Design Forecast 2016

Gensler Annual Report
Making a Difference
Gensler is committed
to creating positive
impact through
socially conscious
design and civic
engagement.
A “playway” beneath the elevated A train in Far Rockaway, New York.
Gensler cosponsored the “Hack Our City” event in Baltimore.
We are a global network
of designers and
advocates working to
help our communities
through volunteerism,
service, and pro bono
work. We use design to
make them healthy,
resilient, and inclusive.
As a firm, we address resilience at all scales.
In 2015, Gensler debuted The Tower at
PNC Plaza in Pittsburgh, which set a new
benchmark as one of the world’s greenest
skyrises. We believe the next opportunities
in sustainability lie in resilient communities
and net-zero design. Projects such as
Glumac’s Shanghai office, which is pursuing
certification as Asia’s first Living Building
Challenge project, and PNC Bank’s Net Zero
energy branch in Fort Lauderdale, Florida,
address larger goals of climate neutrality
and long-term sustainability.
Resilience is also about strengthening
communities, economically and socially. It’s
about future-proofing—making communities
durable so they can thrive. As designers
and residents, we help shape our cities’
urban fabric. We use design as a catalyst to
reimagine public spaces and transform our
neighborhoods—whether we’re engaging
neglected communities with urban design
in Baltimore or partnering with Rockaway
Waterfront Alliance and Design for America
to re-envision the future of Far Rockaway in
New York City, a neighborhood devastated
by Hurricane Sandy.
Through partnerships with like-minded
organizations such as ACE Mentor Program
of America, City Year, IIDA, and Project
Color Corps, Gensler amplifies impact,
supports underserved youth, develops design
solutions, and mentors future generations.
In our projects and our everyday work,
Gensler creates positive, enduring change.
Gensler and Project Color Corps repaint Cambridge Elementary in Concord, CA.
Reimagining the underway in Far Rockaway, New York.
Gensler and City Year renovate a library for Young Achievers
Science and Math School in Boston.
Gensler and City Year refurbish a study space for Chalmers School
of Excellence in North Lawndale, IL.
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