Lynn Wolff, FASLA

Lynn Wolff has 35 years of experience in planning and design. She specializes in complex urban projects requiring expertise in project management for multidisciplinary teams, multiple clients and extensive cultural, historical, public art and public participation components.

Lynn's high profile Boston projects include the Central Artery Surface Restoration; planning
 and design of the Wharf District Parks, Rose Kennedy Greenway; renovation of the Frog Pond in Boston Common; and the design of the award-winning therapy trail at the new Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Lynn's work can also be seen at the renovation of an indoor playground in Columbus, Indiana, originally designed in the early 1970s by Cesar Pelli, and the design of a new Science Park at the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich, Vermont.

Copley Wolff Design Group (CWDG) overlooks historic Boston Common. The firm employs 14 landscape architects (3 principals), planners, four LEED APs, graphic designers and support staff. CWDG focuses on urban, mixed-use, academic, housing, green roof, health care, corporate, children's play, parks and waterfront landscape projects. CWDG is a certified Woman-owned Business Enterprise and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise.

Firms:
President and Principal, Copley Wolff Design Group, Boston
Previously with Benjamin Thompson & Associates (1989-1990); Carol Johnson and Associates (1984-1989); Peter Rolland and Associates (1981-1984); Revitalization Planning Associates (1980); and Vollmer Associates (1978-1979).

Education
Harvard University Graduate School of Design, 1981, Master of Landscape Architecture
Cornell University, 1978
B.S. in Landscape Architecture

Professional Affiliations
American Planning Association
American Society of Landscape Architects
Boston Civic Design Commission
Boston Society of Architects
Boston Society of Landscape Architects
The Commonwealth Institute
Hubbard Educational Foundation
International Federation of Landscape Architects
National Trust for Historic Preservation
New England Women in Real Estate
Preservation Massachusetts
Urban Land Institute

Honors
ASLA Fellow (2006)
Landscape Architecture Award for Healthcare, 2013
Honor Award, Landscape Design, BSLA, 2015
-Therapy Trail at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, Mass.
Merit Award for Parks & Recreation, BSLA, 2010
-Wharf District Parks, Boston, MA, 2010
Women in Design, Award of Excellence, 2009
Merit Award for Landscape Design, BSLA, 2002
-Science Park at the Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, Vermont
Merit Award for Landscape Planning, BSLA, 2002
-Wilcox Park, Westerly, R.I.
Merit Award for Parks & Recreation, BSLA, 1998
-Frog Pond Renovation, Boston

Landscape Architecture Licenses
Massachusetts #839
New York #1012
New Hampshire #29
Connecticut #978
Pennsylvania #2594
+ Certified Charrette Planner, National Charrette Institute, 2007

Wharf District Parks, Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston

One of six parks that make up the Rose Kennedy Greenway, the Wharf District Parks (LASN July 2011) extends from Christopher Columbus Park to Rowes Wharf in downtown Boston. CWDG served as the local landscape architectural consultant, working in collaboration with a team headed by EDAW to design the parks. A grand fountain in the "Great Room" is a gathering space for public events. Three open lawns surrounded by plantings provide spaces for farmers' markets, food vendors, concerts and fitness classes. The Mother's Walk promenade pavers are engraved with donor names. Other elements include a fog fountain, specialized lighting structures, historic interpretation, public art, decorative four-season plantings and the accommodation of possible small park buildings.
Photo: John Horner

Therapy Trail at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, Mass

CWDG planned and designed a therapy trail, green roof and the integration with the Boston Harbor Walk for the Rehabilitation Hospital, which recently relocated to the Charlestown Navy Yard. CWDG, with Spaulding's support, designed the outdoor space to help patients rehabilitate. The primary trail is a relatively level, six-foot-wide concrete walk with stainless steel handrails for patients who need support. Further on, the path undulates and slopes to benefit those with greater strength and stamina. Interpretive distance markers are located within the trail. Secondary paths off the main trail allow patients to further test their recovery on a variety of walking surfaces: wood, crushed stone, and fieldstone with both stone dust and mortared joints. There are also challenges such as granite stairs, a granite curb with paving on both sides, a sloped walk and a ramp with handrails. Spinning rock elements along the trail offer upper body conditioning.
Photo: Luke O'Neil

Columbus Commons, Indoor Playground, Columbus, Ind.

Columbus Commons is a mixed-use development in downtown Columbus. In addition to a hotel, conference center, offices and retail space the project includes a nontraditional interior playground. The original playground was built in the 1970s. The new design is in keeping with the geometric shapes and abstract forms of the original design, updating the space with color and modern materials, while adhering to safety standards and total accessibility. The central feature in the new 30-foot-high space is a sculptural, custom-designed Tom Luckey climber with ascending and descending curving platforms resembling flying carpets. The surrounding playground contains multiple levels with various climbing mounds, tunnels, slides, maze walls, a net, block climbers and spinning elements.
Photos: Susan Fleck

Science Park, Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, Vermont

The Montshire Museum of Science is located on 100 wooded acres on the Connecticut River. CWDG provided master planning, site programming, design and construction administration to expand the exhibit area of the 20,000 sq. ft. building out into the landscape through the new two-acre "Science Park." Originally a flat field with no features, a sculpted landscape and winding path slope toward the river. A winding water channel allows gravity to power the water that is the basis for the interactive exhibits. The Science Park invites visitors to interact with water, light, sound and the surrounding meadows, forests and wetlands. There's an amphitheater for gatherings, concerts and informal talks, and a route to the riverfront through a new tunnel under an existing railroad.
Photos: Jim Westphalen

Q&A

1. What was the pivotal or motivating factor(s) that made you choose a career in landscape architecture?
The breadth of the profession; supporting many different interests and talents. Natural resources; sustainability; urban design; teaching; international design; owning your own practice; mentoring new professionals; residential design; large scale master planning; and on and on . . .

2. What in particular do you attribute your success to?
The ability to communicate to a broad audience and to gain consensus amongst many; making everyone feel they have contributed to and improved the overall design. The ability to mentor new and experienced professionals, the client and community, public agencies and private interests.

3. What career advice would you give to a recently graduated landscape architectural student?
I would suggest that they explore a range of office types: small, boutique, larger interdisciplinary, public, private, etc. And try something new every 3 to 5 years.