The GPA Awards program honors and celebrates the projects and people who exhibit innovation, excellence, leadership, and other key attributes that advance their communities and the planning field.

2026 Award Recipients

GPA received outstanding nominations in a variety of categories for our Annual Awards. Thank you to all who submitted plans and individuals for consideration – it is evident that we are doing a lot of great work here in Georgia! A big congratulations to the 2026 GPA Award winners!

Award Category: Outstanding Student Project

Project Name: A Suburban Retrofit for the Rocky Creek Area
Award Winner: Chandler Hawes

This award recognizes a student project that exemplifies the state of the practice across an array of planning fields.

Award Category: Innovation in Planning

Project Name: DeKalb County’s World Planning Day
Award Winner: Dekalb County

In recognition of a specific planning tool, practice, program, project, or process that is a significant advancement to specific elements of planning. This category emphasizes results and demonstrates how innovative and state-of-the-art planning methods and practices helped to implement a plan.

Award Category: Outstanding Planning Process

Project Name: Pearidge Small Area Plan
Award Winner: Cherokee County Government

Recognizing the quality and completeness of the overall planning process.

Award Category: Outstanding Public Involvement

Project Name: Smyrna Downtown Redevelopment Plan
Award Winners:City of Smyrna / MKSK

Recognizing an initiative where a region or community involves the general public in a planning activity above and beyond the minimum state or local requirements, and where that involvement contributes greatly to the final product.

Award Category: Outstanding Planning Document

Project Name: Madison on the Move
Award Winners: TSW / City of Madison

Recognizing the quality and completeness of the overall planning processIn recognition of a specific planning document/ deliverable that goes above and beyond the traditional planning document in terms of communication, graphics, storytelling, and overall quality of thought and delivery.

Past Award Recipients

Looking for previous years’ award winners? Visit this page to view 2009 – 2025 award recipients.