2005-06 First Place, Sunderland Veterans Memorial and Park National Design Competition.           

The Sunderland Competition was a national, juried, open design competition with entries from architects and landscape architects from around the United States.  After winning the competition, the subsequent design development, construction documents and site observation resulted in completion of the park and dedication on July 4, 2007.

2004 Distinguished Alumni Award

Award given annually to alumni of the University of Massachusetts Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning for creative landscape design, teaching and service.

2003 The Intimate Expanse

Five projects were selected for inclusion in a peer-reviewed exhibition of works of landscape architecture from entries from around the country and internationally.

2000 Election to the American Society of Landscape Architects Council of Fellows

"The designation of Fellow indicates that an individual has been recognized by his or her peers as having accomplished extraordinary work in the elected category over a sustained period of time. Individuals considered for this distinction must be members of ASLA in good standing for at least ten years and must be recommended to the Council of Fellows by the Executive Committee of their local chapter. Election is based solely on professional excellence and outstanding accomplishments."

Elected in the category of works of landscape architecture, described by ASLA as follows:

"Works of Landscape Architecture should demonstrate mastery of design in significant works of landscape planning or design which have advanced the art, stewardship, and social responsibility of landscape architecture of the period."

Following is an excerpt from the installation ceremony, October 28, 2000 in Saint Louis:

"Since graduating from the University of Massachusetts in 1981, Dean Cardasis has worked to design, preserve, teach, write about and otherwise explore the modern and contemporary American garden.

He has created scores of important, recognized works of landscape architecture, receiving significant national awards such as the only 1995 ASLA Honor Award in design and achieving publication in important national and international books and periodicals including, ASLA’s One Hundred Years of Landscape Architecture. In his work he addresses practical problems with an imaginative design aesthetic and a spatial awareness grounded in our recent history.

His interest in the design of landscape space has extended to an exploration of our recent heritage, resulting in significant works of landscape rehabilitation such as that of New Jersey’s historic "James Rose House-and-Garden/Study Center," winner of last year’s ASLA Classic Award and a Centennial Medallion.

As a frequent contributor to Landscape Architecture Magazine, Land Forum and numerous other periodicals, Mr. Cardasis’ written criticism is characterized by an uncommon trenchancy. By complementing experimental built works with thoughtful critiques of the profession, he has helped advance the state of our art."

1999 American Society of Landscape Architects’ "Classic Award"

"The Classic Award is given to built projects that have been completed for not less than 25 years and not more than 50 years. It recognizes and publicizes the significant contribution landscape architecture has made to the public environment, calls attention to the element of time in landscape architecture and recognizes the long-term benefits created by the profession. The main criteria for selection are:

1. The project must have enduring significance in the area where it is located and make a substantial contribution to the quality of life in that area.
2. It must have passed the test of time by demonstrating a consistent or increased level of importance since the project's completion."

The "Classic Award" is given out only periodically and never more than one per year. Only five such awards have been given out in the past twenty years.

In 1999, the "Classic Award" was given to the "James Rose House and Garden/Study Center," designed as a private residence by James Rose, rehabilitated and administered as a public landscape research and study center by Dean Cardasis.

1999 American Society of Landscape Architects’ "Centennial Medallion"

The Centennial Medallion program was established to honor the most significant works of landscape architecture nationally; thereby to celebrate the one-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Nominations for this award are made by the local chapters.

A "Centennial Medallion" was given to the "James Rose House and Garden/ Study Center," designed as a private residence by James Rose, rehabilitated and administered as a public landscape research and study center by Dean Cardasis.

1998 Designed Landscape Forum

Two projects were selected for inclusion in a peer-reviewed exhibition of works of landscape architecture from around the world, held at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

1998 Boston Society of Landscape Architects’ "Merit Award"

The BSLA represents landscape architects in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. This annual regional awards program acknowledges works in a range of categories with "Merit" and "Honor" awards representing "superior professional accomplishment" and "the most outstanding projects" (no more than 5% of the entries), respectively.

A "Merit Award" in the category of "Landscape Art" was given for the design of "Bartlett Sculpture Court," designed by Dean Cardasis and built by Dean Cardasis and Associates.

1997 American Institute of Architects’ New York Chapter "Design Award"

The New York Chapter of the AIA represents architects in the New York area. Their awards program is analogous to that of the BSLA.

A design award was given for "Garden Bridge in a James Rose Garden," designed by Christopher Scholz and Ines Elskop; garden design integration by Dean Cardasis.

1997 Boston Society of Landscape Architects’ "Merit Award"

A "Merit Award" in the category of "Residential and Garden Design" was given for the design of "A Strolling Garden," designed by Dean Cardasis and built by Dean Cardasis, Michael Davidsohn and Associates.

1996 Bergen County Executive and Board of Freeholders "Certificate of Commendation"

The executive and legislative branches of this densely populated New Jersey County annually acknowledge significant historic preservation efforts with this certificate program.

A "Certificate of Commendation" was awarded to the James Rose Center, Dean Cardasis, director, for "exemplary contribution to historic preservation in Bergen County."

1996 Boston Society of Landscape Architects’ "Merit Award"

A "Merit Award" in the category of "Institutional Design" was given for the design of "Durfee Gardens," planned and designed by Dean Cardasis.

1995 American Society of Landscape Architects’ "Honor Award"

Like the Boston Society of Landscape Architects, the ASLA’s annual national awards program acknowledges works in a range of categories with "Merit" and "Honor" awards representing "superior professional accomplishment" and "the most outstanding projects" (no more than 5% of the entries), respectively.

An "Honor Award" in design was received for the design of "Durfee Gardens," planned and designed by Dean Cardasis. This was the only "honor award" in design and the highest national landscape design award for this year.

1995 Landscape Architecture Magazine’s "Honorable Mention"

The national professional magazine of the ASLA held annual competitions for designs in an array of landscape categories and published the winners.

An "Honorable Mention" in residential design was received for the design of "A Plastic Garden," designed by Dean Cardasis and built by Dean Cardasis and Associates.

1995 University of Massachusetts, College of Food and Natural Resources Special Award for Excellence in Design

A Special Certificate of Commendation was presented by the Dean of the CFNR for the design of "Durfee Gardens," on the campus of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, planned and designed by Dean Cardasis.

1994 Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s "Urban Landscape Award"

The MHS has an annual awards program to acknowledge outstanding work in urban horticulture.

"The Urban Landscape Award" was presented to "Durfee Gardens," planned and designed by Dean Cardasis.

1993 Boston Society of Landscape Architects’ "Merit Award"

A BSLA "Merit Award" was received for " A Plastic Garden," designed by Dean Cardasis and built by Dean Cardasis and Associates.

1991 Boston Society of Landscape Architects’ "Honor Award"

A BSLA "Honor Award was received for " A Kettle Hole Garden," designed by Dean Cardasis and built by Dean Cardasis and Associates.

 

Other awards of significance include two major awards to which I made small contributions. These are both ASLA President’s Award of Excellence winners. The President’s Award of Excellence is the highest award given annually by the ASLA. In 1995, the Historic Landscape Initiative, led by Charles Birnbaum of the National Park Service, received this award. I contributed one article to the initiative; as well as lectured at conferences in New York and Chicago and led an important conference tour through the gardens of James Rose. In 2000, the Land Marks Series, directed by Peter Walker and James Trulove of Spacemaker Press also received a President’s Award of Excellence. I am a member of the international advisory board of Spacemaker Press and contributed one article to the Land Marks series.