Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill to be honored at Marshall Bennett Institute gala

Adrian Smith, FAIA, RIBA and Gordon Gill, FAIA, the leaders of renowned Chicago architecture firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG), will be honored on Thursday, November 8, 2018 with the Lifetime Industry Leadership Award at the 17th annual Real Estate Gala hosted by the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate, Roosevelt University.

Smith and Gill established AS+GG in 2006 with management partner, Robert Forest, FAIA. The firm is dedicated to the design of large-scale, highly complex, high-performance and sustainable architecture on an international scale, embracing the concept of global environmental contextualism. AS+GG’s first design was Clean Technology Tower in Chicago, designed as the firm’s first net-zero energy tower. Other prominent projects now under construction include Central Park Tower in New York City, soon to be the tallest residential tower in the United States; Burj Vista and the Uptown District Tower, both in Dubai and Wuhan Greenland Center and Chengdu Greenland Tower, two supertall towers in China.

“Adrian and Gordon’s work is having a profound impact on the global architectural landscape. Their vision and innovative approach to developing breathtaking yet functional structures within livable and sustainable communities will inspire architects and those working in all areas of development and real estate for generations to come,” said Collete English Dixon, executive director, Roosevelt’s Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate. “We’re pleased to publicly acknowledge their contributions at this year’s gala.”

Smith is an architect of international renown, having designed Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest structure, as well as the soon-to-be-completed new world’s tallest tower, Jeddah Tower, now under construction in Saudi Arabia. He was a partner in the firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) from 1980 through 2006 and was its chairman from 1994 through 1995.

During that time, he was responsible for the design of many notable and landmark structures including Rowes Wharf in Boston, the Canary Wharf master plan in London and Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai. His work for SOM in Chicago includes the Trump International Hotel + Tower, AT&T Corporate Center and USG Building (both now the Franklin Center), NBC Tower and the master plans for Lakeshore East and Millennium Park.

Smith’s work has been honored with over 145 AIA Chicago, national AIA and International Design Awards, including three ULI Awards for Excellence. He has received the 2011 Lynn S. Beedle Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, as well as an Honorary Doctorate of Letters Degree from Texas A&M.

Gill is one of the world’s foremost exponents of performance-based architecture. Prior to co-founding AS+GG with Smith and Forest, he was an associate partner at SOM, where he had the distinction of being responsible for Pearl River Tower in Guangzhou, China, designed as the world’s first net-zero-energy supertall. Since then, his designs include the world’s first large-scale energy-positive building, Masdar Headquarters; the world’s next tallest tower, Jeddah Tower and Expo-2017, which included the sustainable master planning and architecture for last year’s international exposition in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Gill’s designs share a keen awareness of local environmental conditions as they capitalize on physical, social,and environmental features to maximize building performance. These ecological strategies can be seen in his projects’ architectural vocabulary and are a hallmark of his philosophy, Form Follows Performance. Gill’s work has been globally recognized with over 100 architectural awards including several AIA awards. He continues to expand his contribution to the practice of architecture through his teaching at his alma mater, Harvard University, and most recently serves as an advisor on urban and architectural design for the leadership of his birthplace country of Jamaica.

AS+GG’s practice is defining the buildings and the cities of the future around the globe from their studio in Chicago. The firm has continued to design dozens of large-scale projects, both nationally and internationally, including 160 Front Street in Toronto, currently under design; Tribune East Tower in Chicago, which will be the second-tallest tower in Chicago when completed and Al Wasl Plaza, the engaging centerpiece of Dubai EXPO-2020, which will be the world’s largest immersive projection experience at the next international exposition.