OLIN is currently teaching the first-ever studio for landscape architecture at SCI-Arc in Los Angeles, one of the country’s most innovative and distinguished independent architecture schools. The focus of the studio will be the urban re-engagement of Los Angeles with the Los Angeles River, both in its entirety and at selected sites within the City. Water supply, quality, and management are among the most critical concerns affecting every nation around the world. Deemed by the United Nations as a critical issue to the global environment, water security is becoming especially relevant, as almost 70 percent of the world population will reside in urban areas by 2050. Existing models of city form and infrastructure will need to be re-imagined to address these challenges. Within this context, SCI-Arc students will develop an understanding of the natural, social, cultural, economic, and built systems of the region, using the Los Angeles River as the laboratory and vehicle for exploration of urban water management, multi-functional infrastructure, and evolving models of city form. This process will immerse the students in the complex issues associated with urban river systems and offer an opportunity for a dynamic collaboration with practicing landscape architects and other design, engineering, and technical experts.