Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture

Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG) is dedicated to the design of high-performance, energy-efficient, and sustainable architecture on an international scale. The firm approaches each project, regardless of size or scale, with an understanding that architecture has a unique power to influence civic life. The firm strives to create designs that aid society, advance modern technology, sustain the environment, and inspire others to improve the world through a holistic, integrated design approach that emphasizes symbiotic relationship with the natural environment—a philosophy coined as “global environmental contextualism.”

This approach, which takes into consideration building orientation, daylighting, generation of wind power, solar absorption, and a site’s geothermal properties, represents a fundamental change in the design process, in which form facilitates performance. It’s predicated on the understanding that everything within the built and natural environment is connected, and that a building’s design should stem from an understanding of its role within that context—locally, regionally, and globally. Such a pluralistic approach acknowledges the interaction among building systems as well as between those systems and the natural environment and seeks to improve each individual system’s performance.

AS+GG’s practice includes designers with extensive experience in multiple disciplines, including technical architecture, interior design, urban planning, and sustainable design. Architects also have expertise in a range of building types, including supertall towers, large-scale mixed-use complexes, corporate offices, exhibition facilities, cultural facilities and museums, civic and public spaces, hotels and residential complexes, institutional projects, and high-tech laboratory facilities. The firm was founded in 2006 by partners Adrian Smith, Gordon Gill, and Robert Forest. Today there are 100 employees in offices in Chicago and Beijing.

Firm Website
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture Blog

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Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau, said: “Memorable moments are framed by memorable spaces. Al Wasl Plaza will be an inspirational location, exemplifying local culture and family values while also looking to the future.” (Emirates 24/7, April 3, 2017)

Reem Al Hashimy says during the video that “Al Wasl is not like any other building” on the World Expo’s 4.38km2 site, adding: “She is the heart of the site – she carries the original name of Dubai [and is] by far the most beautiful, the most exquisite [building].” (Construction Week Online, September 19, 2019)

Firm/Partner Honors

1. Architect Magazine, Architect 50, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, Ranked Overall #4 (2019) #18 (2018); #9 (2017); #4 (2016); #1 (2015); #6 (2014); #19 (2013); #9 (2010)

2. Marshall Bennett Institute, Lifetime Industry Leadership Award, Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill, 2018

3. The American Architecture Prize, Firm of the Year, Multi-Disciplinary Architecture, Shortlist, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, 2017

4. Newcity’s Annual Design 50: Who Shapes Chicago #38 Robert Forest, 2017

5. The Chicago Athenaeum, American Prize for Architecture: Louis H. Sullivan Award, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture 2016

6. OPP, Making a Difference in Asia Award, Firm Award, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, 2014

7. Ace Mentor Program, Green Visionary Award, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture 2012

8. Texas A&M University School of Architecture, Outstanding Alumni Award, Adrian Smith, 2012

9. CTBUH, Lynn S. Beedle Lifetime Achievement Award, Adrian Smith, 2011

10. Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society, Local Legend Award, Adrian Smith, 2011

11. The Chicago Reader, Chicago’s Best Emerging Architect, Gordon Gill, 2009

12. SOAR, Vision into Reality Award, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, 2009

AIA Awards

1. AIA Chicago, Interior Architecture Award, Chicago Architecture Center, 2020

2. AIA Chicago, Honor Award, Urban Design, World Expo 2020 Dubai, 2019

3. AIA Chicago, Unbuilt FORWARD Award, Astana Arts Center, 2018

4. AIA Chicago, Unbuilt FORWARD Award, Istanbul Cultural Center, 2018

5. AIA Innovation Awards, Stellar Architecture, The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 2017

6. AIA Chicago, Divine Detail Award, Waldorf Astoria Beijing Bronze Facade, 2017

7. Illinois AIA, Daniel Burnham Honor Award, Positioning Pullman, 2016

8. AIA Tap/CCA Innovation Awards, Stellar Design, Astana Expo City, 2016

9. Chicago AIA, Distinguished Building Award, Citation of Merit, Waldorf Astoria Beijing, 2015

10. Middle East AIA, Non-Built Category, Merit Award, Kingdom Tower, 2014

11. Chicago AIA, Distinguished Building Award, Citation of Merit, FKI Tower, 2014

12. Illinois AIA, Daniel Burnham Honor Award, Chicago Central Area DeCarbonization Plan, 2013

13. Chicago AIA, Design Excellence, SustainABILITY Award, Chicago Central Area Decarbonization Plan, 2012

14. National AIA, Honor Award, Regional and Urban Design, Chicago Central Area DeCarbonization Plan, 2011

15. Chicago AIA, Unbuilt Design, Honor Award, KAPSARC, 2011

16. Chicago AIA, Unbuilt Design, Citation of Merit, Dubai Bridge, 2011

17. Chicago AIA, Design Excellence, Unbuilt Category, Matrix Gateway Complex, 2010

International Awards

1. Chicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Award, Kazakhstan Pavilion: Nur Alem, 2019

2. Chicago Athenaeum, International Architecture Awards, Astana Arts Center, 2019

3. The Chicago Athenaeum, International Architecture Awards, Yangtze Tower, 2017

4. WAN Awards, Future Projects, Best Commercial Project, Hotel Atlantic, 2017

5. The Chicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Awards, Willow Creek North Shore, 2017

6. The Chicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Awards, Lakeside Residential Towers, 2017

7. Architizer A+ Awards, Plus Categories, Details: Architecture +Metal, Finalist, Waldorf Astoria Beijing, 2016

8. Architizer A+ Awards, Typology Categories, Cultural: Unbuilt Cultural, Special Mention, Istanbul Cultural Center, 2016

9. Architectural Review, MIPIM Future Project Award, Cultural Regeneration, Commendation, Istanbul Cultural Center, 2016

10. Architectural Review, MIPIM Future Project Award, Tall Buildings, Commendation, Biophilic Tower, 2016

11. WAN Future Projects, Civic Award, Winner, Istanbul Cultural Center, 2015

12. WAN Future Projects, Urban Design Award, Shortlist, Golden Horn Shipyard, 2015

13. HD Awards, Winner, Hotel Luxury/Upscale, Waldorf Astoria Beijing, 2015

14. Civic Trust Awards, Civic Trust Award, FKI Tower, 2015

15. Civic Trust Awards, Civic Trust Award, Waldorf Astoria Beijing, 2015

16. Korean Architecture Award, Excellence Award, FKI Tower, 2014

17. Korea Presidential Commission on Architecture Policy, Korea Green Building Award, FKI Tower, 2014

18. WAN Urban Design Award, Future Projects, Finalist, Xixian Great City Master Plan, 2014

19. The Chicago Athenaeum, International Architecture Award, Dancing Dragons, 2014

20. CTBUH, Best Tall Building Asia and Australasia, Finalist, Federation of Korean Industries, 2014

21. Architizer A+ Award, Office Building High Rise, Finalist, Federation of Korean Industries, 2014

22. Architizer A+ Award, Unbuilt Category, Architecture + Technology, Finalist, Chengdu Greenland Tower, 2014

23. The Chicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Award, Dancing Dragons, 2013

24. The Chicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Award, Xixian Great City, 2013

25. The Chicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Award, The Biophilic Tower, 2013

26. The Chicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Award, The Wave Tower, 2013

27. The Chicago Athenaeum, International Architecture Award, Great City Master Plan (Tianfu Ecological City), 2013

28. The Chicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Award, KAPSARC, 2012

29. The Chicago Athenaeum, International Architecture Award, Burj Khalifa Gatehouses, 2012

30. The Chicago Athenaeum, International Architecture Award, Solar EV Dock, 2012

31. The Chicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Award, Chicago Central Area DeCarbonization Award, 2011

32. The Chicago Athenaeum, International Architecture Award, Gold Cross Sky Ring, 2011

33. WAN Awards, Urban Design, Chicago Central Area DeCarbonization Plan, 2010

34. International Property Awards, Arabian Property Award for Architecture, Middle East Region, Masdar Headquarters, 2010

35. The Chicago Athenaeum, International Architecture Award, Vancouver Residential Complex, 2010

36. The Chicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Award, Matrix Gateway Complex, 2009

37. The Chicago Athenaeum, International Architecture Award, Matrix Gateway Complex, 2009

38. International Property Awards, Arabian Property Award for Architecture, Middle East Region, Verde Residences, 2008

Sustainability Awards (Non-AIA)

1. Rethinking the Future, Global Architecture & Design Awards, First Award Cultural, Astana Arts Center, 2019

2. Rethinking the Future, Global Architecture & Design Awards, First Award Commercial, Signature Tower One, 2019

3. The Chicago Athenaeum, Good Design Awards, Graphic Design, ResiDensity, 2019

4. The Chicago Athenaeum, Green Good Design, Green Architecture, Zhongzhou Holdings Finance Center, 2018

5. The Chicago Athenaeum, Green Good Design, Green Architecture, South Bend Renaissance District, 2018

6. The Chicago Athenaeum, Green Good Design Award, Green Urban Planning, Wuhan Bridgehead CBD, 2017

7. The Chicago Athenaeum, Green Good Design Award, Green Architecture, Wuhan Greenland Center, 2017

8. Rethinking the Future, Sustainability Award, First Award, Mixed-Use, Wuhan Greenland Center, 2016

9. The Chicago Athenaeum, Green Good Design Award, Green Urban Planning, Lincoln Park Master Plan, 2016

10. The Chicago Athenaeum, Green Good Design Award, Green Urban Planning, Pullman National Monument, 2016

11. The Chicago Athenaeum, Green Good Design Award, Green Urban Planning, Astana Expo City, 2016

12. Re-thinking the Future 2015 Award, Urban Design Concept, First Award, Great City Chengdu, 2015

13. Re-thinking the Future 2015 Award, Urban Design Concept, Second Award, Astana Expo City, 2015

14. The Chicago Athenaeum, Green Good Design Award, Green Architecture, FKI Tower, 2015

15. The Chicago Athenaeum, Green Good Design Award, Green Architecture, Kellogg School of Management Competition, 2015

16. The Chicago Athenaeum, Green Good Design Award, Green Architecture, Dancing Dragons, 2015

17. The Chicago Athenaeum, Green Good Design Award, Green Urban Planning, Tianfu New District Master Plan, 2015

18. Re-Thinking the Future, Sustainability Award, Honorable Mention, FKI Tower, 2014

19. The Chicago Athenaeum, Green Good Design Award, Green Urban Planning/Landscape Architecture, Xixian Great City, 2014

20. The Chicago Athenaeum, Green Good Design Award, Green Urban Planning/Landscape Architecture, Great City Chengdu Master Plan, 2014

21. The Chicago Athenaeum, Green Good Design Award, Green Architecture, Solar Dock, 2014

22. The Chicago Athenaeum, Green Good Design Award, The Density Study: A Carbon Analysis of Residential Typologies, 2014

23. R+D Award for Sustainability, Chicago DeCarbonization Plan, Architect Magazine, 2010

24. Construction Week Awards, Sustainable Design Award, Masdar Headquarters, 2008

25. Middle East Architect Awards, Green Project of the Year, Masdar Headquarters, 2008

26. Cityscape Architectural Awards, Environmental Award, Masdar Headquarters, 2008

27. International Property Awards, Arabian Property Awards, Middle East Region, Best Green Development, Verde Offices and Residences, 2008

Miscellaneous Design Awards

1. Architect’s Newspaper, Best of Design, Editor’s Choice, Beaubien Woods Action Plan, 2019

2. Chicago Athenaeum, Good Design Awards, Graphic Design, ResiDensity, 2019

3. GCFD Special Achievement Real Estate Award, Chicago Architecture Center, 2019

4. Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI), Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards, Best Project, $10-$50 million, The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 2018

5. ENR Midwest, Best Project, The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 2018

6. ASLA Award, Analysis and Planning, Honor Award, Positioning Pullman, 2017

7. The American Architecture Prize, Architectural Design Tall Buildings, Winner, FKI Tower, 2017

8. LEAF Awards, Hospitality Building of the Year, Waldorf Astoria Beijing, 2016

9. IIDA Red Awards, Product Design, Winner, Fracture Dining Table, 2015

10. IIDA RED Award, Furniture Design, GG Table, 2014

11. American Institute of Steel Construction, IDEAS2 Awards, Excellence in Steel-Frame Building, Solar Canopy, 2014

12. Structural Engineers Association of Illinois, Excellence in Structural Engineering Award, Winner, Best Project $150 million and over, Federation of Korean Industries, 2014

13. P/A Award, Architect Magazine, Matrix Gateway Complex, 2010

Extent: 540pp, text + ends + case + jacket

Text:4c x 4c on 157gsm matt art paper

Ends:1c x 1c (solid Pantone color) on 140gsm woodfree paper

Case: JHT cloth over 3.5mm boards with 1c foil stamping on the front and spine

Jacket:4c + 1/s matt lamination x 0c on 157gsm glossy art paper, spot gloss UV

Special Features: Casebound, section sewn, square backed, H&T bands, paper grain to run parallel to the spine, individually shrink wrapped.