select a project category. Design/Build Category If entering an Installation project, do you want it to be judged as a Design/Build project? Yes No If you answer Yes, the design/build criteria will apply in judging this entry and a site plan must be included. Owner and Entrant Consent The entrant has an obligation to obtain permission from the client prior to the time of entry. Entries become the property of LCA and may be used for any purpose LCA deems appropriate. LCA accepts no responsibility for copyright or photographic fees. These rules of entry are acceptable and agreed to. Entrant Owner Date Date Entries Must Be Received By: 5:00 pm Wednesday, August 3, 2016 Return Entry Form, USB flash drive of photos and photo index, printed photo index, and payment to: Landscape Contractors Association MD DC VA 9707 Key West Avenue, Suite 100 Rockville, MD 20850 T (301) 948-0810 F (301) 990-9771 E lca@mgmtsol.com W www.lcamddcva.org Page 4
Please complete all sections on this sheet. Use the space provided; do not attach separate sheets. 2 Description of Project Please type all information in the space below. DO NOT USE COMPANY OR CONTRACTOR NAMES. You may copy and paste information onto this sheet, but you must not exceed the space provided. Office Use Only 3 Special or Unique Problems DO NOT USE COMPANY OR CONTRACTOR NAMES Page 5
Please complete all sections on this sheet. Do not attach separate sheets. 4 Work Completed Required: Date Project Completed (Installation entries) Office Use Only Required: Date Project Maintenance Began (Maintenance entries) Miscellaneous Work Not Listed REQUIRED: You must complete the section below. Existing: Check all conditions/features existing on the site prior to entrant s work. Entrant s Work: Check all work contracted and performed by entrant. Designed by Entrant: Check all work designed by entrant. Work Subcontracted: Check all work completed by others. N/A: Check if not applicable to awards entry category or does not exist on the project entered. BENCHES Existing Entrant s Work Designed by Entrant Work Subcontracted N/A DECKS DRAINAGE DRIVEWAY FENCES FIRE PIT GRADING GREEN ROOF IRRIGATION LAWN LIGHTING ORNAMENTAL POOLS OUTDOOR KITCHEN OVERHEAD STRUCTURE PATIOS PLACEMENT OF ROCKS & BOULDERS PLANT MATERIALS PLANTERS POOL DECKING POTTED PLANTS SEASONAL COLOR SOIL MIX STEPS SWIMMING POOL WALKS WALLS WATER FEATURES WOODWORKING Page 6
For each photo on your USB flash drive, indicate the photo number and type a description in the space provided below. You must adhere to the space requirements. 5 Photographs Minimum of 10 photos required; maximum of 15 photos allowed. Office Use Only Photo Description (Required) 1 Photo # 2 Photo # 3 Photo # 4 Photo # 5 Photo # 6 Photo # 7 Photo # 8 Photo # 9 Photo # 10 Photo # 11 Photo # 12 Photo # 13 Photo # 14 Photo # 15 Photo # Page 7
Landscape Contractors Association MD DC VA 9707 Key West Avenue, Suite 100 Rockville, MD 20850 2016 Excellence in Landscape Awards Call for Entries Entry Deadline Wednesday, August 3, 2016