Gensler Earns Top Honor from AIA Chicago for a Decade of Design Excellence

Gensler’s Chicago office has received the AIA Chicago Firm Award, a special honor given for 10 years of great work in architecture. This award is given each year by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Chicago chapter to a firm that has made a big and lasting difference in the field. It celebrates not only strong design and successful projects, but also the firm’s values, how it works, and its efforts to support the future of architecture. Winning this award shows that Gensler has gone beyond just creating buildings, it has also helped the profession grow and improve in important ways.

Gensler is a global architecture, design, and planning firm with offices in many cities around the world, but its Chicago branch has played a special role in shaping the urban and architectural identity of the city. Over the years, Gensler Chicago has developed a wide variety of important projects, showing their ability to work across many different types of buildings and clients. They focus not only on high-quality design but also on creating places that bring people together, improve the city, and respond to community needs.

Some of Gensler’s well-known projects in Chicago include the Columbia College Student Center. It gives students a central place to meet, study, and spend time together. The building is now an important part of the campus and shows how Gensler designs spaces that support learning and connection.

Another key project is mHUB Chicago, a center for manufacturing and innovation. It was built by turning an old warehouse from 1926 into a modern space where startups and inventors can work. This project shows how Gensler gives new life to old buildings in smart and sustainable ways.

In addition to completed projects, Gensler is also leading the redesign of North Michigan Avenue, one of Chicago’s most famous streets. This future plan shows how the firm continues to shape the city by imagining how important public spaces can be updated to serve both locals and visitors better. Their focus on community, innovation, and future-forward thinking makes Gensler a powerful player in Chicago’s architectural scene.

Jen Masengarb, the Executive Director of AIA Chicago, said that Gensler’s work in the city is about more than just designing buildings. The firm works closely with schools, companies, and other groups on long-term projects that help improve the city. She also said the award celebrates not only Gensler’s design skills, but also their support for young architects. Many of these young professionals now play an important role in shaping the future of the firm and the field of architecture.

The award jury also praised Gensler for being a strong leader in the profession. They noted the firm’s ongoing efforts to guide and mentor others, their interest in solving big problems through research, and their involvement in both local and national discussions about architecture. Gensler doesn’t just create buildings—they listen, work with others, and try to make spaces that have real meaning for people and communities.

Gensler will officially receive the AIA Chicago Firm Award at the “Third Thursdays” event, a monthly meeting hosted by AIA Chicago. The celebration will take place on Thursday, July 17, at Gensler’s Chicago office, where people from the architecture world will gather to recognize the firm’s important work and its impact on the city.

This award is not only a way to honor what Gensler has already done, but also a reminder that architecture firms can lead by having a clear vision, working well as a team, and taking real responsibility for the places and people they design for.