Firm

Top Workplace (2023, 2022, 2020) The LA Group was named a Top Workplace in NY’s Capital Region by the Times Union. The award is based on employee feedback that uniquely measures 15 drivers of engaged cultures that are critical to the success of any organization including alignment, execution, and connection.

Gold Winner, Best Landscaper & Silver Award, Best Architectural Firm (2022) Best of Everything Award (2021)
The LA Group was named in multiple categories in Saratoga Living’s best of lists.

Fastest-Growing Private Companies (2020, 2007)
Inc. 5000

Largest Landscape Architectural Firm (2006-2008, 2010-2022)
The LA Group was ranked the Largest Landscape Architectural Firm (2006-2008, 2010-2012) and the Seventh Largest Engineering Firm (2006) in NY’s Capital Region by the Albany Business Review.

Practitioner of the Year Awards for Private Practice (2017, 2012) The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), NY Upstate Chapter honored firm Joseph G. Sporko, RLA, ASLA (2017), and C. Michael Ingersoll, RLA, ASLA (2012).

Best Places to Work (2016)
The LA Group was named a Best Place to Work by the Albany Business Review after an independent survey of employees. The award recognizes the company’s efforts to build an engaging and meaningful workplace experience based on benefits, working conditions, and company culture.

The Zweig Letter Hot Firm List (2010)
The Zweig Letter has recognized the fastest-growing architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms on the basis of percentage growth and dollar growth. Over the years, the “Hot Firm” designation has become synonymous with success in the industry. The 2010 List includes The LA Group as one of 150 firms and is the only Landscape Architecture firm listed.

Great Places to Work (2005)
The LA Group was named one of the “Great Places to Work” in the region. The award recognizes the company’s achievements in creating a positive work environment that attracts and retains employees through a combination of benefits, working conditions, and company culture.

Small Business of the Year (2005)
The LA Group was named Small Business of the Year by the Albany Business Review in recognition of the firm’s growth, management strengths, and profitability over a 20-year period.

National Cemeteries

Honor Award, General Design (2012)
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), PA/DE Chapter, Washington Crossing National Cemetery: A New Paradigm for Our Nation’s Sacred Landscapes (with Cairone & Kaupp, Inc.) Newtown, PA.

Engineering Excellence Grand Award (2012)
American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), Missouri Chapter, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Phase 1A – Early Turnover (with URS), St. Louis, MO.

VA Sustainability Achievement Award (2011)
Massachusetts National Cemetery (MNC): Reclaimed Water Use from the Air Force Engineering and Environmental, (AFCEE)/Otis Air National Guard Base (ANGB) Groundwater Filtration System for Cemetery Irrigation Use (with MNC director Paul McFarland). Bourne, MA.

Federal Energy and Water Management (FEWM) Award (2011)
Massachusetts National Cemetery (MNC): Reclaimed Water Use from the Air Force Engineering and Environmental (AFCEE)/Otis Air National Guard Base (ANGB) Groundwater Filtration System for Cemetery Irrigation Use (with MNC director Paul McFarland and colleagues Rose Forbes, civil engineer, and Mark Ivory, project manager). Bourne, MA.

Honor Award, Analysis & Planning (2010)
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), Alabama Chapter, Alabama National Cemetery (with Macnally Ross Land Design), Montevallo, AL.

Honor Award (2001)
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), NY Upstate Chapter, Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Saratoga, NY.

Projects

Award of Merit: Renovation/Restoration (2022) ENR Regional Project of the Year, Olympic Jumping Complex Outrun Reconstruction Project, Whiteface, NY (with Gilbane)

Honor Award, Historic Preservation (2022) American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), NY Upstate Chapter, Olana State Historic Site, Hudson, NY

Honor Award, Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award (2021) American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Niagara Falls State Park Transformation Initiative, Niagara Falls, NY (with T.Y. Lin International)

Best High School Sports Venue in the Lower Hudson Valley (2020) Rockland/Westchester Journal News, lohud.com, Nyack High School Athletic Facilities, Nyack, NY

Implementation Award (2019) American Planning Association (APA), NY Upstate Chapter, Champlain Canalway Trail 2019 Action Plan, Waterford to Whitehall, NY

Grand Honor Award (2019) American Institute of Architects Rochester (AIA Rochester), University of Albany Campus Center, Albany, NY (with Bergmann)

Merit Award, Institutional (2019) American Institute of Architects Eastern New York (AIAENY), SUNY GCC, Student Success Center, Batavia, NY (with JMZ Architects and Planners, PC)

Merit Award, Institutional (2019) American Institute of Architects Eastern New York (AIAENY), Coxsackie-Athens Central School District, New Media Center (with CSArch)

Merit Award, Institutional (2019) American Institute of Architects Eastern New York (AIAENY), SUNY Adirondack, Adirondack Hall (with JMZ Architects and Planners, PC)

Diamond Award, Category I, Special Projects (2019) ACEC NY 2019 Engineering Excellence Awards, Niagara Falls State Park Transformation Initiative, Niagara Falls, NY (with T.Y. Lin International)

Best of the Best Renovation/Restoration (2018) ENR National Best of the Best Projects, Niagara Falls State Park Rehabilitation, Niagara Falls, NY (with The LiRo Group)

Project of the Year for Renovation/Restoration (2018) ENR Regional Project of the Year, Niagara Falls State Park Rehabilitation, Buffalo, NY (with The LiRo Group)

Design of Honor Award (2018) Society of American Registered Architects New York Council, Yaddo Artist Studios, Saratoga Springs, NY (with Phinney Design)

Honor Award (2018)
The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Eastern NY Chapter, 14 Hudson Mixed-Use Building, Glens Falls, NY (with Balzer & Tuck Architecture)

Honor Award (2018)
The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Eastern NY Chapter, Yaddo Artist Studios, Saratoga Springs, NY (with Phinney Design Group)

Annual Partnership Award (2017)
Lakes to Locks Passage, Rogers Memorial Park Improvement Projects, Town of Bolton, NY, (awarded to The Town of Bolton, The Bolton Landing Chamber of Commerce and the Bolton Historical Museum)

Honor Award, Analysis & Planning (2017)
Americian Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), National Chapter, The Olana Strategic Landscape Design Plan: Restoring an American Masterpiece, Hudson, NY (with Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects)

Merit Award (2017)
Americian Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), New York Chapter, Olana Strategic Landscape Design Plan, Hudson, NY (with Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects)

Merit Award, Built Design (2016)
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), NY Upstate Chapter, Terrapin Point Reconstruction, Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Falls, NY

Merit Award, Planning and Analysis (2016)
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), Virginia Chapter, Olana Strategic Landscape Design Plan, Hudson, NY (with Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects)

Excelsior Award for Public Architecture (Honor Award, New Construction) (2016)
New York State AIA, The Bio Building at The Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks (“The Wild Center”), Tupper Lake, NY (with Phinney Design)

Excelsior Award for Public Architecture (Honor Award, Renovation/Addition) (2016)
New York State AIA, SUNY Oneonta Fitzelle Hall Expansion-Quad Design, Oneonta, NY (with Architecture +)

Outdoor Tennis Facility Award (2016)
American Sports Builders Association, SUNY Cortland Tennis Courts, Cortland, NY (with Nova Sports, USA)

Merit Award, Historical Preservation (2015)
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), NY Upstate Chapter, Grey Towers National Historic Site Facilities Master Plan Update, Milford Township, PA

Diamond Award for Transportation (2015)
American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), NY Chapter, Washington Ave/Fuller Rd Intersection Reconstruction, Albany, NY (with Creighton Manning Engineering)

Design Award (2014) American Institute of Architects (AIA), Eastern New York, SUNY Oneonta Fitzelle Hall Expansion-Quad Design, Oneonta, NY (with Architecture +)

Design Award (2014) American Institute of Architects (AIA), Eastern New York, Glenmont Job Corps Academy, US Dept of Labor, Glenmont, NY (with Hyman Hayes and Tecton Architects)

Planning Excellence Award for Comprehensive Planning (2014) American Planning Association (APA), NY Upstate Chapter, The Village of Saranac Lake Comprehensive Plan 2013, Saranac Lake, NY

Honor Award (2013) The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Eastern NY Chapter, Malone Middle School, Malone, NY (with CSArch)

The dream of Olympic glory.