Category Close-Ups: 4 Categories You Shouldn’t Overlook for the 2025 HNA Awards

With updated category descriptions and expanded options, it’s easier than ever to find the perfect place for your project to shine in the 2025 HNA Awards!

This year, we’ve refined many of the category definitions to make submission more straightforward and the judging more meaningful. You’ll find options broken out by commercial and residential use, by square footage, and even by specialized systems like permeable pavement.

Not sure where to start? Here’s a closer look at four standout categories you should consider for your 2025 submission.

Vintage Installation

Has your project stood the test of time?

Some hardscapes don’t just look good the day they’re installed—they keep impressing years down the line. The Vintage Installation category honors those lasting legacies for both residential and commercial installations.

If your project was completed before 2016 and still draws attention for its craftsmanship, design, and durability, this is your moment. Let your work tell the story of what true staying power looks like.

Adhered Thin Veneers – Residential & Commercial

Big texture. Bold detail. Lasting impressions.

Whether you’ve worked with natural stone, clay brick, or manufactured veneers, this category celebrates vertical and near-vertical applications that add visual depth and architectural polish to hardscape design.

If you’ve created a veneer installation that turns walls into works of art—on homes, garden features, or standalone structures—this is your chance to get noticed in a growing category.

Segmental Concrete Pavement – Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement (PICP)

Sustainable, smart, and sophisticated.

Projects using permeable pavers deserve recognition not just for their aesthetics, but also for the impact they have on stormwater management and site sustainability.

This subcategory of the Segmental Concrete Pavement category is for horizontal or near-horizontal installations using permeable interlocking concrete pavement systems. Note: projects with stormwater systems beneath traditionally impermeable surfaces aren’t eligible here, so double-check before submitting.

Combination of Hardscape Products – Residential and Commercial

For when you’ve brought it all together.

Maybe your project uses several product types, layered into a cohesive and creative whole. That’s what the Combination category is all about, celebrating the beauty that comes from thoughtful material pairings and smart design integration.

Not sure where your project fits? Combination is often a strong choice when multiple materials are involved. We offer three subcategories based on type and size of the project:

·       Residential (3,000 sq. ft. or less)

·       Residential (more than 3,000 sq. ft.)

·       Commercial

Ready to Explore the Full List of Categories?

This is just the beginning. With nine different categories and additional subcategories available, there's sure to be one that is a perfect fit for your hardscaping projects in the 2025 HNA Awards.

Visit the full category list, review the descriptions, and start preparing your entries today!