Architecture professor Hanna dead at age 67

Robert Hanna, a landscape architect who had been teaching landscape architecture at Penn for over 30 years, died March 8 of complications from surgery. He was 67. Recognized as one of the most important figures in landscape architecture today, Hanna's best known projects include Battery Park City, the restoration of Bryant Park in New York and the Fifth Avenue Terrace of New York Public Library. Hanna also helped shape Penn's campus, forming the Campus Master Plan with the late Dean of the Graduate School of Fine Arts Peter Shepheard and other faculty. The plan created spaces such as College Green. Professionally, he was praised for his ability to create vibrant, open and social spaces in urban environments. "He was really concerned about making places that felt right for social interaction," former student Alethea Harper said. Hanna taught students to consider every detail to create an inviting space, down to positioning benches to allow for face-to-face interaction. Personally, former students and colleagues recall Hanna as a loyal, committed man with a sense of humor. "He was certainly a gentle and wise man," said Susan Weiler, a former student and co-worker for more than a decade. "As a teacher he was very patient.... He was just really very calm and wise." Hanna was born in Deming, N.M., and grew up in Seattle, where he attended the University of Washington. There, Hanna met Rich Haag, a professor of landscape architecture who would become Hanna's mentor and friend for nearly 40 years. Haag described Hanna as "one of the most loyal and devoted people I've ever worked with, with a huge social consciousness." Hanna earned a master's degree in landscape architecture from Harvard University in 1967 and began teaching at Penn's Graduate School of Fine Arts in 1969. In 1974, he helped create and chaired the Environmental Design undergraduate major. "Bob was a wonderful, giving man," said Carol Franklin, who was recruited by Hanna to teach at Penn and worked with him for more than 30 years. "He gave of himself unstintingly, and the students did really first-rate work under his guidance." "He was an extremely serious professional, deeply concerned with having students learn," former student and landscape architect Jos‚ Almina¤a said. "He was just a really good, solid guy." Laurie Olin was among the faculty members Hanna brought to Penn. The two founded Hanna/Olin, Ltd. in 1976 and worked on projects that included a Johnson & Johnson's headquarters, Ellis Island and London's Canary Wharf. In 1995, Hanna began RM Hanna Landscape Architects, based in Philadelphia. The firm most recently has worked on restoring the town square for the 200th anniversary of Pottstown, Pa. Hanna is survived by his wife, Beverly Briggs, his son Robert and his sister Hazel Bacon. In addition, Hanna's designs and students continue his vision. "Philadelphia has a lot of legacies from his work, not to mention from his students, who will in turn pass that on to their students and so on," Haag said. A memorial is planned for March 22 at 4 p.m. at the Trinity Center for Urban Life, located at 22nd and Spruce streets.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.