Laurie D. Olin

Laurie D. Olin is a Professor Emeritus of Landscape Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design, where he has taught for three decades. He previously chaired Harvard University’s Landscape Architecture Department. Olin’s career combines academic leadership with renowned professional practice, exemplified by his role as landscape architect for the Barnes Foundation’s Philadelphia campus and his redesign of the Washington Monument grounds.

Education: B.Arch., University of Washington (1961).

Research interests focus on placemaking, urban design, sustainability, and the intersection of landscape architecture with public spaces. His work emphasizes ecological sensitivity and cultural context, as seen in projects like the Barnes Foundation and collaborations with OLIN Studio.

His 2008 awards recognize excellence in design and sustainability, including the American Society of Landscape Architects Design Honor Award and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum Landscape Design Award. These accolades highlight contributions to innovative, community-focused landscapes.

Olin’s professional legacy includes co-authoring OLIN: Placemaking (Monacelli Press) and essays on design pedagogy. His studio, The OLIN Studio, partners with interdisciplinary teams to create impactful urban and landscape projects globally.