On May 6th, in Champaign, Illinois, our very own Co-CEO Tiffany Beamer was honored with the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Illinois Department of Landscape Architecture. While attending her alma mater’s annual Sasaki Day Lectures, Department Head David Hayes surprised her by announcing the special recognition! The award is presented to a member of the profession “having a unique and lasting impact on the welfare of the public, the environment, and the department.” Tiffany was recognized for her “accomplishments at the national and international levels and her longstanding commitment to [the] department, college, and university, [reflecting] admirably on and [bringing] honor to her department and the University of Illinois.” 

David offered a beautiful and generous tribute while bestowing the medal, saying, “This is so good! …Tiffany has been a loyal supporter of our department for more than two decades now. She is a living bridge between our undergraduate program and one of the leading landscape architecture and urban design firms of our time, OLIN.” He then read his prepared remarks: “The exceptional nature of her intellect, talent, and capacities was evident from our first meeting, so it is unsurprising to me that she has accomplished so much since completing our BLA program, summa cum laude, in 2003.” Following completion of her graduate studies at Harvard’s GSD, she joined OLIN. “That kind of longevity within a single firm is unusual …it says a lot about Tiffany—and OLIN. …When Tiffany commits, it’s for the long haul. And OLIN has always been a practice that recognizes and nurtures excellence.” 

By way of introducing a long (only partial) list of Tiffany’s projects, the accolades continued, “Through her work at OLIN, Tiffany has stewarded into being an outstanding range of major public, cultural, corporate, natural, and recreational sites…[making] a significant positive impact on human and environmental wellbeing. Building such a remarkable portfolio has required consistent and exceptional skill, energy, and determination, stamina, and resilience, not to mention an extraordinary ability to collaborate with design and technical partners, clients, public agents, and community members.”

The fitting tribute by David concluded, “Along the way Tiffany has established a sterling reputation within the profession and among educators in landscape architecture. …At our department level, she’s among the most reliable and supportive alumni; I’ve never known her to decline a request. No matter where she is in her work or the world, she’s immediately available and she brings her substantial expertise and a consistently positive spirit to bear in every conversation. …And I know that Tiffany is here tonight because she chose to be here tonight—without knowing in advance that she was going to receive this award.”

Our esteem for Tiffany continues to swell as we celebrate this recognition—an award that reflects the expanse of her influence, inspiring and strengthening our profession through authentic connection. 

Lucinda Sanders will serve as OLIN’s newly elected Chair of OLIN’s Board of Directors. In doing so, she and her Partners have invited Tiffany Jo Beamer and Richard Roark to lead the practice as co-CEOs.

At OLIN, our highest level of leadership comes from our Partners, who are active practitioners, and from our Directors, who help to guide the practice. Sharing the CEO role means that Tiffany and Richard will maintain the capacity to continue their project work, nurturing their relationships with clients, teams, and colleagues while contributing to OLIN’s steadfast vision—to create places that enhance life.

For the last two years, Tiffany and Richard have acted as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Purpose Officer, respectively, expanding their depth of influence through OLIN’s everyday practice. While they will each continue the work of these roles, they will take on the augmented authority to co-lead the studio—guiding strategy, building culture, inspiring innovation, and continuing to position the practice toward success in the many years to come.

“Tiffany and Richard have consistently demonstrated leadership inside and outside of the practice, upholding OLIN’s values and culture and propelling the practice and profession forward to meet the contemporary demands of our world with intelligence, compassion, and artistry.” — Lucinda R. Sanders

As co-CEO, Tiffany Beamer leads with compassion and creativity, as well as a concern for both the highest level of craft and sustainable performance. This speaks to her achievements as a designer and a trusted, human-centered manager. Projects—from Emerald Riverside in Shanghai, to Simon and Helen Director Park, to Google Bayview Campus—each exemplify a unique sensibility rooted in the arts as well as her talent as a SITES accredited professional. Alongside leading projects, Tiffany has cultivated her strengths as a people manager known for her intuitive style, founded on deep listening and fostering collaboration, and informed through executive leadership training at Harvard Business School. Her role as Board Member of The Cultural Landscape Foundation demonstrates her dedication to the profession and investment in future generations of landscape architects. Last October, Tiffany was inducted as a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects for excellence across more than twenty years in practice.

“OLIN has been my professional home for more than 20 years, and I cannot imagine myself anywhere else. More than anything, this is a stewardship position —of the practice of landscape architecture, of OLIN’s legacy, and of the careers and well-being of each of our employees. The challenge is a privilege, and one that I am honored to take on.” — Tiffany J. Beamer

Richard Roark established his CPO legitimacy, stepping naturally into the co-CEO role, through passionate and consistent representation of the OLIN ethos. Richard creates powerful rubrics for decision-making, distills the standards that align our Partner group, and promotes a culture of research and innovation through projects and OLIN Labs. He inspires OLIN people—in collaboration with clients, professional colleagues, and communities alike—to plan, design, build, and steward a resilient future. Richard’s leadership on projects from the Los Angeles River Master Plan and Caño Martin Peña Comprehensive Infrastructure Master Plan, to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and ResilienCity Park are testament to his commitment to environmental and social justice as well as the degree of detail, finesse, and excellence that define the broader OLIN portfolio of work. Richard is a SITES Accredited Professional, Certified Planner, and a 2025 inductee into the Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

“I’m deeply humbled to share this leadership role with Tiffany. Cindy and our Board have set an incredibly high standard for what this practice can achieve. Our work has always focused on realizing design that meets the needs of this moment while carrying the insight and resilience to grow, evolve, and help cultivate an enduring future. On behalf of our Board and our practice, that is the work we are committed to researching, planning, designing, and building!”
— Richard Roark

As CEO for two decades, Lucinda Sanders is largely to credit for OLIN’s leadership position within the profession and OLIN’s reputation for turning complex problems into coherent solutions—landscapes, urban places, and systems—that benefit human wellbeing while honoring our natural world. She passes the baton of OLIN’s Chief Executive position, while assuming the position of Chair on OLIN’s Board of Directors and continuing her design practice. As a past president of the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF), Lucinda is esteemed for co-founding and developing LAF’s transformational Fellowship for Leadership and Innovation program. She maintains ongoing influence as Chair of the Board at the McHarg Center for Urbanism and Ecology, as well as an adjunct professor at the Weitzman School of Design. Lucinda is a sought-after lecturer, writer, and, through myriad other contributions to the discipline, a model of dedication to advancing the profession.

“In this 50th year of OLIN, it is one of the greatest honors of my life to have held the role of CEO for nearly 20 years, working with the talented partners, directors, and current and former employees and ushering OLIN into the future. I look forward to continuing work with my valuable clients and projects, engaging in some reflective writing, and assuming my new role as Chair of the Board of Directors.” — Lucinda R. Sanders

The 40-acre park will feature an 80-foot waterfall and unique industrial relics, carrying forward a vision that has deep community roots. The site will also include several overlooks, two playgrounds, a new pedestrian bridge, scenic trails, and restored meadows, woodlands, and groves.

“This project will transform downtown Rochester by connecting people to the dramatic Genesee River gorge and celebrating its rich ecological, cultural and industrial history,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

OLIN has the honor of leading the landscape architecture, planning, and urban design team to develop this comprehensive vision. We are proud to carry this vision forward with critical support from the State of New York, local government, and current property owners. We are grateful to our collaborators GWWO Architects,Chiuten Trowbridge Landscape Architects DPC, Highland Planning LLC,Biohabitats,Hartgen Archeological Associates, Inc.,PROS Consulting, INC.,Azar Design Co,The LiRo Group, Geosyntec Consultants,Mott MacDonald,TYLin,Encorus Group, and Flaum Management Company, Inc. for their roles in this process.

Phased construction is expected to begin in late 2026. We look forward to realizing this monumental project—a true testament to collaborative community planning that will define a new era for downtown Rochester!