Laurie Olin

Landscape architect; born in Marshfield

What is Laurie Olin known for?

Born on October 12, 1938, in Marshfield, Wisconsin, Laurie Olin is an esteemed American landscape architect known for his significant contributions to the field. After growing up in Alaska, he pursued an Architecture degree at the University of Washington in Seattle, under the mentorship of Richard Haag.

Following his graduation, Laurie Olin worked in various cities such as Seattle, New York City, and London before he joined the University of Pennsylvania in 1976 as a professor. He taught courses on the design of environments and later became the head chair of the Landscape Architecture program at Harvard University in 1986. He continued to serve as a Practice Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania after leaving Harvard.

Laurie Olin is also the founding partner of OLIN, a landscape architecture and urban design firm. The firm's accolades include the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award for Landscape Design in 2008, and being part of the winning team for the design of the new United States Embassy in London in 2010.

In addition to his practical work, Olin has also made significant theoretical contributions to the field. He has written extensively on the history and theory of architecture and landscape, even receiving the Bradford Williams medal for his commendable work. His works include 'La Foce: A Garden and Landscape in Tuscany', 'Across the Open Field', 'Transforming the Commonplace', and 'Vizcaya: An American Villa and Its Makers'.

Beyond his academic and professional life, Olin is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. He is a Guggenheim Fellow, an American Academy of Rome Fellow, and a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). He has also received the Wyck-Strickland Award, the 1998 Award in Architecture from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 2013, he was awarded the prestigious National Medal of Arts by President Obama.

His notable projects are spread across Europe and the United States. In Europe, these include Bishopsgate in London, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin, and Westferry Circus in London. In the United States, his designed landscapes include Apple Park in Cupertino, Director Park in Portland, and Battery Park City and Bryant Park in Manhattan, New York.

Undoubtedly, Laurie Olin is a true testament to the talent nurtured at Marshfield High School, Wisconsin, with his remarkable achievements that continue to shape the field of landscape architecture.