The architecture community lost a gem this past week. One of the most reputable and renowned architects and businessmen, Art Gensler - the American Architect dies at the age of 85 after a long, struggling illness.

Born in Brooklyn in 1935, Gensler went on to receive his Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning in 1958. Later, this San-Francisco-based entrepreneur started his journey in the year 1965 - right about when he founded this company as a small design studio. Until now, 55 years later when this name has expanded its horizon within and outside the United States. In the present era, Gensler has a total of 50 offices and thousands of employees operating in more than 100 countries. 

Gensler is known to have completed large-scale architecture, urban, and Interior Design-related projects across the world with one of the noteworthy portfolio landmarks - the second tallest building - Shanghai Tower that is around 632-meter-high. Another example is the Incheon International Airport in South Korea that definitely made headlines upon inauguration. 

Right from the beginning, Gensler majorly focused on the technical ends of the process - mainly, taking a different approach to the business of architecture as compared to his contemporaries, focusing on interior design at a time when it wasn't paid seriously attention to. 

“Most architects were looking at buildings from the outside, from the form of the building. Art was looking at it from the user experience, from people’s experience,” says Andy Cohen, co-CEO of Gensler, who worked closely with Mr. A Gensler in his working four decades with the firm. “To this day, we are always focused on what he called inside-out design.”

Through his work, leadership, and efforts to advance the profession, Art touched the lives of thousands of people and communities. His legacy, influence, and inspiration will forever be felt throughout the industry and firm.

Image Credit: Gensler