gensler – DesignApplause

luminaire chicago introduces: atelier during neocon 2019.

Jun 11, 2019

join luminaire for an exhibition of fantoni‘s newest collection — atelier. designed in collaboration with gensler, the adaptive furniture solution empowers creative, yet practical work environments.

originally designed for the firm’s london office, the system’s mobility and industrial character reflect the attitude of organizations that define themselves in terms of constant change.

during the opening reception, gensler’s design team will guide guests through the system’s elements and discuss the development and nuances of the adaptive system. rsvp

tuesday, june 11, 2019
6:00 – 8:30 pm
7:00 pm — gensler design team discussion

born in the middle: the midwest’s contribution to original design.

May 2, 2019

from eames to saarinen, the midwest has played an integral role in the history of design. this spring, our members blu dot, loll designs, hennepin made, and gensler will explore how the midwest’s design heritage and industrial innovation keeps them at the center of authentic design creation.

panelists:
john christakos, ceo and co-founder, blu dot
bill baxley, managing director, gensler
jackson schwartz, co-founder, hennepin made
greg benson, ceo, loll designs

moderator:
kaitlin petersen, editor in chief, business of home

be original americas unveils 2019 agenda.

Mar 12, 2019

highlighting achievements in educational programming, growth in support, and 2019 initiatives

new york, ny – the non-profit organization, be original americas, is making great strides aimed at educating the design industry and consumers on the importance of original design. founded in 2012, the organization works to inform, influence, and educated on the value of authentic design while investing in its future.

[ increase in architecture & design members ]
be original americas’ support and influence has continued to grow with the addition of several new architecture and design firms joining the organization. tpg architecture, blatz architecture, rottet studio, bromley caldari, and gabellini sheppard join gensler, studio o+a, and michael graves architecture who pioneered the membership category last year. their stance on original design is critical in educating the end user and corporate companies on why originality is important and valuable in their projects.

[ continuing education unit (ceu) ]
working to make a difference in the industry, be original americas is developing two new ceu courses. the first course examines the materiality, innovation, and creativity that go into creating an original product. the course is currently available to members to present and is approved by aia and idcec, for architects and interior designers.

coming in q3 2019, the second course will delve into social, environmental, and ethical impacts of counterfeits. the courses have been developed in collaboration with peter carey and josina reeves of streamline creative.

[ student design fellowship ]
investing in the future of design is deeply rooted in be original americas mission. the organization is launching the fourth annual be original americas student design fellowship. the immersive, five-week program introduces two undergraduate students to all facets of creating innovative, high-quality products through hands-on, in-the-field learning. applications are currently open until march 21, 2019 through be original americas fellowship

the program will run june 17-july 22, 2019, during which the fellows will visit member companies throughout the united states.

[ 2019 events]
each year be original americas organizes an aggressive program of panel discussions, in addition to ceu events.

on march 27th be original americas, in partnership with louis poulsen and vitra, will be hosting an interactive event in los angeles with design-milk, clever, and several surprise guests. the event will be a first-time live podcast recording with five thought-provoking individuals.

from eames to saarinen, the midwest has played an integral role in the history of design. on may 2nd in minneapolis, our members blu dot, loll designs, and hennepin made will explore how the midwest’s design heritage and industrial innovation keeps them at the center of authentic design creation.

during nycxdesign, be original americas is organizing a panel discussion on may 18th at wanteddesign. more details to come. the organization will host an interactive booth (#1163) at icff, an industry tradeshow that draws over 38,000 attendees. the booth is being designed by member jon sherman, flavor paper and will provide an opportunity to donate in support the 2019 fellowship.

additional events in chicago, san francisco, and more are being planned for the second half of the year.

[ board, officers, and committees ]
2019 officers of be original americas include:
• president: john edelman, design within reach
• vice president: coleman gutshall, bernhardt design
• treasurer: tbd
• secretary: anthony lebron, cappellini

in addition, be original americas is pleased to announce the continued support of gensler and rich brilliant willing as board members for 2019.
since its conception, be original americas has;
• grown to 800 members, supporters, and followers.
• launched an annual student design fellowship in 2016.
• assisted the united states customs & border protection in the seizure of tens of millions of us dollars in counterfeit furnishings.
• developed aia and idcec approved ceu courses and presented it to over 800 interior designers and architects.
• organized over 50 events in 19 cities throughout canada, the united states, and mexico addressing more than 4,300 designers, architects and consumers.
• attained 25 north american, both print and digital, media sponsors.
• recognized as one of 2015’s ‘top 10 most innovative companies in design’ by fast company.

[ about be original americas ]
be original americas is a nonprofit organization that is committed to initiating discussion on the importance and value of preserving original design across the americas, through informational, educational and influential marketing initiatives and other efforts to promote this critical issue.

be original americas charter members – including alessi, bernhardt design, design within reach, emeco, flos, fritz hansen, herman miller, kartell, ligne roset, poltrona frau group and vitra, and board members, gensler and rich brilliant willing – believe that the value of authenticity cannot be underestimated or taken for granted in the marketplace. through an aggressive program of panel discussions and ceu courses, the movement campaigns to establish a set of industry standards that encourages public and professionals, along with our media partners, to fully support creativity and authenticity, to invest in the future of design, to incentivize innovation, and to give back to the industry and the people it serves.

[ for more info ]
be original americas
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twitter
instagram

[ media contacts ]
alyssa young, bde alyssa@bdeonline.biz 212.353.1383
beth dickstein, bde beth@bdeonline.biz 212.353.1383

the shortlist announced for ohare international airport renovation.

Nov 15, 2018

above > the foster epstein moreno jv proposal

the city of chicago recently announced a $8.5 billion renovation of o’hare international airport including a new terminal that will be the centerpiece of the largest expansion in o’hare’s history.

to jump-start this vision, twelve global architectural firms were asked to submit proposals including danish architect bjarke ingels, studio fuksas of italy, chicago firms, gensler, hok, perkins + will, and chicago architect helmut jahn, who designed the stunning terminal 1 which opened in 1986.

a shortlist of five firms are highlighted below. two design contracts will be awarded: the winning team will design the global terminal and concourse. the second-place finisher is expected to design the satellite concourses. the eight-year project, made possible by the end of a 35-year lease with the airlines, would be paid for with future airline fees, and therefore would not require taxpayer dollars.

[ design objectives ]
> expand terminal and gate space
> replace aged infrastructure with state-of-the art systems
> introduce new technology and security innovations
> integrate domestic and international to create a seamless passenger experience
> enhance the passenger experience
> incorporate sustainability and enhanced accessibility features
> reflect the legacy of chicago’s innovation, architecture, and it’s diversity

[ scope of work ]
> increasing the airport’s overall footprint from 5.5 to 8.9 million sq ft.
> tearing down 55-year-old terminal 2 and creating a new global terminal
> adding 25% gate capacity at existing gates to accommodate larger aircraft
> increasing gate count from 185 to 235
> adding two new remote satellite concourses
> adding a tunnel to a new parking facility foreshadowing a future new terminal
> renovating terminals 1,3, and 5

while affirming the 14 project design objectives and scope of work expectations DesignApplause considers the heart of this project is replacing a 55-year-old terminal with a cutting-edge architectural solution that’s categorically a part of every world’s-best discussion.

[ uniquely different ] two concepts stand out: studio ord features ample neighborhoods and greenspace not seen elsewhere in terminals. foster epstein moreno jv boasts a world-first column-less concept under an extraordinary shell with a span of 550 feet.

[ wow factor ] one concept dominates: foster epstein moreno jv a space that pushes the limits of technology and truly lifts the spirits.

[ pro vs con ] what stands out…only one concept with zero con: foster epstein moreno jv.

[ shortlisted firms ]

above > the fentress-exp-brook-garza joint venture’s globally-minded terminal design for chicago provides an elegant, spacious, and sustainable gateway to connect chicagoans and the world with speed and efficiency. soaring spaces sparkle with sunlight and lift the human spirit. daylight and spatial composition guide passengers intuitively and purposefully. the latest technological advances shape a smart, seamless, comfortable, and unencumbered experience. from arrival to departure, every element of the new terminal is crafted to elevate the passenger, making their journey inspiring, engaging, stirring, and fun. our vision is to return the romance of air travel to all who pass through chicago’s o’hare.

above > foster epstein moreno jv / a joint venture led by foster + partners and chicago-based firms epstein and moreno. our design is based upon a sequence of memorable and distinctive spaces that create a gateway to chicago with architecture that is open, transparent, inclusive, welcoming and functional, in turn resolving the sophisticated security, airport and airline requirements in a way that meets the needs of both employees and passengers. three arches frame the landside of the building, merging into a grand single arch on the airside, thus dissolving the barrier between inside and out and allowing the spectacle of the airfield to be visible to all who pass through the gateway, and recapturing the romance associated with air travel.

above > studio ord / chicago is a city defined by motion; confluence – of our river, of trail networks, of railroads – has shaped our most vibrant civic spaces. studio ord’s elegant and efficient design for the o’hare global terminal and global concourse unifies the airport’s campus by converging seamless lines of motion across three terminals around a spectacular central oculus. this confluence becomes orchard field – a vibrant neighborhood that combines abundant green spaces with distinctive landmarks, bespoke retail pavilions, and diverse activity zones. richly layered and easily navigable, it captures the unique character of chicago and redefines o’hare as a 21st century international destination.

above > som / we have delivered global excellence in this great city, shaping chicago’s skyline, neighborhoods and public realm for more than 80 years. it’s said that our chicago buildings turn “pragmatism into poetry.”

our elegantly undulating o’hare global terminal aims to be the world’s best, through optimal functional planning, great design, and keen practicality – all quintessential chicago qualities.

we infuse the muscular heritage of chicago architecture and engineering with many lessons from the natural environment, to increase human comfort, save energy and define a distinctive sense of place. this can be chicago’s next great building and our new gateway to the world.

above > santiago calatrava, llc / o’hare’s global terminal by santiago calatrava is a masterwork of modern terminal architecture. with a glass façade and dramatic shell-like roof soaring over the approach road, the building unifies the terminal complex while establishing itself as its centerpiece.

inside, vaulted, light-filled spaces celebrate both the grandeur and simplicity of bygone travel as customers move easily to and from gate areas enlivened by chicago-focused concessions in an airy, park-like setting.

convenient links to adjacent terminals, satellite concourses, and public transit support a future vision plan that transforms the area opposite the terminal into a vibrant hotel, retail and business complex.

somewhat unusual is the jury is not being disclosed, not even to the architects. please stay tuned.

The clark institute expands via tadao ando, selfdorf architects and reed hilderbrand.

Jul 4, 2014

above> visitor center and reflecting pool | image courtesy of tadao ando architect & associates

Fourth of July marked the opening of the much expanded and renovated Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, in western Massachusetts. Originally opened in the Berkshire mountains by Sterling Clark, who feared nuclear attack on New York City would destroy art there, it is officially the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, now rebranded and newly logoed as The Clark.

After 12 years, the museum has completed a $145 million expansion. There are new buildings, including an entrance by Pritzker prize winner Tadao Ando along with a vast water feature and a pavilion by Annabelle Selldorf, who directed the interior renovation of the original 1955 Beaux Arts building and the 1970s addition, now renamed the Manton Research Center by Pietro Belluschi with Architects Collaborative. The vast site, with hills and trails, was designed by Reed Hilderbrand landscape architect and Madeline Burke-Vigeland of Gensler was the supervising architect for the whole project.

visitor center and reflecting pool | image courtesy of tadao ando architect & associates

Ando had already designed a building for the Clark, the Lunder Center at Stone Hill at the edge of its 140 acre site, six years ago. The freestanding research and conservation building with galleries shows off Ando’s brand of zen modernism. It layed off the imprint of plank like wooden forms in the concrete against actual wooden walls opposite them. The new building is more formal and elegant, steel, glass, concrete and granite. Ando is an unabashed devotee of Le Corbusier and the new building even shows the same sorts of dimples left in the concrete from the construction forms that Corbu did.

Here the concrete is joined by a red granite, to pick up on the Seventies building. That stone along with the long walls and reflecting pool suggests another modernist master—Mies and the Barcelona Pavilion with its green marble.

stone hill center | 2008 ©jeff goldberg/esto

One wonders what the long winter of Western Massachusetts will do to the pool, lined with rounded stones that perhaps suggest the shallows of the Hoosic River, power source for the disused nineteenth century factories in the area. One has been converted into MASS MOCA, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, a few miles away.
1,6> images courtesy of the clark institute
2-5> images ©jeff goldberg/esto
[ the clark ] { selldorf architects ] [ reed hilderbrand ]

about phil patton

Apple's mother ship. Steve jobs and mystic shapes.

Jun 17, 2011

“It’s s a little like a spaceship landed,” said Steve Jobs, introducing sketches of his planned new wheel shaped Apple headquarters to the city council of Cupertino, California.

The huge four story mother ship, to be designed by Norman Foster, will ” about 12,000 people and may be open as soon as 2015.

It embodies both the best and worst of Apple culture and, if you will, the Apple cult.

Its environmental credentials seem unimpeachable. The design replaces the scattered buildings on the site formerly occupied by Hewlett Packard and replaces them with below ground parking and a central garden court with plantings. Pavement and building signature is reduced by thirty per cent. Some 6,000 trees are planned for the site. There are already several hundred apricot trees, recalling the earlier use of much of the land in the area for plum, apricot and other fruit orchards.

Spaceship or donut, the shape also recalls a castle. It is self contained, for one thing, able to stand a siege. Jobs said the building will generate its own clean energy with nature gas and use the wider power grid only as backup.

Like so many Apple products, its shape does not allow for expansion or accessorizing. Jobs’ ring is as grandiose as Wagner’s Ring, as fantastic as Tolkien’s. It recalls the torus shaped space station of Wernher Von Braun and Chesley Bonestell’s visions for Disney circa 1955, as reproduced in 2001 A Space Odyssey, slowly rotating to the accompaniment of classical music. It is also a symbol of the bonding offered by the Apple culture: you are either inside the ring or outside, you enjoy bonding with the Apple or you regard it as a bit of a cult.

The Apple ring also resembles the “spy donut” of the Government Communications Headquarters in Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, housing the British organization roughly equivalent to the U.S. National Security Agency. That structure, designed by Gensler, has internal courtyards and one way glass.

The record of circular buildings is not good. They tend to be disorienting, difficult places to find your way around in. Consider the Hirshhorn Museum on the National Mall in Washington or all of those John Portman hotels and towers or circular airport terminals where you wander searching for gate 17.

Symbolically, the ring reflects everything that is good and bad about Apple: the boldness and elegance of design on one hand, the limits to functionality and interaction on the other.

Jobs feels he knows already that “there won’t be a straight piece of glass in it” without learning whether that esthetic effect makes practical sense.

Conway’s Law holds that all organizations, especially those that create programs, turn out products that are models of their organizational structure. Apple’s happy feudalist ring contrasts with Microsoft’s giant state university like “campus,” sprawling but semi-permeable. ”

The two old light bulb jokes reflect the extremes of the two cultures: How many Microsofters does it take to change a light bulb? “None. They just declare darkness an industry standard.” For the Apple joke the answer is: ”One, to hold the bulb: the world turns around Apple.” The ring building is a structure that arrays the world around Apple.

The building echoes the ideas behind the product designs. The elegant simplicity of the best of Apple design long predates today’s regime. It was there in the frogdesign years and years when Bob Brunner was running Apple design. The very first Macintosh, remember, was a refreshingly simple single box at a time where personal computers were made of pieces wired together—keyboard, monitor, CPU, disc drive, printer and so on. But often too functionality is sacrificed to style: the lovely thin Air computers are limited in power and memory, the I Pad lacks a USB port, the iphone won’t deal with Flash and so on. [ there’s more ]

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