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What makes cities tick? GenslerOnCities explores the planning, design, and the potential futures of urban landscapes.

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Friday
Mar252011

Art + Design at the Airport

Gensler undertook the renovation of San Francisco International Airport Terminal 2 (SFO T2), the design team’s overriding vision was to create a terminal inspired by the Bay Area’s culture and aesthetic. We wanted to create micro-climates or neighborhoods within the terminal, and we knew that art could strengthen that idea.

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Wednesday
Mar092011

Who Will Champion Open Spaces?

Image above: a model of London at this year's MIPIM conference spurred conversation about how to find more opportunities to create open spaces in the city. One proposal is the London Riverwalk, seen on the river above.

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Tuesday
Feb152011

First Look: Houston Ballet Center for Dance

Opening April 9, 2011, Houston Ballet’s Center for Dance will create both a new gateway to downtown Houston and a visual reminder of the city’s commitment to the performing arts. Jim Furr, who hosted this weekend's Houston Ballet Annual Gala with his wife Jo, recently sat down with me to discuss Houston's vibrant arts scene and why ballet is so important in his hometown.

Why is Houston Ballet important to the city of Houston? What role do the arts play in the city’s culture?

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Monday
Feb072011

Creating a Sense of Place


Many airports lack a distinct sense of place. They fail to reflect the culture of their host cities, preventing travelers from experiencing their terminals as unique spaces. By not establishing a sense of character within their walls, these airports miss out on an opportunity to elevate passengers’ travel experience. We strove to avoid this problem in our design for the North Concourse at Mineta San Jose International Airport in San Jose, California.

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Wednesday
Feb022011

A First Look at the NYSID Graduate School

After Dr. Christopher Cyphers became president of the New York School of Interior Design (NYSID), he set out to improve the institution’s programs and physical space. One such improvement is a new Gensler-designed graduate school building that will house several new program offerings. The building is also meant to foster interactions between students and faculty and create a collaborative learning environment. Robin Klehr Avia, Vice Chairperson of Gensler and Managing Principal of the Northeast Region, talked with Dr. Cyphers about NYSID’s expectations for the project and how the Gensler design team met them.