Edwin Mickelson

Background

About Edwin Mickelson

Ed is a recognized leader in profession of landscape architecture and urban design. His four-decade career was built upon his association with top-tier design firms engaged in architecture, interior design, urban design, experience design, lighting design and environmental graphic design. As a Principal and Design Leader with NBBJ, Ed helped build a vibrant landscape architecture practice in Columbus that continuously collaborated with design studios across the firm located in Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, Shanghai, and London on large complex projects ranging from Corporate Headquarters to Urban Mixed-Use Developments, Sports and Entertainment venues, Health Campuses, Academic Campuses, Civic Landmarks, Parks, and Waterfronts. Ed and his teams provided planning and design insights that considered natural systems, mobility, placemaking, culture, environmental health, education, and sustainability. While much of his work occurred within the United States, Ed engaged with clients in cities across the globe that include Shanghai, Jakarta, Bangalore, Taipei, Moscow, Minsk, Amman, Istanbul, Kuwait City, Beijing, Shenzhen, Nanjing, and Seoul. Some career highlights include his involvement with clients such as Microsoft, Samsung, Tencent, Alibaba, The Mayo Clinic, The Cleveland Clinic, The University of Chicago, Grange Insurance, The Seattle Opera, The Cincinnati Bengals, Suning Corporation and The Ohio State University. In 2008, Ed was elected to the Council of Fellows by the American Society of Landscape Architects in Philadelphia at the annual meeting. He was awarded the Delia White Vail Gold Medal in 2016 by the Cleveland Botanical Gardens and Holden Arboretum. He and studios have won over 60 design awards, and he has been a key contributor to many successful international competitions working with highly talented and diverse design teams. Ed has served as lecturer, critic, and on occasion, adjunct professor of landscape architecture at the Knowlton School of Architecture at the Ohio State University. He has been directly involved in the KSA Internship Program having hired approximately 30 students over the last 25 years, providing them with opportunities to enter the professional world gaining valuable experience to kick-start their careers. Ed is a collaborator, problem solver, strategist, artist, and environmental steward who is passionate about smart growth: discovering pathways for balance between new development and the preservation, enhancement, and health of natural environment for this and future generations.