Jane Lin
SPECIALIZATIONS
Urban design strategy, master planning, design standards, public-private partnerships, sustainable development, land use, urban design practice, public outreach and facilitation, visual storytelling, 3d modeling and rendering, graphic design, sketching and hand drawing.
PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT
As an architect, urban designer, I am driven by the belief that urban design is about more than just creating spaces—it is about shaping the experiences and identities of the communities that inhabit them. Through my work at Urban Field Studio, my teaching at UC Berkeley, and my engagement with students of all ages, I strive to foster a deeper understanding of how urban environments impact daily life and how individuals can actively shape their surroundings. Teaching is a critical extension of my private practice.
As a lecturer at UC Berkeley, I guide students in understanding the interconnected disciplines of architecture, planning, economics, and environmental design. Urban design is about bringing together things that seem fragmented or unresolved and transforming them into something greater. I want my students to feel confident in their ability to shape cities, whether by facilitating public engagement, designing the public realm, or through proposals of future development. Ultimately, my philosophy is centered on creating vibrant, inclusive, and enduring places through innovative design and engaged storytelling. I believe that the future of urban design lies not only in shaping the built environment but in how we communicate, advocate, and empower communities to shape their own futures.
BIOGRAPHY
Jane Lin, AIA, is a licensed architect and urban designer dedicated to making communities more vibrant, memorable, and enduring. With over 20 years of experience, Lin has worked extensively with municipalities and agencies across the San Francisco Bay Area and the western United States, focusing on transit area planning, mixed-use revitalization, campus planning, and housing policy.
As a founding partner of Urban Field Studio, Lin specializes in placemaking, streetscape improvements, and public-private development strategies, ensuring that projects are physically compelling, economically viable, and community-supported. She is particularly passionate about public outreach and visual communication, crafting engaging and accessible design processes that empower non-designers to actively participate in shaping their communities.
Beyond practice, Lin is a lecturer at UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design, teaching in the Master of City Planning and Master of Real Estate Development + Design programs. She also extends her teaching to K-12 students, introducing young learners to architecture and urban design. Through her work in urban design, education, and community engagement, Lin advocates for inclusive and sustainable cities, where the built environment reflects and enhances the identity of the people it serves.
COURSES TAUGHT
City Planning 208 – Plan Preparation Design Studio
RDEV 230 – Public-Private Partnerships
Environmental Design 201 – Master of Urban Design Studio
City Planning 140 – Urban Design and Placemaking
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
2021 – Inducted into the Lambda Alpha International Golden Gate Chapter
2021-Present – ULI Public-Private Partnerships Council Leadership
2018 – ULI/NLC Rose Center Public Leadership in Land Use Faculty Advisor
2013 – Architect-in-Residence for LEAP Arts in Education
2009 – California Licensed Architect
2005 – Eisner Prize in City Planning, UC Berkeley
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