Research & Insight

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dialogue BLOG

Personal insights and opinions from Gensler's global experts on how design is shaping the future of cities. An archive of past blog posts can be found on GenslerOn.

A Different Kind of Climate Change: How Global Migration Will Shape the Next Century

A new age of migration, as entire regions of the world begin an environmental pilgrimage, will bring climate refugees right to the front door of developed nations.

October 22, 2020 | By Anthony Brower

6 Strategies Developers Can Use to Improve Building Performance and Lower Carbon Emissions

A building’s performance is primarily influenced by its size, shape, orientation, massing, and fenestration. When just 1% of a project’s upfront costs are spent, up to 70% of its lifecycle costs may already be committed. Performance is first and foremost a design strategy.

October 21, 2020

The Slow Streets Movement Needs More Black Voices

Even before the pandemic and recent civil unrest, it was clear that communities of color were struggling with urban health, safety, and wellness issues. We cannot talk about "Slow" or "Safe" Streets without also talking about race.

October 19, 2020 | By Elaine Asal, Brenden Jackson

Design for the New Hybrid Workplace

As we plan for the new workplace, we need new design tools to meet the new design demands, and advances in technology and design tools is driving innovation with our clients in this space.

October 14, 2020 | By Joseph Joseph, Janet Pogue McLaurin

The Future of Workplace Amenities Is Knowledge

As more businesses embrace flexible work, things like employee choice and well-being are taking precedent over the physical amenity spaces that employers companies once offered.

October 15, 2020 | By Sarah Brengarth, Fabiola Catalan, Shelby Burnett

Assembly at North First: Putting Resilient Design to Work in the Wake of the Pandemic

Completed in 2019, Assembly at North First was originally intended to be leased as a single-tenant campus, but the developer tasked us to demonstrate what our ideas for the post-COVID workplace would look like in practice.

October 14, 2020 | By Seth Orgain, Manan Shah

As E-commerce Booms, Transportation Logistics Are Shifting to Meet Demand

Companies are looking for a faster and more efficient way to ship goods to consumers. Intermodal transportation could prove to be the most efficient and cost-effective solution.

October 12, 2020 | By Brion Sargent

Learning About Resilience at the UCLA Congo Basin Institute

Funded by the University of California at Los Angeles and the Institute of Tropical Agriculture, the Congo Basin Institute is a research and education campus that will focus on the interconnected issues of environmental devastation with human disease and poverty.

October 08, 2020 | By Peter Barsuk

How to Bring Older Office Buildings Back to Life Amid a Struggling Commercial Real Estate Market

Here are several opportunities commercial real estate developers can consider when converting or repositioning under-performing office buildings.

October 07, 2020 | By Steven Paynter, Charmaine Lam

The Workplace Amenities Game Isn't Over — the Playing Field Has Shifted

People’s expectations have changed dramatically due to COVID and its myriad health, employment, and other fallouts. We see it this way: Employees want to keep the coffee lounge and they want to know whether the farmers were paid fairly and whether the lounge uses sustainable materials.

October 05, 2020 | By Simisola Marinho, Kate Kirkpatrick

The Hospitality Industry Seeks to Reinvent Itself With the Adjacent Space

At the moment, everything we do has been dramatically upended, which is what has the hospitality industry rethinking its purpose. If the very meaning of work and home has changed, what does that mean for hotels?

September 30, 2020 | By Tom Lindblom

Motel Revivalism: The Destination for Seamless Work & Travel

Tourists longing for road trips and outdoor adventures, paired with working travelers’ “work-from-anywhere" flexibility, can drive an opportunity to reimagine the nostalgic motel. Here are solutions to renovate existing motels or create a network of modernized motels that focus on wellbeing and fun, localized experiences.

September 30, 2020 | By Inga Zunte, Douglas Detiveaux

How Will COVID-19 Shape Hospitality Architecture and Design?

Like previous epidemics, COVID-19 will transform the hospitality industry, altering how we live, work, and vacation

September 30, 2020 | By Adriana Ghersi, Asya Gevorkyan

The Sustainable Hotel: Designing for Wellness and Resillience

In a world where there’s an increased focus on the impact we have on our planet, the travel industry is consciously working towards green initiatives that enhance environmental wellness.

September 30, 2020 | By Angela Spathonis, Diane Thorsen, Julijana Mitic

Banks in Beta Mode: Repositioning a Place in the Community

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for reimagining the next evolution of physical banking locations, but it’s an opportune time for banks to re-evaluate and reposition their portfolios to help strengthen connections with clients and communities.

September 29, 2020 | By Lisa Weeks, Adam Phillips, Lena Kitson

Digital Communications Tips for Workplace Reentry

Here are four best practices for digital communications when preparing employees for their reentry to the workplace.

September 24, 2020 | By Michael Chappell, Jillian Allerton, Molly Murphy

Creating Meaningful Content for the Built Environment

As digital experience designers, we design media architecture —or storytelling content — for a vast range of spaces to help curate the atmosphere within the built environment.

September 23, 2020 | By David Kramer

The California Wildfires Are Yet Another Wake-Up Call for Resilient Design Strategies

The recent surge in wildfires and hurricanes we’re experiencing now are a wake-up call for climate action. Here are seven design strategies we can use to achieve climate resilience.

September 23, 2020 | By Gail Napell

Are We Ready for the Heat? Desert-Appropriate Strategies for a Resilient City of the Future

Rising temperatures and drought are becoming a climate reality around the world. As designers in this increasingly hot environment, we have the responsibility to lead by example and drive the effort in making Phoenix a resilient “City of the Future.”

September 22, 2020 | By Johanna Collins

How Climate Change Impacts Our Health

Climate change has a direct impact on our health and wellbeing now and it will become only more acute in the future. The wildfires that are devastating California, Washington state, and Oregon provide the latest reminder.

September 18, 2020 | By Mallory Taub, Oliver Schaper

Design as a Vehicle for Change

This year marks the 21st anniversary of the Gensler Design Excellence Awards (GDEA), a program that seeks to elevate the firm’s design quality and celebrate design excellence in our projects all over the world.

September 18, 2020 | By Benjy Ward, Lauren Adams

Here’s How Developers Can Reposition Office Buildings for the Future

With so much square footage currently sitting empty in urban centers, we know that the future must be community-oriented, and existing office building stock can be repositioned to better meet the needs of the people who live and work nearby.

September 16, 2020 | By Sheryl Schulze, Ian Zapata

Amenities at the Edge: Where the Workplace Meets the Street

We have an opportunity to reimagine the ground floor of our cities — reinventing sidewalk-facing storefronts to serve the community, not just the daytime workforce.

September 15, 2020 | By Brian Stromquist

Real Estate Design Strategies for Leasing in a Post-COVID Market

Here are four key strategies that building owners and developers can leverage to have more informed conversations with prospective tenants in the post-pandemic market.

September 15, 2020 | By Erin Saven, Evan Danchenka

A Q&A with a Costa Rican Mayor about the Future of City Design

If there’s one area Costa Rica could improve upon, it’s the coexistence of its largest city San José with the surrounding natural ecology. At least that’s the opinion of Edgar Mora, a former government official and now a senior design strategist in Gensler’s San Jose office. According to Mora, the pandemic and the global health crisis present an opportunity to create a more sustainable city.

September 11, 2020 | By Edgar Mora, Tom Lindblom

Equity, Interrupted: How a Return to the Office Is Needed to Rebuild Equity

We believe that the workplace offers far more equity than working from home, literally putting us on equal footing with ample desk space and ergonomic chairs, highspeed Internet access, and vast opportunities for creative collisions and social encounters.

September 10, 2020 | By Hao Ko, Lisa Cholmondeley

Planning for the Future Workplace and a Distributed Workforce

How can the hybrid workplace balance the benefits of remote work and virtual collaboration with the community-centered environment that people miss most about the office?

September 10, 2020 | By José Luis Sanchez-Concha, Francesca Poma

Product Design in Times of Crisis

Necessity really is the mother of invention, and full-blown crisis is especially effective for driving innovation.

September 09, 2020 | By Scott Star

Empowering Citizens to Transform Their Cities

Here are seven tips for creating successful community outreach and connecting with your constituents during the pandemic and beyond.

September 02, 2020 | By Jordan Butler, Midori Mizuhara, Allison Wong

Distribution Center Design and Last-Mile Logistics

Here are five considerations for setting up a successful logistics center that will meet the challenges in last-mile delivery.

September 01, 2020 | By Brion Sargent, Rick Ferrara

Designing More Inclusive, Accessible Transit Systems for All

To create healthier, more inclusive cities, we must promote more equitable mobility services and make transit more accessible to all users.

September 01, 2020 | By Gail Napell, Amy Pothier

How the Pandemic Has Shaped Our Understanding of the Trading Floor

Now that COVID-19 has challenged the norm, Gensler is examining how design should support trading floor activity.

August 31, 2020 | By Rocco Giannetti, Marisol DeRosa, Alyson Stawicki

How Workplace Design Can Ease Anxiety and Feelings of Isolation

Now that some workplaces are reopening, we’ll have to find a way to shake off these feelings in a world that remains very restricted. The question is how? And what role should employers play to support their people as they transition back to the office?

August 20, 2020 | By Karen Mozes, Anthony Brower

Graph by Gensler: Spatial Analytics for Design

Introducing an advanced spatial analytics service that reveals the impact of design choices, visualizes behaviors, and maps human experience to drive better outcomes.

August 12, 2020 | By Molly Murphy, Richard Tyson, James Wynn

For Brands and Employees, Purpose Now Matters More Than Ever

Here are three ways that your brand can build belonging through your community.

August 06, 2020 | By Janice Cavaliere, Tana Hall

The Office Building of the Future Should Be an Essential Part of Its Community

Over the past 70 years, the workplace has evolved slowly but surely. In the past 5 months, that evolution has accelerated far more dramatically because of the health, social, and economic upheavals. When the dust settles, the office is going to look and feel like a different place than the one we left in March.

August 05, 2020 | By Darrel Fullbright, Duncan Lyons

Learning from the Pandemic to Create More Equitable Community Engagement

The current crisis has turned many long held community engagement best practices and expectations on their head. At this critical inflection point, it’s important to step back and understand how these changes can be purposefully designed to create a more equitable community engagement process that gives previously marginalized residents an effective voice.

August 05, 2020 | By Gray Dougherty

A New Type of Tall Building Design for China

At nearly 500-meters high, Suzhou Zhongnan Center represents a new paradigm for tall building design and vertical living.

August 05, 2020 | By Xiaomei Lee, Hasan A. Syed

From Environmental Racism to Climate Justice

Here's how architects and designers can deliberately shape the built environment to further climate justice, combat environmental racism, and promote equity.

July 29, 2020 | By Mallory Taub, Jim Stanislaski

Design Ideas for the Post-Pandemic Public Library

Public libraries have long served as welcoming and equitable settings that offer important community resources, but the ongoing coronavirus health crisis has interrupted these services and challenged us to rethink and enhance the library experience.

July 28, 2020 | By Anthony Harris, Allison Marshall, Sara Rothholz Weiner

COVID-19 and Building Performance: The Big Picture

From energy use to maintenance, lighting, and air quality, COVID-19 will change the equations we’ve been using to calculate the performance side of architectural design.

July 23, 2020 | By Stephen Katz

What 10 Million Square Feet of Data Tells Us About Social Distancing in the Workplace

Through our data and benchmarking, we’ve surfaced some key themes when it comes to social distancing in the workplace

July 22, 2020 | By Mitchell Bobman, Carly Levett, Frank Gibase

Aiming for New Heights of User Experience With China’s Tall Buildings

As China continues to grow and many more people continue to move to cities, there must be a greater focus on the human experience of working, living, and playing in the urban environment.

July 20, 2020 | By Peter Weingarten

Bringing Sports Back to the Venue

We’ve been working with our clients to understand the challenges, questions, and potential strategies to get players and fans back to the sports venue.

July 17, 2020 | By Ryan Sickman, Jonathan Emmett

How Airport Design Can Restore Passenger Confidence

To get people flying again, the aviation industry needs to restore passenger confidence in the airport as an environment that protects passenger health and safety.

July 10, 2020 | By Kirsten Ritchie

Reimagining a Safer, More Equitable Daily Commute

Here are four strategies to create a public transit commute that prioritizes people’s safety and equity.

July 08, 2020 | By David Zaidain

How Tech Companies Could Benefit from a Decentralized Approach to Real Estate

Here are a few key considerations that tech companies might want to take into account as they reassess their real estate portfolio.

July 07, 2020 | By Sarah Brengarth

Are Our COVID-19 Responses Missing the Big Picture?

We must keep the climate costs of our Post-COVID workplaces in mind as we plan for a new normal.

July 07, 2020 | By Anthony Brower

The Future Workplace Will Embrace a Hybrid Reality

We won't be returning to our former offices. Instead, we will be moving forward to a new place. It might look similar in many ways, but it’s going to be modified in strategic ways, incorporating new practices, new protocols, and new technologies.

July 02, 2020 | By Ben Tranel

Accessible Design for All in the Post-COVID Workplace

Here are some inclusive design strategies we can take to make the return to work accessible.

July 02, 2020 | By Amy Pothier, Gail Napell

7 Questions About Equity and the Design Profession for the Incoming President of NOMA

Jason Pugh, the incoming president of the National Organization of Minority Architects and a practitioner at Gensler's Chicago office, answers 7 questions about equity and the design profession.

July 01, 2020 | By Brenden Jackson, Jason Pugh

Reimagining the Future of Cities as Healthy Cities

Epidemics have shaped our cities for a long time. The key question in this moment is, how can we use what we’re learning to improve the quality of life in cities after COVID-19?

July 01, 2020 | By Nayan Parekh

How the Pandemic Could Reshape the World’s Cities

We have an opportunity to provide a more fulfilling urban experience and to design for health, equity, and accessibility.

June 30, 2020 | By Ian Mulcahey

Developing Open Space as the Public’s Living Room

Outdoor public gathering spaces fulfill a basic human need to be around people. With the pandemic keeping us confined, public space can also be a relief valve for an anxious public.

June 30, 2020 | By Michael Wagner

Rethinking the Future of Work in Latin America

For our cities and our workforce in Latin America, the recent shift to remote working has been particularly challenging.

June 29, 2020 | By José Luis Sanchez-Concha

Rebuilding Consumer Confidence in Our Shopping Destinations

What are the long-term implications that will change how we experience shopping and leisure destinations?

June 24, 2020 | By David Glover

3 Ideas Hotels Should Consider as They Welcome Back Guests

The hotel experience will shift to meet newly adopted behaviors, technology needs, and guest expectations. Here are changes to expect.

June 24, 2020 | By Steven Harrell

5 ‘Out of the Box’ Strategies for the Retail Real Estate Market

Here are five recommendations for retail reuse to align under-utilized real estate assets with growing community needs.

June 23, 2020 | By Barry Bourbon

4 Considerations for the New Retail Environment

How can retailers make customers feel engaged and at ease as we emerge from these challenging times?

June 22, 2020 | By Michael Gatti

Designing Spaces to Help People Feel Emotionally Safe in the Workplace

How can we help people feel emotionally safe when they venture outside their own homes and interact in public or private spaces?

June 19, 2020 | By Donya Farhangi

Return Strategies Must Prioritize Mental Health and Resilience

As organizations all over the world resume activities, their employees and guests are carrying an emotional weight.

June 18, 2020 | By Cheryl Duvall, Elaine Asal, Sara Konstand

How Education Can Build an Optimistic, Equitable Future

How can we impart positive change on our schools, colleges, and universities, to ultimately shape more equitable communities?

June 17, 2020 | By Meghan Webster, Patricia Nobre, Mark Thaler, Nathan Kim

Crafting Our Way Into a New Era of Human Connection

With all the talk about re-entry, return to work, and reopening of retail and schools, it seems the measures the world is taking to welcome people back are somewhat in conflict with our longing for community and connection.

June 16, 2020 | By María Paula Sáenz

Toward Humane Healthcare: Emotional Considerations in Regaining Patient Trust

The healthcare experience is personal, so we must consider and design for the wide range of emotions, fears, mistrust, and trauma that impact patients to create a more inclusive and humane experience in our healthcare systems.

June 16, 2020 | By Scot Latimer, Patricia Nobre, Amrita Kulkarni

Designing Cities That Are Open and Equitable

In the face of the complex system of racial injustice, it can feel daunting to try to make a difference, but as designers, we have the unique power to apply our solution-based skills and expansive creativity to create inclusive and inspiring experiences and public spaces in our cities.

June 15, 2020 | By Lisa Cholmondeley, Hao Ko

What Not-for-Profits Can Teach Us About Equity and Inclusion

Not-for-profits are leading the way on issues of inclusion and equity because they understand that the work they do is part of something greater than themselves.

June 15, 2020 | By Bevin Savage-Yamazaki

Fusing Architecture and Technology to Reenter a New World

As everyone around the world starts to emerge from lock-down, we are all wondering what it’s going to be like to reengage with the spaces and places in our communities that we’ve been avoiding for months. What new world are we entering into?

June 08, 2020 | By Jordan Goldstein, David Kramer

What Will the ‘New Normal’ for Automotive Retail Look Like?

The response to Covid-19 has sparked rapid change by automotive manufacturers and retailers to satisfy the needs of the market.

June 08, 2020 | By Josh Keough

The Near Future of Casino and Gaming Design

Here are some insights that could have implications for gaming environments in Las Vegas and around the nation.

June 01, 2020 | By Derek Sola

What Matters Most for Hospitality in Asia Pacific and the Middle East?

These are difficult times, but travel will resume and we recognize that great hotels not only anticipate market changes, but they are also able to react quickly to unusual situations.

May 29, 2020 | By Diane Thorsen

6 Considerations for Transitioning Back to School

Here are some tools and considerations to guide academic institutions in transitioning back to campus.

May 28, 2020 | By Patricia Nobre, Joey Favaloro, Mark Thaler, Richard Jacob

Why Today’s Universities Need to Be Global Institutions

How can universities mitigate a potential downturn? The answer is transnational education.

May 28, 2020 | By Sunny Velikova

Reports of the Death of the Workplace Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

For millions of office workers around the world, work has been consciously uncoupled from its usual location for the first time. No doubt, the offices we return to will evolve along with changes in business priorities and cultural norms.

May 27, 2020 | By Randy Howder

Community Impact Is a Key Strategy in Returning to the Office

Community impact has the potential for positive, long-lasting benefits on our workforce and our culture.

May 27, 2020 | By Kathleen Carey

Insights From Gensler’s U.S. Work From Home Survey 2020

The Gensler Research Institute published its U.S. Work from Home Survey 2020, featuring findings on the experience of working from home during the pandemic and insights on how this experience is influencing people’s expectations for the future workplace.

May 26, 2020 | By Andy Cohen, Diane Hoskins

Most People Want to Return to the Office — But They Expect Changes

We’ve proven we can easily and efficiently work from home. But we can’t effectively do all work activities from home. In fact, the workplace may be more important than ever moving forward.

May 22, 2020 | By Janet Pogue McLaurin

How Companies Can Support Work-From-Home Best Practices in the Long Term

As businesses eye a strategic and safe return to the office, here are the operational mechanisms they should consider in order to support partial working from home on a permanent basis.

May 22, 2020 | By Dieter Kursietis

Transitioning to a Virtual World of Health & Wellness

The landscape of virtual care has leapt ahead a decade or more amidst the current health crisis, and it is creating a massive shift in operations at a time when a historic financial decline has hit the healthcare industry.

May 22, 2020 | By Randy Guillot, Tama Duffy Day

A Day in the Life: Going Back to School in China

Here’s what we've learned from our colleagues in Gensler’s Shanghai office about school reopenings in China.

May 19, 2020 | By Tony Lu, Freck Qin, Amber Sun

Is the Virtual Fan Experience Ready for the Big Game?

Until fans are allowed back inside sports arenas, what can we do now to enhance the fan experience virtually?

May 18, 2020 | By Jonathan Emmett, Greg Gallimore

Resilient Cities Rely on Resilient Food Systems

The pandemic is disrupting already fragile food supply chains. To ensure resilience and food security for the world’s population, we can put intelligent design to work by rethinking urban agriculture within the built environment.

May 15, 2020 | By Nayan Parekh, JinXi Ng

The Future of Dining Out

Here are six considerations for restaurant and bar owners in an era of new consumer expectations.

May 14, 2020 | By Siobhan Barry

What Going Back to School Might Look Like

What does the future of education look like, and what should schools be doing now to prepare?

May 14, 2020 | By Mark Thaler, Patricia Nobre

How to Design Hospital-Ready Hotels

The current pandemic has proven that hotels can play a variety of essential roles in times of crisis.

May 13, 2020 | By Randy Guillot, Steven R. Upchurch

It’s Time to Rethink Signage and Wayfinding for Transportation Hubs

Fast forward to when you’re ready to take your next flight. When that day comes, what’s it going to take to make you feel safe?

May 11, 2020 | By Beth Ready, Ty Osbaugh

Designing Government Offices for the Post-COVID Era

As we prepare to return to the workplace, whenever that happens, what should public agencies and departments be doing to prepare a workplace that can help people feel healthy?

May 11, 2020 | By Robert A. Peck, Peter Barsuk

Will There Be a Climate Change Vaccine?

We didn’t have a warning of the COVID-19 crisis, but we do have a warning for the climate crisis up ahead.

May 11, 2020 | By Diane Hoskins

Defining the Future of Our Cities: Five Areas of Opportunity for a Post-Pandemic World

We are witnessing global disruption at an unprecedented scale. But if we can live though disruptions as a new normal, then we may emerge even stronger and more resilient as a community.

May 08, 2020 | By Oliver Schaper

Tips for Signage and Wayfinding in a Post-COVID-19 World

Signage and wayfinding graphics can introduce healthy practices and help people feel at ease in this time of uncertainty.

May 06, 2020 | By Amy Bixler, Molly Murphy, Jill Wittnebel, Javier Cortes

As Data Demand Surges, It’s Time to Invest in IT Infrastructure

The demand for data spurred by this health crisis has highlighted the need to invest in critical facilities infrastructure.

May 06, 2020 | By Jackson Metcalf

How Will Hotels Rebound from COVID-19?

Seven key considerations that will change how we travel and experience hotels.

May 05, 2020 | By Tom Ito

Giving Back Has Never Been More Important

In this time of crisis, we need to double down on our community impact efforts.

May 05, 2020 | By Kathleen Carey

An Architecture of Optimism for a Post-Pandemic Society

Whether it’s new buildings that are about to be designed or existing architecture that now needs to be re-imagined, in many ways this is a time for an architecture of optimism – one that promotes wellness and celebrates life.

May 04, 2020 | By Jordan Goldstein

An Air Filtration Primer for Building Owners and Developers

We're looking at the key changes we'll need to make to the built environment in order to provide spaces where people can feel safe as they return to work.

April 30, 2020 | By Darrel Fullbright, Duncan Lyons, Sheryl Schulze

Sharing Our Work-From-Home Experience in Asia Pacific and the Middle East

After Gensler staff members in the Asia Pacific and Middle East region began working from home, we launched a survey to assess our people’s well-being, challenges, and overall experiences — here are key findings.

April 30, 2020 | By Nayan Parekh

For Law Firms, COVID-19 Has Accelerated the Inevitable

The overnight shift to working from home is upending the model of how much real estate law firms really need.

April 29, 2020 | By Timothy Bromiley, Carlos Posada

New Opportunities for Mobility Amid COVID-19

Our wholesale shift in live-work-play behaviors as a result of COVID-19 have provided us an opportunity to rebalance public rights-of-way.

April 29, 2020 | By Dylan Jones, Maurice Reid

Will the Work From Home Trend Impact Residential Design?

As working from home gains acceptance and more roles are fulfilled in remote settings, the fundamental principles of workplace design will still apply — just in a residential context.

April 28, 2020 | By Tom Steidl, Brooks Howell

What We Can Learn From the Energy Industry About Safety in the New Workplace

The energy industry's safety practices can be adopted by many to cultivate a culture that prioritizes safety and wellness.

April 28, 2020 | By Lillian Giering, Vince Flickinger

How Should Office Buildings Change in a Post-Pandemic World?

For those who design and develop office buildings around the world, the current crisis has introduced a new challenge: Once we are cleared to return to the office, how can we convince people that the buildings they use are healthy and safe?

April 23, 2020 | By Ben Tranel

Planning for a Post-COVID Return to Campus

We're reflecting on the factors education leaders should consider in planning a return to school post-COVID-19, and what we can learn from this remote learning experience to create a resilient hybrid campus.

April 23, 2020 | By Meghan Webster, Elaine Lockwood Bean

A Day in the Life: Going Back to Work in China

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, in China we are slowly experiencing the next step: going back to work. Here's what we learned during our return to Gensler's Beijing office.

April 22, 2020 | By Francois Chimier

Brand Experiences Must Be Human Experiences

We’re telling different stories today — stories of isolation, but also of newfound connection.

April 22, 2020 | By Janice Cavaliere, Joel Fariss

Could Low-Tech Design Prevent Climate Change-Influenced Pandemics?

We’ve known for a while that climate can play a role in the spread of viruses. How should we think about the coronavirus pandemic in the context of climate change? Is there anything we can do differently in the built environment to fight these two urgent problems?

April 21, 2020 | By Anthony Brower

Now Is the Time to Reinvest in Local Materials

COVID-19 could force us to improve construction's supply chain impact.

April 20, 2020 | By Rives Taylor

10 Considerations for Transitioning Back to Work in a Post-COVID-19 World

Real estate and facilities teams are challenged with implementing new ways of working that balance business continuity with employee safety.

April 20, 2020 | By Cindy Coleman, Don Ricker, Jane Stull

Understanding the Touchless Workplace

In the workplace, digital solutions and experience platforms have improved guest check-in, conference room booking, company communications, wayfinding, food and beverage service, and more. But touch-based solutions start to look like health risks in light of the recent pandemic and other viral threats.

April 15, 2020 | By Lee Billington

Creating Data-Rich Workplaces to Detect and Curb Viral Transmission

Workplaces can be optimized to collect population data — like thermal screening — so agencies and companies can make better informed decisions to protect the wellness of their people.

April 15, 2020 | By James Wynn, Richard Tyson

Redesigning Mixed-Use Environments for a Post-Pandemic World

What will mixed-use and public places look like after this pandemic?

April 15, 2020 | By J.F. Finn, III, Duncan Paterson

Taking Care of Each Other in the Post-Pandemic Open Office

Once we return to the office, we’ll need to transpose our newly discovered sense of community accountability back into the workplace.

April 10, 2020 | By Brian Stromquist

How the Pandemic Can Lead to Better Public Meetings

Public meetings are the foundation of modern participatory democracy. So, what do we do when it’s dangerous or impossible to gather people in public places? How should governments respond now and in the future?

April 10, 2020 | By Robert A. Peck, Sumita Arora

Cities and the Public Health: Our New Challenge in Urban Planning

Dense cities remain our best bet for providing opportunities and connections — if they’re designed to support residents’ wellness.

April 08, 2020 | By Andre Brumfield, Carlos Cubillos

Fostering Casual Collisions — and Creativity — in a Virtual World

Some of the best ideas at work happen spontaneously — in the lunch line or waiting for the elevator — rather than in a conference room. Now that many of us have shifted to working 100% virtually, how do we continue to create opportunities for casual collisions that spark ideas and random discussions?

April 07, 2020 | By Natalie Engels

Graduation Goes Digital for the Class of 2020

How can we use digital technologies to push events like virtual graduation ceremonies beyond traditional thinking?

April 06, 2020 | By Daniel Liss, David G. Broz

Re-Entry for Retailers: Returning to the Store

Retailers can start formulating a plan for re-entry that meets consumers' new expectations of the marketplace.

April 06, 2020 | By Aaron Birney, Lara Marrero

Using This Moment to Improve City Life

The current crisis raises serious questions that we’ll need to address before we get back to anything resembling normal: How well-suited are cities to a post COVID-19 world? How prepared are we to handle a health crisis in the future? And how can we use what we’re learning now to improve the quality of life in cities?

April 03, 2020 | By Nate Cherry

What Happens When We Return to the Workplace?

It’s not too early to start planning how we can return people to the workplace once the COVID-19 crisis ends.

April 03, 2020 | By Janet Pogue McLaurin

The Pandemic’s Lasting Effect on Our Healthcare System

After this crisis, we won’t return to business as usual. What should we consider as the new normal for healthcare systems?

April 02, 2020 | By Scot Latimer

Will Campus Life Translate to a Virtual Environment?

COVID-19 has forced us to embrace a new reality rooted exclusively in virtual interactions. While we reflect on how educational institutions’ responses are leading to a paradigm shift in the learning experience, how might campus life also translate to a virtual experience?

April 01, 2020 | By Chuck Rudalavage

Airports Are Facing a New Reality

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re thinking about what airports can do to save the air travel industry and regain passenger trust.

March 31, 2020 | By Ty Osbaugh

Redefining Wellness in the Face of Pandemic

The COVID-19 crisis is causing us to redefine all our work around the concept of wellness and re-examine the importance of resilience.

March 30, 2020 | By Rives Taylor

How to Build Culture
in a Virtual World

As COVID-19 causes the world to rethink the communal workplace, for businesses it’s also a philosophical and emotional assault on company culture.

March 26, 2020 | By Cindy Coleman, Amanda Ramos

Digital and Virtual Connections Have Quickly Become a Brand’s Livelihood

In this time of social distancing, brands are finding new ways to authentically connect with their audiences through digital and virtual experiences.

March 25, 2020 | By Amy Bixler, Jill Wittnebel

Designing Healthcare for Surge Capacity

We need health and wellness systems that continue to give people more choice and we need those systems to flex and respond to pandemics like COVID-19.

March 23, 2020 | By Randy Guillot, James Crispino, Scot Latimer

Remote Working Offers an Opportunity to Experiment and Learn

As COVID-19 disrupts our lives, working from home is now a sudden reality. How can we apply the best practices and tools that make a corporate workplace effective and collaborative, and instead create a great work from home space and routine?

March 18, 2020 | By Janet Pogue McLaurin

We Are in the Midst of a Paradigm Shift for Higher Education

As we make short-term decisions to respond to the global pandemic, we will also have a long-term opportunity to reinvent the traditional university learning experience.

March 17, 2020 | By David G. Broz

Designing Office Building Lobbies to Respond to the Coronavirus

People spend up to one-third of their lives at work, many of them inside office buildings. If these buildings were proactively designed with features that could stem the spread of communicable disease, the wellness benefits for the general workforce could potentially be widespread.

March 13, 2020 | By J. Kevin Heinly

Design Forecast Denver: Shaping the Future of Our City

Gensler Denver hosted a discussion about challenges facing cities such as affordable housing, mobility, and climate change.

March 05, 2020 | By Adam Ambro

Envisioning a Future for USPS Real Estate

As the largest retailer in the nation, the United States Postal Service is uniquely positioned to shape the future of communities across America.

March 05, 2020 | By Stella Donovan, John Ferns, Eric Bieber

In the Face of the Coronavirus, Workplace Wellness is Key

Here are steps employers can take to keep workplaces safe and healthy.

March 05, 2020 | By Janet Pogue McLaurin, Tama Duffy Day

Future Cities, Future Buildings

Paradigm shifts in building design are accelerated when the ingredients for advanced solutions come together, and the Johnson Controls (JCI) Asia-Pacific Headquarters in Shanghai, China is a case study in designing and engineering super progressive environments.

March 02, 2020 | By Stephen Katz

Creating Meaningful Customer Relationships in the Midst of a Merger

A merger has a profound impact on the customer experience, but also provides an opportunity to re-focus on what is working for current customers and determine how best to target and serve new ones.

February 28, 2020 | By Ryan Cavanaugh

Design Forecast Charlotte: Designing for the Displaced

Gensler Charlotte hosted a discussion about critical issues of affordable housing and homelessness facing our community.

February 25, 2020 | By Kathleen Jordan, Brad Brogdon

Design Forecast Costa Rica: Shaping the Future of Cities Through the Human Experience

Gensler Costa Rica hosted a panel discussing how public-private partnerships can spur innovation, how buildings and districts are key components of successful cities, and more.

February 25, 2020 | By Christine Durman

Design Forecast Washington, D.C.: Resilience in Our Region

Gensler’s Washington, D.C. office hosted a hyperlocal conversation focused on what the resilience challenge means for the community, and possible solutions.

February 19, 2020 | By Theresa Sheils, Francisco Gonzalez

Experiential Design is Changing the Rules of the Workplace

Client insights from Gensler Morristown's panel discussion on workplace performance.

February 14, 2020 | By David Craig

Design Forecast Detroit: Shaping the Future of Cities

Gensler’s Detroit office hosted a discussion on urban innovations and their impact on the future of a mobile, connected, and inclusive Detroit.

February 11, 2020 | By John Waller

Flexible Workspace is on the Rise in the U.K.'s Corporate Sector

Gensler paired up with the British Council of Offices to find out what's driving the rise of flexible workspace in the U.K. corporate sector and explore questions regarding the future of these types of space solutions.

February 04, 2020 | By Alice Dubot, Chandkiran Nath

Design Forecast New York: Designing a Better World: Equitable and Actionable Solutions

Gensler’s New York office hosted a discussion on how we can build a better, more equitable city for future generations.

February 03, 2020 | By Lauren Adams, Amanda Ramos

Want Your Organization to be More Creative? Embrace these Four Workplace Strategies

Today, encouraging creativity is a must in every business, from law firms to banks to media companies. A creative culture can come from many factors — but the space you house it all in can be a huge amplifier of creativity.

January 28, 2020 | By Johnathan Sandler

Developing the World's Tallest Net Zero Timber Building with Sidewalk Labs

Working with Sidewalk Labs and a network of engineers, environmental specialists, and other partners, we have collectively spent the past year exploring timber’s potential impact on building design, manufacturing, and sustainability.

January 24, 2020 | By Steven Paynter

Gensler Design Forecast Tokyo: How to Win the Battle of Workstyle Transformation

Gensler’s Tokyo office hosted a workshop on how to create a smart and balanced workplace, and investing in the right amenities to attract and retain top talent.

January 15, 2020 | By Daichi Amano, Chie Matsushita

The Benefits of Inadvertent Knowledge Transfer

We often learn by overhearing our peers and experiencing the consequences of their behavior — positive, negative, and everything in between — in real time, in person. This is just as true for the workplace as it is for childhood education, and it is just as relevant for factual information as it is for life lessons.

January 15, 2020 | By Cheryl Duvall

Design Forecast Cascadia: The Future of Human Experience

Gensler’s Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver offices hosted a conversation on why human connection and experience will be the driving forces behind thriving communities.

January 14, 2020 | By Kristin Jensen, Jacob Simons, Tana Hall

Blank Canvas: Using Art to Create Community in the Workplace

Whether it is a curated art program, an emerging artists installation, or a dedicated gallery, organizations are finding unique ways to use art as a tool to inspire social change and connect with the community.

January 13, 2020 | By Santiago Rivera

Designing for Agile Teams Creates an Advantage in the War for Talent

A vast majority of executives agree that the future workforce will be structured in multidisciplinary project teams, rather than by job function. This requires a new workforce with a new set of skills — and new ways of working.

January 03, 2020 | By José Luis Sanchez-Concha

Design Forecast Newark: Designing Cities for People

Gensler’s New Jersey office hosted a panel discussion on topics ranging from social equity, to new modes of mobility, and the importance of placemaking in economic development.

December 20, 2019 | By Roger Smith

Design Forecast Newport Beach: Shaping the Future of Orange County

Gensler’s Newport Beach office hosted a panel discussion on topics ranging from mobility to interconnected communities, social impact, and climate change.

December 20, 2019 | By Kirstie Acevedo

Design Forecast Toronto: The Future of Cities

Gensler’s Toronto office hosted a series of presentations that showcased potential futures and near-term solutions for shaping the future of cities.

December 20, 2019 | By Filo Costa, Eric Ginsburg

Gensler Design Forecast Beijing: Shaping the Future of Cities

Gensler’s Beijing office hosted a panel discussion on topics ranging from social impact to connected cities.

December 19, 2019 | By Jerry Hung, Emma Chang

Inclusion by Design: Insights from Design Week Portland

During Design Week Portland, the local Gensler office engaged members of the community in a conversation about diversity, equity, and inclusion. We wanted to know: Where does design fail to address these topics? And how can we evolve our practices to build a better world?

December 19, 2019 | By Sun Joo Kim

Cal-Australia Dreamin'

Addressing the realities of climate change through aspirational policy.

December 13, 2019 | By Anthony Brower

Design Forecast Dallas: People-Centered Workplaces Are Driving Connected, Resilient Cities

Gensler Dallas hosted a panel discussion exploring global trends in workplace and office building design, and how the human experience is the driving force behind more resilient, connected cities.

December 13, 2019 | By Cindy Simpson

Design Forecast Las Vegas: Shaping the Future of Work

Gensler Las Vegas hosted a conversation on topics such as top office amenities, branding and identity, and how balance and choice drive the most effective and engaged workplaces

December 12, 2019 | By Chris Dos Santos

Design Forecast La Crosse: The Future of Work

Gensler’s La Crosse office hosted a panel discussion on workplace trends, including tips for connecting a mobile workforce and managing change in the workplace.

December 10, 2019 | By Joan Meyers, Julie Henline

Schooling Kids in the Power of Design

Our long-standing partnership with City Year aims to transform educational spaces with heart for the next generation.

December 09, 2019 | By Beth Novitsky, Kathleen Carey

AI is Transforming Workplaces. What Does That Mean for Law Firms?

For law firms around the world, artificial intelligence could have seriously impactful possibilities that shape how legal services are delivered in the future, as well as what types of services lawyers could offer.

December 05, 2019 | By Christian Amolsch

Designing Intergenerational Communities

In partnership with the Milken Institute's Center for the Future of Aging, Gensler teams from Los Angeles and Washington, DC created speculative designs to show how multigenerational communities might be achieved in existing urban environments.

December 03, 2019 | By Stella Donovan, Laura Latham

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