Wellness
With a human-centered design approach, we create spaces that promote wellness at all scales with strategies that embrace biophilia, promote physical movement, support mental health and well-being, and foster inclusion.
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Wellness real estate is no longer confined to individual buildings or high-end amenities. It’s evolving into an integrated network of places that prioritize connection, proximity, and access to environments and services that support holistic well-being.
—Michael Schur, Wellness leader
27 Items
Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Gensler partnered with the Kirk Gibson Foundation to design Michigan’s first standalone Parkinson’s wellness center. The 40,000-square-foot facility near Detroit reimagines a former gym with inclusive design that support therapy and community.
North Side Housing and Supportive Services
Chicago, Illinois
Designed by Gensler, North Side Housing and Supportive Services (NSHSS) provides a much-needed place of shelter for unhoused men in Chicago’s Roger’s Park.
Bill Richards Center for Healing at Aquilino Cancer Center
Rockville, Maryland
The Bill Richards Center for Healing at Aquilino Cancer Center explores new approaches to wellness and psychological therapies for cancer patients
OhioHealth Neuroscience Wellness Center
Columbus, Ohio
The Neuroscience Wellness Center at OhioHealth is envisioned as a place for a community of users to take charge of their recovery process.
Open Wellness
Portland, Oregon
Open Wellness transformed a historic building in Northeast Portland into a vibrant wellness center.
Marriott International Global Headquarters
Bethesda, Maryland
Marriott’s new headquarters is a physical manifestation of a world-class hospitality company that knows its people are the driving force behind its innovation.
Rancho Los Amigos – Harriman
Downey, California
For over a century, the 212-acre Rancho Los Amigos campus has been a cornerstone of the Downey community, supporting the physical and mental health and wellb...
CSULB Hillside Gateway
Long Beach, California
CSULB Hillside Gateway is a game-changer for sustainable campuses. The project generates more energy than it uses, conserves water, and fosters student engagement and well-being. It is a benchmark for sustainable campus development.
The Haven on Lincoln
Chicago, Illinois
Gensler is transforming a 1960s motel in Chicago into short-term housing for individuals experiencing homelessness utilizing a trauma-informed design lens.
Holcomb Family YMCA
Spring, Texas
Gensler reimagined the design of the Holcomb Family YMCA from a traditional building to a facility with flexible indoor-outdoor spaces where members can gather and exercise together.
The Hub at Prairie Shores
Chicago, Illinois
The Hub is intended to bring modern amenities to the ever-evolving residential community at the Bronzeville neighborhood’s Prairie Shores housing complex.
Rose Haven Community Day Shelter
Portland, Oregon
Gensler donated its services to design Rose Haven’s new 10,500-square-foot space, a facility three times the size of its previous footprint, that comprises its day shelter and community center.
CSULB Parkside North Residence Hall and Housing Administration Building
Long Beach, California
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) enlisted Gensler to help reach the university’s goal of achieving net-zero status by 2030.
Solhouse 6035
Metro Vancouver, Canada
Solhouse 6035 is a serene, inclusive residential tower by Bosa Properties, featuring indoor and rooftop amenities in Burnaby’s Central Park District.
Reach Movement Studio
Cartersville, Georgia
Reach Movement Studio transforms physical therapy by making Musculoskeletal (MSK) care accessible, engaging, and affordable to all. Gensler led the experience strategy and design with Bardavon Health Innovations and their brand agency, Elephant, to define the customer experience for their first retail health location.
15 Laight Street
New York, New York
Vanbarton Group enlisted Gensler to transform 15 Laight Street — the former home of the Tribeca Film Festival — into a vibrant Class-A office building with ground floor retail.
San Francisco International Airport, T1 Net Zero Program
San Francisco, California
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has set the goal of becoming the first airport in the world to achieve zero carbon, zero waste, and zero net energy.
LinkedIn Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
LinkedIn partnered with Gensler to design its new 200,000-square-foot campus in Omaha, Nebraska — the first portfolio project embracing LinkedIn’s Future of Work Strategy, developed alongside Gensler.
AllianceBernstein Nashville Headquarters
Nashville, Tennessee
Spanning eight floors at Fifth + Broadway, a commercial office building also designed by Gensler, AllianceBernstein’s Nashville headquarters features a design that sets people and business into motion.
American Physical Therapy Association Headquarters
Alexandria, Virginia
The new headquarters of the American Physical Therapy Association empowers employee collaboration and promotes mobility, accessibility, and sustainability.
The Current at CIBC SQUARE
Toronto, Ontario
With a focus on engaging employees through health and wellness amenities, Ivanhoé Cambridge and Hines called on Gensler to create a fitness centre at CIBC SQUARE that offers an elevated workplace experience.
Design for Distancing
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore's Design for Distancing challenge called on the city's design and public health communities to scope, develop, and implement interventions to reactivate its main streets and arts districts.
Two Legacy West
Frisco, Texas
Two Legacy West is a 300,000-square-foot office tower and parking garage located near a developing area of Plano, Texas.
Xperience Fitness
Multiple Locations
Xperience Fitness is a rapidly expanding chain of health clubs offering upscale amenities at an affordable price point. Targeting vacant big-box retail, Xperience desired a fresh prototype design that could be easily scaled.
San Jose State University Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center
San Jose, California
The new Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center serves as a central hub and student destination on campus, comprising a 120,000 sf gymnasium along with a...
UPCycle
Austin, Texas
Guided by the concepts of upcycling, adaptive reuse, and a sustainable design approach, Gensler repositioned a dilapidated old warehouse into creative offices.
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T-Mobile, 3305
Bellevue, Washington
With a major T-Mobile campus renovation kicking off shortly, the 3305 office building was the first opportunity to introduce employees to a new way of...
Client Services
Wellness Consulting
Gensler’s wellness consulting services integrate the eight dimensions of wellness — emotional, physical, environmental, purpose, organizational culture, professional, intellectual, and social — to deliver holistic impact.
- Wellbeing Analysis and Benchmarking
- Inclusive Design Assessments
- Wellness Programming and Amenity Planning
- Material Red List Planning and Implementation
- Community and Social Impact Strategies
Wellness Design
Gensler’s Wellness Practice Area specializes in designing built environments that prioritize health, equity, and well-being. We use evidence-based approaches backed by scientific research, to create bespoke solutions that meet our clients’ unique needs and achieve measurable wellness outcomes.
- Inclusive Design Implementation
- Biophilic Design
- Campus-wide Wellness Planning
- Wellness Centers
- Community and Fitness Facilities
- Supportive Housing
Wellness Certification
We bring together designers, owners, and consultants to develop tailored solutions, including health and wellbeing key performance indicator tracking, to align with clients’ values and ensure impactful outcomes for health and equity. We leverage our cross-sector research and experience across programmatic, design, and policy, to customize value-add opportunities and optimize wellness experiences, quantified through third-party certification programs.
INSIGHTS
Blog
How a New Vision for Flexible Co-Living Conversions Can Support Housing Affordability
Gensler and The Pew Charitable Trusts studied building typologies in 10 cities to better understand the potential in this unique office-to-residential conversion model.
Blog
Age-Welcoming Cities: Designing for an Era of Longevity
The challenge of a rapidly aging population also presents an opportunity: to reimagine how we plan our cities.
Blog
How Business Schools Are Embracing Workforce Preparedness and Student Well-Being
To prepare students for success, campuses are becoming interdisciplinary, flexible environments that foster career readiness and holistic growth.
Blog
Reimagining Care in the Heart of Our Cities
An innovative intergenerational care concept seeks to transform how we support caregivers while revitalizing underutilized commercial spaces.
Blog
Trends to Watch Shaping the Future of Wellness
Gensler’s Wellness leaders discuss the opportunities shaping the future of wellness, from wellness real estate to inclusive design.
Blog
Designing a New Future of Cities Through Wellness and Experience Design
How cities can take an active role in fostering healthier, more fulfilling urban lives for residents and visitors.
Blog
Is Belonging the New Currency for Workplace Design?
By prioritizing belonging, we can create more impactful and transformative spaces that mitigate loneliness, foster connection, and drive value for people and organizations.
Blog
What Spa and Wellness Spaces Can Teach Us About Transforming Behavior
Luxury hospitality and spa experiences are leading the charge in changing how we experience and interact with technology.
Blog
Designing Safe, Walkable Cities for Future Generations of Children
Thoughtful urban design can transform cities into vibrant, inclusive spaces where children can thrive, connect, and grow.
Blog
Creating Inclusive Spaces by Designing for Neurodiversity
Designing for neurodiversity is an essential evolution in our drive to craft inclusive environments that support productivity, well-being, and employee satisfaction.
Blog
Uncovering Growth: Wellness Real Estate Across the Market
An increased emphasis on physical, emotional, and social health has had a significant impact on the goods, services, and spaces that support peoples’ overall well-being.
Blog
The Impact of Inclusive Design on Children’s Health and Happiness
By using inclusive design strategies in city and urban planning, we can build spaces that allow children to flourish, learn, play, and grow.
Blog
Inclusive Design for the 21st Century Library
Exploring strategies to create universally welcoming and functional libraries that cater to their communities.
Blog
How Urban Design and Educational Spaces Can Combat Child Loneliness
Through thoughtful urban design, we can create inclusive, supportive environments where children can safely explore and learn outside traditional classroom settings.
Blog
How Design Can Integrate Social Value Into Residential Developments
Design plays an integral role in fostering social value within residential areas.
Research
Redefining the Future of Urban Wellness in China
We created a framework and adaptable urban design toolkit to promote wellness in Chinese cities at the neighborhood level.
Trends in Wellness
Wellness real estate expands beyond amenity-rich buildings to curated wellness hubs.
As wellness real estate commands premium rents and prices, developers create market differentiation with unexpected amenities such as low-sensory spaces, adult changing rooms, and hub-and-spoke models for social integration. By pairing this evolution of amenities with supportive services such as childcare, pet care, and elder care, developers are establishing urban wellness hubs.
Wellness behind the scenes becomes a strategic priority.
Investment in workforce well-being has become a critical strategy. From hospitality workers to healthcare teams, employee support spaces have been reimagined for restoration, dignity, and performance with natural light, quiet zones, and dedicated amenities. Modest interventions, like dedicated security lines for airport staff or wellness lounges for shift workers, reduce stress, elevate morale, and empower teams.
Wellness retreats embrace precision to extend healthspan.
A new generation of wellness destinations is focused on extending healthspan and lifespan. These retreats blend innovative diagnostics, genome mapping, and biohacking with spa-like environments, creating immersive experiences that prioritize long-term vitality over short-term relaxation.
WELLNESS LEADERSHIP
Stacey Olson
Wellness Leader, Director of Sustainability
Stacey Olson is a Global Wellness Leader and director of Sustainable Design in Gensler's Newport Beach office, focusing on sustainability, health and well-being
Michael Schur
Wellness Leader
Michael Schur is a Global Wellness Practice Area Leader at Gensler and licensed architect with over 15 years of experience working on complex global projects.
Meghan Webster
Co-Managing Director, Health Sector Leader, Principal
Meghan Webster is Co-Managing Director of Gensler Chicago and a Global Health Sector Leader, supporting the practice area’s focus on innovation.
NEWS
In The Media
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Chicago Magazine
Gensler’s Thoughtful, Trauma-Informed Design Approach To Transform an Old Motel Into the Haven on Lincoln
The Haven on Lincoln pilot program provides housing to the city’s homeless. Gensler’s Sean McGuire says it is “the kind of project that makes people want to study architecture.”
October 15, 2024
In The Media
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Medical Construction & Design
How Healthcare Facility Design and Operations Can Support Holistic Well-Being for Healthcare Workers
Gensler Healthcare Leader Bonny Slater and Wellness Leader Michael Schur shared insights on navigating staff wellness challenges inside healthcare facilities.
May 01, 2024
In The Media
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Washingtonian
Bill Richards Aquilino Cancer Center Is ‘At the Forefront of a Budding Renaissance in Psychedelic Medicine’
Gensler transformed the 2,700-square-foot concrete shell into an elegant, functioning clinic in Rockville, Md.
July 31, 2023
In The Media
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American Institute of Architects
AIA Honors OhioHealth Neuroscience Wellness Center, Designed by Gensler, in the 2023 National Healthcare Design Awards
One juror noted that the wellness center “clearly addresses the needs of the clientele it’s serving. It also captures the idea of beauty so well,” prioritizing the surrounding landscape.
July 17, 2023
In The Media
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Fitwel
The Center for Active Design Honors Gensler in the Best in Building Health 2023 Awards
Gensler was awarded for having the greatest number of Fitwel Accredited staff ever and its design of Marriott International HQ was among the Highest Scoring Design projects of the year.
March 23, 2023
In The Media
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Medical Construction & Design
How To Create a Warm, Welcoming Experience for Patients and Visitors Alike
Gensler Design Director Bonny Slater shares tips for creating healthcare environments that curate positive first impressions.
March 01, 2023
In The Media
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The Nelson Post
The Health & Wellness Design Market Research Report Lists Gensler as a Key Player in Health and Wellness Design
The research report is meant to give cutting-edge market knowledge, help leaders take assessments, and examine developing patterns, challenges, and drivers in the health and wellness design market.
January 05, 2023
In The Media
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3BL Media
SFO’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Becomes the First Airport Terminal in the World to Achieve Full WELL Certification
The WELL Core Certification is a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being.
October 28, 2022
In The Media
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officeinsight
A Gensler-Designed Healing Center Is Named a Winner of IIDA’s 10th Annual Healthcare Design Awards
Gensler’s design of the Bill Richards Center for Healing was recognized as a 2022 Healthcare Design Award winner in the Pediatric Hospitals and Ambulatory Specialty Clinic categories.
October 21, 2022
In The Media
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Green Building & Design
Insights on Expanding Our Idea of the 20-Minute City
Design Resilience Leader Stacey Olson discusses how projects like Detroit’s Infill on the Cut mixed-use development create “beautiful places to live, shop, and play.”
August 18, 2022
In The Media
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The Globe and Mail
A High-End Gym Designed to Attract Workers Back to the Office
Gensler Toronto Design Director Joy Charbonneau discusses designing The Current, a boutique-style fitness center “with incredible views” at CIBC SQUARE.
July 05, 2022
In The Media
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Frame
How Biophilic Design Can Be Used More Extensively in Offices
Frame interviewed Gensler Design Director Melissa Mizell about office biophilia and why such “investments in health and wellbeing will deliver value for tenants and their employees.”
June 15, 2022
In The Media
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FacilitiesNet
Gensler Wellness Leader Stacey Olson Discusses How Office Spaces Are Being Reimagined Post-Pandemic
Building owners are making unique shifts in hopes of bringing back tenants. Olson references how Gensler repositioned an L.A. building into an art gallery and creative hub.
May 11, 2022
In The Media
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Healthcare Snapshots
Healthcare Snapshots Featured Bill Richards Center for Healing at Aquilino Cancer Center
Gensler created a unique space that is “safe, supportive, and biophilic with a high sense of natural materiality.”
October 26, 2021
In The Media
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Work Design Magazine
Redefining Wellness In The “New” Workplace
Gensler’s Sharon Steinberg shares key considerations to creating a fully inclusive and supportive workplace with wellness as the focus.
July 22, 2021
In The Media
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Interior Design Magazine
Gensler Designs a Community-Based Patient Facility at Columbia Primary Care Manhattan Valley
The first in a series of patient facilities for Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City incorporates hospitality and residential design, right from reception.
July 19, 2021