What HNA Awards Judges are Really Looking For in 2026
The best HNA Awards entries are the projects that demonstrate thoughtful design, exceptional craftsmanship, creativity, and a clear understanding of the client’s goals.
Every entry is evaluated by industry leaders using five judging criteria (Design, Quality, Construction Creativity, Integration, and Achievement of Client Goals), but those criteria come to life in different ways.
We asked several of this year’s judges what catches their attention to help you understand what separates a good submission from an award-winning one.
Start with the “WOW” Factor
Before judges closely examine craftsmanship or construction details, they experience your project visually.
For 2026 HNA Awards Judge Brian Budnik, Director of Mold Sales at Besser Company, that first impression matters.
“The project that grabs your eye when you first see the pictures,” he said. Budnik is hoping this year to see “a wide variety of projects, both small and large showing unique design ideas.”
James Motarex, Sales Manager, Nevada for Basalite Concrete Products and 2026 HNA Awards Judge, agrees.
“Something that grabs the eye immediately. Something creative, unique, inventive, but that works with the other elements and intended functionality of the build,” Motarex said. “It’s difficult to be truly unique, so more often than not, it’s a small set of details that make the difference to the trained, professional eye.”
“It’s the details! I look closely at the details,” said Chris Ebbesen, Regional Specification Manager, Oldcastle APG and 2026 HNA Awards Judge. “They speak volumes about the overall project.”
While every project doesn’t have to be the biggest or most expensive, it should immediately communicate something memorable, whether that’s an innovative layout, exceptional craftsmanship, or a creative solution to a challenging site.
Make Every Element Work Together
HNA Awards judges notice whether the design feels intentional.
“As judges, we want to immediately see a well thought out combinations of horizontal and vertical, lots of texture, contrast and visual flow. The plan should be open and the styles, colors and textures coordinated and functional,” Motarex said.
Judges evaluate whether a project balances aesthetics, functionality, and durability with thoughtful consideration of color, texture, pattern, and form. Judges also look at how well hardscape products work with nearby buildings, landscapes, structures, and existing site conditions while preserving the overall character of the property.
John Algozzini, Designer and 2026 HNA Awards Judge, said design decisions should never exist in isolation.
“Projects stand out and ‘speak to me’ when the hardscape material selections are in harmony with the architecture of the home and the space in general. Great hardscapes always coalesce with their surroundings,” he said.
Tell the Story Behind the Project
One judging criterion asks the question: Did the project achieve the client’s goals?
The only way judges know that is if you tell them!
“Your entry form asks you to answer multiple questions,” said Jeremy R. Martin, Owner and Designer of Willow Gates Home & Landscape and a 2026 HNA Awards Judge. “Don’t skip this! If you don’t describe the client’s goal for the project, how can the judges know if you’ve met their goal?”
A thoughtful project narrative gives judges context they can’t get from photographs alone. Explain the challenges, the client’s vision, and why you made the decisions you did. If possible, include a client testimonial that demonstrates the project’s success.
“This year I am hoping to see some innovative ways to solve problems,” Ebbesen said. “Unexpected solutions!”
This year’s application separates out the project narrative by judging criteria so it is even easier to speak directly to each element.
Craftsmanship Is Only as Good as You Can Show It
Even the finest installation can lose points if judges can’t clearly evaluate the workmanship.
Martin encourages contractors to invest in photography just as carefully as they invested in construction.
“Do invest in good photography. Good lighting, good props, and the highest resolution you can upload,” he said.
He remembers one submission that looked promising, but ultimately couldn’t be judged fairly.
“I recall judging a project that had only thumbnails; while it looked like an impressive project, I couldn’t see any details in order to judge its quality,” Martin said.
Martin also recommends photographing projects after they’re truly complete.
“While it is the hardscape being judged and not the surrounding landscapes, projects do present the best after the lawn is established and the landscape is flowering,” he advised.
Algozzini adds that a little staging can also help tell the story of how the space is used.
“I love to see projects that are staged with containers, creating emphasis at points of entry and also in beds to accent the hardscape installations,” Algozzini said. “I’m hoping to see TVs on, fire pits ignited and water features flowing on submissions that have those elements. The action associated with those components makes a noteworthy distinction.”
Those details don’t change the quality of the work, but they help judges experience the finished space the way the homeowner or commercial client does.
Every Project Starts with a Clean Slate
Every submission is evaluated on its own merits and the judging process is anonymous.
“The judges don’t see the contractor’s information until the awards ceremony when the winners are presented,” Martin said.
So, if you’ve never entered before, don’t assume you’re competing against reputation.
“Don’t worry about prejudice,” Martin said. “If there’s a repeat winner, it’s due to their quality and entering multiple times.”
More than Recognition
HNA Awards judges volunteer their time to judge entries and provide feedback on the hundreds of projects submitted by contractors, producers, designers, and distributors all across North America. They give back to industry because they believe in how valuable the HNA Awards can be.
“This is very important to me because we need to show how concrete pavers, slabs, and retaining wall units can transform outdoor projects to a new level and add a lot of value to homes and commercial buildings,” Budnik said.
“Credentials are important for branding your business. Winning an HNA award is an outstanding way to help with that branding effort on websites and across social media platforms over the years,” Algozzini said. “Having the ‘award-winning’ credential makes life easier when you are sitting at the kitchen table with a potential client.”
“The Hardscape North America project awards are known in our industry as the premier distinction of excellence,” Motarex said. “Any project recognized by the HNA judges automatically qualifies an installer as skilled in design and installation. That’s immensely marketable and can have a dramatic impact on a contractor’s reputation, not just locally, but nationally.”
“I have found these events helps push the industry forward,” Ebbesen said. “One creative idea pushes another to improve and do something better or different. It’s key to our industry growing and developing!”
