A Look at the Remarkable Career of Laurie Olin

The tenth entry in the Cultural Landscape Foundation's award-winning Pioneers of American Landscape Design series features the renowned landscape architect Laurie Olin, recent winner of the National Medal of the Arts.

1 minute read

December 1, 2013, 5:00 AM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Earlier this year, Laurie Olin became only the fourth landscape architect to receive the prestigious National Medal of Arts award, the highest honor given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government, joining the esteemed company of Lawrence Halprin, Dan Kiley and Ian McHarg. In a new documentary produced by the Cultural Landscape Foundation you can learn about the design philosophies, practices, lessons learned, and influences that comprise his illustrious career.  

"Jumping from the OLIN studio in Philadelphia to projects at Battery Park City, Bryant Park, and Columbus Circle in New York City, the oral history includes Olin’s study and work at the University of Washington with Richard Haag, fellowships and travel in England and Italy, his professorship at the University of Pennsylvania and other significant milestones," notes Eric Baldwin.  

Sunday, November 24, 2013 in ArchDaily

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 14, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

Cars driving under automatic congestion pricing toll machines on Broadway next to the Trump International Hotel in Manhattan, New York City.

Data reveals that NYC’s bet on congestion pricing has paid off

After almost two years of the program, reports show positive impacts on traffic and air quality and no disruptions to parking.

October 13, 2026 - Marcelo Remond

A crane lifts a manufactured house, with is rectangular and does not yet have a roof.

HUD modernizes 50-year-old manufactured housing framework

The Next Generation Manufactured Housing Action Plan establishes new energy-efficiency standards for manufactured homes, and new guidelines for anchoring them.

October 8, 2026 - Boston Real Estate Times

A large brown house in Massachusetts.

Small single-family homes are illegal in most of MA. Voters can change that

Most land zoned for single-family housing in Massachusetts requires at least 40,000 square feet of land per house.

2 hours ago - NPR

A group of people gather around Metra's battery-powered bus.

Public steps inside U.S.’s first battery-powered train

Metra’s groundbreaking train feature modern seats and a futuristic battery car.

3 hours ago - Chicago Sun Times

Tobias Bauer, Managing Director of Siemens Mobility North America in front of the company's Sound Transit new light rail vehicles.

Companies show off AI technology, new innovation hubs at APTA Expo

Nearly 700 companies attended the American Public Transportation Association’s Expo last week, which happens once every three years.

4 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive