Introduction and Background

• Tabitha Bria introduces Andy Cohen, co-chair of Gensler (largest architecture firm in US)
• Cohen: 43 years at Gensler, co-CEO with Diane Hoskins for 19 years, became co-chairs January 2023
• Published book "Designed for a Radically Changing World" about reclaiming shared human experience through places
• Interview conducted at Google's St. John's Terminal office in NYC (designed by Gensler)

Google St. John's Terminal Project

• Gensler designed Google's newest NYC office at St. John's Terminal
• Post-COVID design philosophy: "make office destination not obligation"
• Features collaboration spaces, multiple work choices for employees
• Collaboration during COVID fell 37%, office designed to encourage return to in-person work
• Specific mention of "koala room" on 12th floor with orange/pink/purple ombré design

Co-Leadership Model and Company Culture

• Gensler operates with co-leadership model throughout organization
• Philosophy: "everyone has aces and spaces" - pairing people with different strengths
• "1 plus 1 equals 5" collaboration principle
• Trust and respect enable efficient decision-making, constant deference to expertise
• "One firm firm" policy - seamless global organization vs traditional architectural firms led by 1-2 people
• 55 offices, 6,500 people, worked in 100+ countries last year
• Most practice areas led by man-woman partnerships

Diversity and Innovation

• Gensler: 54% women, 50% of board of directors women
• Industry standard: 76% men, 24% women (same as software engineering)
• "Diversity fuels creativity" - different backgrounds, cultures, languages drive innovation
• Global collaboration: designers from Shanghai, LA, New York, London working together
• Innovation happens "where edges come together"

Climate Change and Sustainability

• Climate change: "moral and business imperative of our lifetimes"
• Buildings produce 40% of all carbon emissions (not automobiles/industry as commonly thought)
• Gensler Climate Challenge: all buildings/interiors carbon neutral by 2030
• Spoke at COP28 in Dubai about materials and embodied carbon
• Concrete and steel each produce 10% of CO2 in built environment
• Working with manufacturers to develop new low-carbon materials
• Gensler Product Standards: specifying green products for all projects
• Examples:
  • NVIDIA headquarters: net zero, naturally lit, AI-designed ceilings
  • San Francisco Airport: first net zero carbon, net zero waste airport globally

Project Scale and Variety

• Work ranges from wine labels to Shanghai Tower (second tallest building globally)
• Shanghai Tower: vertical city, 25,000 people daily, mixed-use (residential/hotels/office)
• 8,000 projects annually across multiple scales
• Breadth enables global influence and impact

Personal Philosophy and Longevity

• Found passion for design early, father encouraged despite family cheese store business
• Father's advice: "follow your passion, you'll always love what you do"
• Moved from NYC to California after father's death, joined startup Gensler
• Never has bad days, constantly energized by opportunity to make difference
• 30% of staff are new hires, 70% long-term employees (10-40+ years)
• "Constellation of stars" not single star approach

Healthcare Design Innovation

• Focus on patient experience, not just technical requirements
• "Experience multiplier" approach to patient care
• Distributed healthcare trend: closer to communities, telemedicine, "doc in the box"
• Holistic health approach in all building types
• Google office example: extra air changes, biophilia with plants, natural light
• Health and wellness integrated into airports, retail, hotels

Design Impact and Methodology

• Critical design thinking creates design impact
• Process: question status quo, define problems in new ways, imagine paradigm changes
• Design thinking as catalyst for positive change
• Focus on human experience impact

Future-Focused Design

• Design for flexibility due to accelerating change
• Developed algorithm for office-to-residential conversion
• Analyzing office building portfolios for adaptive reuse
• Technology constantly changing in sports stadiums, airports
• Flexible, adaptable design essential for future transformation

Post-COVID Trends and Surprises

• Massive increase in lifestyle/experiential projects: retail, hospitality, hotels, sports
• People want visceral experiences after isolation
• Workplace transformation: destination not obligation, choice-based design
• AI integration in design process (NVIDIA headquarters example)
• Rapid technology conversion impacting practice

Global Perspectives and Future Opportunities

• Copenhagen as model city: walkable, people-focused, not car-centric
• Driverless cars will revolutionize cities in 5-10 years
• Elimination of parking spaces, reclaiming sidewalks/parks for people
• Africa as next frontier: 100+ countries worked in last year
• Climate change impacts Africa most severely
• Sustainability practices can make huge difference globally