Laurie Olin, RLA, FASLA, is a distinguished teacher, author, and one of the most renowned landscape architects practicing today. Olin studied civil engineering at the University of Alaska and pursued architecture at the University of Washington, where Richard Haag encouraged him to focus on landscape. His involvement often marks the signature of OLIN’s distinguished portfolio of projects, which spans the history of the studio from Bryant Park in New York City to the Brancusi Ensemble in Romania. Recent projects include Simon and Helen Director Park in Portland and the new Barnes Foundation Art Education Center in Philadelphia. Olin and his fellow partners at OLIN received the 2008 Landscape Design Award from the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum for excellence and innovation in landscape design and dedication to sustainability.