PROJECTS
12 Items
Confidential Financial Services Regional Headquarters
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The design of this financial services client’s Dubai headquarters was driven by the goal of creating a dynamic user experience that focuses on regional context.
1364ah Lifestyle Center
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Gensler’s design for a vibrant mixed-use development, 1364ah Lifestyle Center, captures Riyadh’s existing essence as foundation for a fast-growing population.
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Al Tayyar Mixed Use
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Based on the success of lifestyle destination developments in the Middle East, Gensler was approached by Al Tayyar Group to create a 3 million-square-foot...
World Trade Centre
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The Riyadh Investment Company, the building’s owner, commissioned Gensler and builder Saudi Bin Laden Group, winners of an international design competition, to create an iconic architectural landmark within the new King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD).
Luxury Wedding Halls and Spa
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Located in the capital of Saudi Arabia, the Wedding Halls is a luxury mixed-use hospitality development that caters to weddings as well as private and public events.
King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Anticipating a global shift to clean and renewable energy, the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (K.A.CARE) will emerge as a new center for research and innovation in sustainable energy production.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Bank
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
This headquarters building promises state-of-the-art office and amenity space in the heart of Riyadh’s new financial center, the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD).
Cloud 9
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Cloud 9, a dynamic new entertainment facility that is part of the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) master plan, offers a range of activities for Saudi teens and pre-teens, who face a lack of options for safely socializing and being active.
Indigo Hotel
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Set within the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), this 209-key hotel is designed by Gensler to provide a five-star hospitality experience for guests through the combination of luxury amenities and a youthful and vibrant vibe.
Hotel Al Khozama
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Renovating phase two of the acclaimed 1980s Al Faisalia mixed-use complex, Gensler sensitively converted the much-loved structure into a contemporary four-star Rosewood Hotel, the first in the Kingdom.
Hejaz Residential District
King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia
Hejaz Residential District forms part of the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), a new city located 100 km (62 miles) north of Jeddah.
Makkah Technology Valley
Makkah, Saudi Arabia
The past model for a single-zoned, insular, and quiet research park is transforming into a modern and vibrant mixed-use Knowledge Town.
REGIONAL LEADERSHIP
David J. Calkins
Co-Regional Managing Principal
David Calkins is the Co-Regional Managing Principal of Gensler’s Asia Pacific and Middle East (APME) region.
Theresa Sheils
Co-Regional Managing Principal
Theresa Sheils is the Co-Regional Managing Principal of Gensler’s Asia Pacific and Middle East (APME) region.
OFFICE LEADERSHIP
Todd Pilgreen
Co-Managing Director, Mixed Use & Retail Centers and Retail & Consumer Experience Leader, Principal
Todd Pilgreen is the Co-Managing Director of Gensler’s Middle East offices and APME Regional Practice Area Leader for the Mixed Use & Retail Centers and Retail & Consumer Experience practice areas.
Tariq Shaikh
Co-Managing Director, Principal
Tariq Shaikh is the Co-Managing Director of Gensler’s Middle East offices.
LEADERSHIP
José Fainé
Workplace Design Director, Principal
As a Workplace Design Director at Gensler, José Fainé specializes in workplace projects and provides oversight on a number of projects in the Middle East.
Carlos Gerhard
Design Director, Principal
Carlos Gerhard is a Principal and Design Director at Gensler’s Riyadh office with a proven track record of delivering mixed use and commercial office projects.
Raj Patel
Architecture Design Director, Principal
Raj Patel leads Gensler’s architecture design studio in the Middle East. Raj’s experience across different cultures influences his design approach.
Diane Thorsen
Hospitality Leader, Design Director, Principal
Diane Thorsen is a global leader of Gensler’s Hospitality practice and Design Director based in the firm’s Dubai office.
Steven Velegrinis
Design Director
Steven Velegrinis is the Design Director for Gensler Middle East who established the regional master planning and landscape architecture practice.
NEWS & RECOGNITION
The Future of Retail Design in the Middle East
Gensler’s Todd Pilgreen discusses future-ready retail environments in the Middle East that serve as commercial spaces, as well as urban and cultural anchors that strengthen communities.
August 12, 2025
Findings From Gensler’s 2025 Global Workplace Survey Reflect Demand For Truly Human-Centered Offices in the UAE
Khaleej Times explored why UAE offices need to shift from being visually striking to being truly human-centered. Gensler’s Edith Eddy noted the gap “between what employees need to thrive — flexibility, creativity, and connection — and what their current spaces provide.”
July 19, 2025
Gensler Middle East Wins 2025 Firm of the Year Award
UAP Dubai Design Awards honored Gensler Middle East with the 2025 Firm of the Year Award.
July 05, 2025
Challenger Cities Featured Gensler’s Sofia Song on a Podcast About “The Magnetic, Messy Cities People Don’t Leave”
The discussion centered on Gensler’s City Pulse Survey, which explores what makes cities not just livable — but lovable. Song notes, “What draws people to cities is pragmatic. What gets people to stay are the intangibles.”
June 26, 2025
InDesign Live Featured a Podcast Interview With Digital Experience Design Leader Robbie Robertson
Robertson, based in Gensler’s Asia Pacific and Middle East region, discussed technology, AI, and human-centered design. Listen to the episode.
May 19, 2025
Gensler Recognized on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies 2025 List
Recognized for the second consecutive year, the global design firm earned praise for its Gensler Product Sustainability (GPS) Standards™, spotlighting groundbreaking innovation in the building sector.
March 18, 2025
Monocle Radio Interviewed Gensler Co-CEO Jordan Goldstein About Key Initiatives for the Firm
Goldstein discussed key initiatives including a local and global design approach, the Gensler Research Institute, and the firm’s tool for assessing the viability of office conversions. Listen to the episode, beginning at 20:50.
March 13, 2025
Design Considerations To Support Neurodivergent Team Members and Provide Flexibility
Principal Greg Gallimore discussed design considerations at Gensler’s San Francisco headquarters. The office’s light, bright spaces foster collaboration while its darker spaces support focused, quiet work.
January 12, 2025
Saudi Projects Highlights Trends From Gensler’s Design Forecast 2025 That Are Shaping a Sustainable Future
Saudi Projects interviewed Gensler Middle East Co-Managing Director Tariq Sheikh about key trends shaping the future of cities and what’s driving change in the built environment across the Middle East in 2025.
December 06, 2024
Construction Week Middle East Spotlights Gensler’s 2025 Design Forecast
Gensler Middle East’s Tariq Sheikh discussed trends impacting real estate and built environment, noting, “we are at a transformative moment in our industry, one that demands groundbreaking ideas and innovative solutions.”
December 05, 2024
Tariq Shaikh Has Been Appointed Co-Managing Director of Gensler Middle East
Shaikh brings over 30 years of expertise in complex, large-scale projects across the mixed-use, retail, and lifestyle sectors in Europe and the Middle East.
September 02, 2024
Theresa Sheils Has Been Appointed Co-Regional Managing Principal for Gensler’s APME Region
Theresa Sheils will partner with David Calkins to drive growth in Gensler’s Asia Pacific Middle East (APME) region.
July 31, 2024
The Rapid Growth and Challenges of Smart Cities in Asia
Gensler Regional Managing Principal David Calkins discussed how innovative developments and strategies are shaping the future of urban living.
Southeast Asia Building Magazine
July 01, 2024
SME10X Interviewed Janet Pogue McLaurin About Gensler’s Latest Global Workplace Survey
The survey ranked the UAE third in a study on how top workplaces boost performance through enhanced employee experiences and strategic locations.
May 20, 2024
1364ah Lifestyle Center Wins Design Middle East Awards KSA 2024 Retail Project of the Year
Design Middle East’s KSA Awards recognized Gensler Middle East with the Retail Project of the Year for its design of the 1364ah Lifestyle Center in Riyadh.
March 06, 2024
INSIGHTS
Blog
Reenvisioning Retail Centres: Lessons From China for the Middle East
We explore how key lessons from China’s retail evolution can reshape the future of retail centres in the Middle East.
Blog
Design as Storytelling: How AI Is Transforming the Way We Imagine, Create, and Connect
AI isn’t here to replace creativity. It’s here to amplify it — helping us move from inspiration to iteration with greater speed and substance.
Blog
Six Decades of Creativity: Interior Design Magazine Celebrates Gensler’s 60th Anniversary
The industry publication marks a milestone in the firm’s history with a roundup of global projects and people shaping what’s next in design.
Blog
Designing Workplaces That Work — With Your People
When employees are involved in the planning and design process, the workspaces we create are more effective, engaging, and human.
Blog
Families Are Leaving Cities — Here’s How to Win Them Back
Children are critical to well-functioning cities. How can we ensure our cities work well for children and encourage parents to stay?
Blog
How Strategic Shifts Can Reignite Employee Engagement
In today’s workplace, employee engagement isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a vital force behind organizational success.
Blog
The Power of Clean Air in Sports-Centered Design
In arenas, training centers, and stadiums, air quality is not just a comfort factor — it’s a competitive edge, affecting athletes’ ability to train, compete, and recover.
Research
City Pulse 2025
Gensler surveyed 33,000 people across 65 cities to uncover what makes a city magnetic — how it attracts new residents and keeps them wanting to stay.
Blog
The New Workplace Experiences That People Crave
Employees want to move past the corporate workplace experience to more creative, natural, and residential environments.
Blog
The Value of Time in Retail Environments
Time is a precious commodity, and brands that understand its value and choreograph both fast and slow retail experiences will thrive.
Research
Global Workplace Survey 2025
Gensler’s Global Workplace Survey 2025 reveals the importance of in-person work and insights on how workplaces can be better designed to support all forms of work for individuals and teams.
Sustainability
Resilience by Design
Our Resilience by Design Report presents solutions for transforming the built environment to achieve a net zero carbon impact across our portfolio and the design industry.
Research
Evolving Immersive: The 2025 Immersive Entertainment & Culture Industry Report
Explore the most comprehensive evaluation of the state of Immersive Experience available today, published in partnership by Gensler and the Immersive Experience Institute.
Design Forecast
Design Forecast 2025
Explore Gensler’s Design Forecast 2025, a collection of the top global design trends that are shaping the future of the human experience and the built environment.
Blog
Regional Revitalization: Designing for Impact in the Middle East
Tim Martin, former Gensler Middle East Managing Director and Steven Velegrinis, Gensler Middle East Design Director, discuss designing for the region’s revitalization opportunity.
Blog
Luxury + Convenience: Why Branded Residences Are in Demand Across the Globe
In the residential sector, we’re seeing an increased demand for high-end, branded residences that offer hotel-style services and amenities.
Blog
What Makes a Great Retail Experience? Community, Connection, and Exhibition
Astute retail and hospitality brands recognize that in-person connection is a vital part of their offerings. But what does that visceral experience actually look like?
Design Your Career With Us
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Gensler Riyadh
7680 Airport Road
Qurtubah Dist. 13244
Business Gate
Block C2 - Unit S 2
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 11 263 8360
Qurtubah Dist. 13244
Business Gate
Block C2 - Unit S 2
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 11 263 8360