Marion Pressley, FASLA   

Marion Pressley is a devoted professional who has contributed enormously to the designed landscape through her work in landscape architecture and the rehabilitation of public parks and private historical properties. Over the last forty years, she has continued her strong design skills and commitment to the public landscape, through a wide range of projects throughout the eastern U.S. Marion is recognized nationally for her historic preservation work, and is one of very few professionals in the nation to achieve national recognition in both historic preservation and contemporary design practice. Marion’s contribution to preserving the Olmsted legacy is particularly noteworthy and includes a substantial body of work devoted to the recovery of the Emerald Necklace Park System – from master planning to the implementation of treatment design. Her portfolio of notable projects include award-winning park designs, historic landscape preservation planning projects, and the implementation of treatment work on a wide spectrum of landscapes including parks, parkways, historic cemeteries and private gardens. Community process and the integration of multiple perspectives is also a hallmark of Marion’s design practice. A dedication to professional organizations, non-profits, and education completes Marion’s long list of credentials. Concurrent with her design, preservation, and community service, Marion has continuously helped build the next generation of landscape architects, through courses at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, Rhode Island School of Design, and the Landscape Institute of the Arnold Arboretum. 

Lake Elizabeth in Allegheny Commons.