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About Us
As architects, designers, planners and consultants, we partner with our clients on some 3,000 projects every year. These projects can be as small as a wine label or as large as a new urban district. With 2,000+ professionals networked across more than 30 locations, we serve our clients as trusted advisors, combining localized expertise with global perspective wherever new opportunities arise. Our work reflects an enduring commitment to sustainability and the belief that design is one of the most powerful strategic tools for securing lasting competitive advantage.
Download Gensler's Fact Sheet (pdf) for more information regarding the the services we provide, markets we support, our locations and our leadership.
Download "Design Update: The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE" (pdf) to learn how L.A.'s sports-entertainment district gets its landmark.
One Thousand Steps was PacSun's mall-based specialty shoe and high-end accessories store targeted to brand-conscious 20-25-year-old customers. Innovative wall storage units warehoused the majority of stock, allowing for greater on-floor category merchandising and display opportunities. Besides providing immediate product access for sale associates, these movable cabinets also contained illuminated niches to showcase multiple product categories. The center "orb," a molded fiberglass room, functioned as an integrated cashwrap and housed accessories such as bags, belts, wallets and watches.
The Carneros Inn is a 27-acre luxury resort in the Carneros region of Napa Valley, featuring 96 guest cottages, two restaurants, a spa and fitness center, swimming pool, organic gardens and 24 resort residences. Gensler worked with the Carneros Inn team to develop their brand positioning, hospitality identity, business system, print materials, Web site, and residential wayfinding and signage system. All parts of the program were created with the intent of visually communicating the rich heritage of this famous agricultural and wine-growing region.
CityCenter enables people to experience Las Vegas as true insiders in one of the world’s most remarkable settings. As Executive Architect, Gensler provided information critical to the development of a successful residential sales experience. In partnership with the MGM MIRAGE® Residential Sales team, Gensler has set a new benchmark for the world’s greatest luxury sales experiences. A multi-disciplinary Gensler team of brand strategists and interior, graphic and environmental designers collaborated to craft every facet of the customer experience, from designing the actual space and concepting videos to developing the content and design for all of the printed sales collateral.
Gensler partnered with Fidelity Investments in the prototype design and national rollout of its more than 100 Investor Centers. To provide an enhanced customer experience and embody Fidelity's brand in a three-dimensional space, Gensler developed a comprehensive design solution that integrates architecture, technology, graphics and fixturing in a branded retail environment. Gensler also developed extensive guidelines for printed collateral that are consistent with the look and feel of the branch environment.
Gensler was commissioned to brand, name and design all the communication materials for a new residential tower based in Dubai. The marketing initiative for the scheme was to offer a "contemporary living" style in Dubai. Working with the proposition "Living reinvented," Gensler designed an overall concept to convey the exclusive nature of the development. The name and logotype echoed the proposed architecture by using a custom typeface that is modern in its execution. The chosen color palette reflects the natural aspects of the scheme and can be used as a signature color throughout. Other promotional materials included stationery, brochures, advertising media and Web site design.
Gensler created a series of printed pieces that illustrate Tandus' history of environmental stewardship and innovation in unique and highly visual ways. Key messages were developed into two brochures, an ad campaign, eye-catching shopping bag and graphics in the company's Chicago showroom. The materials have successfully communicated the brand message clearly and modestly, while also establishing an emotional connection with the Tandus sales teams, giving them a feeling of empowerment and confidence in their product.
When PBS moved its headquarters from Alexandria to Crystal City, it opted for a highly visible and exciting workplace to embody its public commitment. A two-story mobile spanning the staircase recognizes member stations. This art installation has become a conversation piece for all visitors. The headquarters encourages collaboration, facilitates recruitment of creative staff, and provides a flexible framework for organizational change. An open-office plan introduces natural light, outside views, and dialogue among employees. The space is unified by the graphic use of the PBS brand in print, video and backlit images that are easily interchanged and updated.
Gensler teamed with Motorola to develop Motorola M-Lab, an "edu-tainment" venue that exposes kids to science, technology and innovation at career-focused theme park Wannado City in Florida. Gensler created an experience where tweens aged 8-12 play as "M-ventors" in Motorola's Innovation Lab, solving a unique problem using an interactive video game and working in teams. The result is an experience providing fun, learning and a new and positive connection to the Motorola brand.
Restaurateur Richard Sandoval looked to Gensler to build this moderately priced Mexican chain from the ground up, developing the name, logo and restaurant design. The chain will be rolled out across the United States, yet each restaurant will be branded and styled as a different destination. The name La Sandia, which means "watermelon" in Spanish, was chosen because of its prominence in Mexican artwork and the popular card game Loteria, which became a strong graphical tool in the restaurant's overall branding.
For its Northern California Resource Center, Allsteel sought to create a contextually relevant space where product is the focal point and sustainability is inherent to the design. By building fewer walls, using structure as finish, maximizing daylight, and thoughtfully choosing materials, Gensler expressed Allsteel's commitment to environmental preservation. The showroom's energy efficient air delivery system, with sophisticated climate controls, optimizes the showroom atmosphere. The furniture products showcase new innovations in sustainable materials, incorporate recycled content, and meet stringent indoor air quality requirements.
Set in Morris County, New Jersey, this 1,000,000-square-foot corporate campus offers state-of-the-art technology and a superior quality of business life. To attract potential renters to the Morris Crossroads campus, Gensler helped develop a brand and marketing strategy, along with marketing materials and an online presentation. The campaign plays up the positive aspect of the campus’ suburban location as a tranquil place to “get away from it all” in a modern, amenity-rich environment, well-situated between major urban centers.
One of the largest consumer electronics retailers in the Middle East, Alghanim Electronics sought to attract younger consumers without alienating its loyal, established customer base. Gensler developed a comprehensive retail concept, successfully repositioning the company’s brand presence in Kuwait and supporting its expansion into India. New stores encourage customers to test out “live” merchandise and explore their compatibility networking potential. Grouping of similar products facilitates side-by-side comparison. A central “tech-lab” showcases new products and demonstrates a commitment to international design innovation.
In parallel with the design of Dickstein Shapiro’s Washington, D.C. law offices, Gensler undertook a branding effort to develop and convey a new identity as well as update their overall communication efforts. The new positioning is demonstrated in collateral/marketing materials, advertising campaigns and the new office space. Dickstein Shapiro’s innovative approach led Gensler to develop a new tagline — “Experience Innovation” — that serves as the centerpiece of the branding.
In working with developer Monument Realty on the design and development of a 600-foot streetscape and retail zone between the Navy Yard Metro Station and the Washington Nationals’ new home, Gensler facilitated a visioning session, from which emerged the project’s framework and tone. One essential aspect of the session was the creation of a “storybox” in which participants used images, words, colors and objects to visually convey their expectations of Half Street. The resulting design strategy and brand positioning set the direction for all subsequent aspects of the project including retail, outdoor spaces, residential and commercial buildings.
Gensler and Pantone have partnered on a number of projects, including showroom designs for NeoCon 2002, 2003 and 2004 that showcased the Pantone for Architecture and Interiors range of products. In redesigning the literature for that product line, as well as for Pantone for Fashion and Home products, Gensler looked toward encouraging the contract industry to adopt the system, already well-known in the graphic design industry. Print materials included fact-heavy data and pricing sheets as well as image-heavy “concept brochures” that function as an inspirational editorial presentation of products and colors.
A phonetic translation of an old Kuwaiti word for children’s role playing, Baroue’s core identity expands on this idea with the “O” of Baroue becoming a series character faces. Additional role-playing characters employed in printed applications create a whimsical, kid-friendly brand system that extends to private-label merchandise. Translating parent company MS Retail KSC’s vision to design strategy, Gensler developed the Baroue brand to comprise Baby Baroue, Baroue Kids, Baroue Toys, Baroue Maternity and Club b.me for teenagers. The core brand identity program links individual brand offerings, while subtly differentiating the different stages of a child’s development.
In repositioning the Aladdin Hotel and Desert Passage-themed retail environment, Planet Hollywood aimed to “de-theme” and create an engaging, contemporary shopping destination. In the redesign, Gensler set a tone that is active and energetic, expressed by a vibrant and colorful graphics program that features coordinating wallpapers and surface treatments, furniture, fabrics and floorings. The vivid play between color, scale and geometry makes a bold statement, punctuating the spaces above and between storefronts. Encompassing public areas, signage, wayfinding and retail tenant guidelines, the repositioning spanned the center’s 1.5 miles of retail space and has since yielded increased rents, occupancy, visitors and sales.
Gensler developed the concept, logo and design for this new experiential retail destination that includes designer merchandise along with a vinotherapy spa, café, mozzarella bar and art gallery. This inaugural store features a central “boulevard” lined by intimate spaces delineated by high screens, which may be translucent, transparent or opaque to segment the merchandise. Materials are rich and warm — bronze-framed fixturing, mahogany tables and a light wood floor — but also textural, with rough stone next to carpet and rusted steel. The space is flexible so as to easily accommodate special events.
Despite the presence of large department stores, Nagoya’s Hoshigaoka Terrace was never seen as a retail destination. At its center, a sloping site and major thoroughfare proved daunting topography. Gensler overcame the site challenges, creating the heart of a new regional retail district where the community gathers to watch theater, walk outdoor gardens, dine and shop. Designers treated the roadway like a river, carving out the hillside bank to form the radial Four Seasons Plaza. Located at the base of the upper-level outdoor terrace, the plaza serves as the centerpiece of the complex, activating the street edge as a place to promenade and gather.
One of Britain’s premier grocers, Waitrose enjoys a reputation for providing supermarket convenience with the service of a specialist shop. The company further cemented its position as a food lover’s destination with the U.K.’s first grocery store-owned cookery school. Emulating a kitchen table’s communal ambience while reflecting the Waitrose brand, the school offers a comprehensive schedule of classes, as well as a venue for press launches, wine tastings and media events. Gensler created the cookery school’s identity and environmental graphic package to complement the contemporary feel of the built environment, which includes 12 kitchen stations, a demonstration theater, floor-to-ceiling books shelves and wine display, dining area and wine bar.
Developing an iconic retail store concept for the largest U.S. producer of organic, estate-grown olive oil meant enhancing the brand’s positioning and profile in the community. Gensler worked closely with owner Nan Tucker McEvoy’s team to refine the articulation of the brand’s image — both in the small historic Ferry Building store and on product packaging. With imagery and natural materials inspired by the company’s Petaluma, Calif., headquarters ranch, the San Francisco store conveys McEvoy’s “fresh from the ranch” approach, refining the brand’s presentation and drawing customers into its warm, friendly space.
Amplifying the brand tagline, “Never Stop Exploring,” the new global prototype inspires customers to get outside and experience the great outdoors. Composed of natural elements and textures, the store environment reinforces the metaphor of customer journey as a path of discovery. Trail markers, or “cairns,” built of wood, stone and metal, lend product displays a dynamic appearance and distinguish the store’s core categories — outdoor, action sports and performance. Large-scale photos and flat-panel video screens further enliven the retail environment, enabling customers to engage with The North Face-endorsed athletes and product specialists, while learning about expeditions chartered around the world.
When she launched in late 2009, Oasis of the Seas became the largest, most cutting-edge cruise ship in the world, spanning 16 decks and housing 2,700 staterooms. To complement the ship’s luxurious amenities, Gensler worked closely with Royal Caribbean to create a signature cruise line shopping experience. In addition to naming, branding, packaging, storefront design, store interior design and fixture design, Gensler led the overall design and execution of the ship’s 10,000-square-foot retail zone. Comprising 13 stores and open-air shopping, the zone introduces an exclusive selection of brands and retail concepts.
Gensler teamed with Passion Food Hospitality to design this new 10,000-square-foot restaurant featuring exceptional seafood and a thriving bar scene. Passion Food’s vision was to create a place that is organic, elegant and humanistic. Gensler responded with a space that exudes tasteful richness, graceful hospitality and a restrained style, flowing from intimate to grand, with ceiling heights ranging from eight to 19 feet. Finishes include deep woods, rich textiles, iridescent teal and silver tiles, and chandeliers that mimic undersea bubbles.