OLIN is proud to announce the opening of A/D/O and the unveiling of our installation Herba Potentia.  

OLIN’s installation is part of the inaugural season of A/D/O’s Design Academy which kicked off in late January of 2017. Programming for the event explored the theme of “Utopia vs. Dystopia: Designing Our Imagined Futures.” Examining major cultural disruptions and scientific advances such as robotics, artificial intelligence, automation and new production technologies, the Design Academy asks whether designers will be the ones to tip the scales toward utopia or dystopia.

Herba Potentia explores aspects of utopian and dystopian landscapes through the lens of three gardens:  The Garden of Control, Emergence and Symbiosis. The installation was realized in collaboration with willow artist Bonnie Gale and custom display manufacturer, Print Structures.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens has selected OLIN to develop a master plan for the next generation of the institution as a living museum uniquely specializing in the conservation, display and study of epiphytic plants. The plan will be focused on the garden’s international renown in epiphyte research and conservation, its commitment to synthesizing horticulture and arts, and its role as a valued fixture of the community in Sarasota, Florida. OLIN will be leading a team of nationally recognized experts in architecture, exhibit design, and environmental design, complemented by practitioners with deep local knowledge.  The team includes Overland Partners, Kimley-Horn, Metcalfe Architecture & Design, eDesign Dynamics, David Sacks Landscape Architecture, and Creative Preservation, LLC. Richard Roark is Partner-in-Charge of the OLIN team; he is supported by fellow Partner Eric Tamulonis, Senior Landscape Architect Marni Burns, Landscape Designer Liz Barr, and Living Systems Specialist Judy Venonsky.