Transforming urban buildings into clean energy plants is a bold and powerful strategy to combat the climate crisis, reduce dependence on centralized grids, and promote more resilient, sustainable cities. Since 2010, cities have been responsible for over 75% of global electricity use, a demand historically met by fossil fuels as urbanization has increased since the Industrial Revolution. By the late 19th century, hydroelectric power began gaining relevance as a renewable alternative. However, with rapid advancements in solar technology, urban buildings now have the unprecedented potential to become self-sufficient power hubs.

The hospitality industry continues to navigate a complex recovery and growth phase in 2024, marked by varying international and regional dynamics and evolving market priorities. The expected long-term surge in travel demand has been tempered by various factors, including economic uncertainties, inflation, and changing consumer behaviors.

The impact of design goes far beyond physical structures; design is a catalyst for vibrant communities and cohesive neighbourhoods. When thinking about social value and elevating the “S” in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), there are some essential elements to consider. Our mission is to create spaces that not only put a roof over people’s heads but that nurture a sense of belonging and well-being within the neighbourhood. It’s about fostering environments that naturally reduce vacancies, encourage resident retention, and organically form cohesive communities. By prioritising these principles, we not only enrich the lives of residents but also lay the foundation for sustainable and thriving developments.

As urban populations continue to grow and housing costs climb, middle-income families increasingly face being priced out of cities they call home. This pressing issue demands attention from urban planners, developers, and policymakers alike. Industry experts including Kelly Farrell of Gensler, Rosemarie Hepner of the Urban Land Institute, and Phuc Tran of Jair Lynch have been examining the crucial differences between affordable and attainable housing in today's market.

The “loneliness epidemic” may well be one of the most consequential design challenges of our time. To respond to this pervasive sense of isolation, loneliness, and a need to reconnect, we can look to some of the oldest traditions — and newest techniques — within technology and hospitality to address this issue with the urgency and empathy it deserves. By the same token, the rise in culture of interest in and experiences geared toward self-improvement and personal and collective transformation underscores the appetite for care-driven, purposeful design beyond traditional hospitality settings.

In a future where healthcare prioritizes community health outcomes while addressing financial and workforce challenges, trust and access will be essential to success. Historically, medical services have been driven outward from hospitals, often through inequitable strategies. In contrast, Gensler’s proposed ecosystem centers health and care in a radically accessible, community-led model known as the community health hub.

Over the last decade, lab automation has surged, transforming research and discovery processes. The integration of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) into lab spaces is streamlining R&D in ways that were once unimaginable. To maximize its potential, however, a holistic approach is critical. Automation in labs isn’t just about advanced tools; it’s about creating an entire ecosystem that considers workflow efficiency, spatial design, and environmental sustainability.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a new focus on well-being, not just physical, but also emotional well-being and other factors that support a multidimensional approach to health. This is especially relevant on college and university campuses, where the current cohort of students had their education disrupted by the pandemic. Whether in high school or college at the time, they were forced to isolate during a critical point in their personal and academic development.

Because a large portion of campuses are made up of office space, many of our higher education clients are wondering if they are making the best use of this real estate. In our work at Gensler, across all project types, we look to the needs of the future users of the space to inform key decisions about strategy, planning, and design. In the case of campus office space, especially now in the age of hybrid work, we are helping many campuses understand the workstyles and attendance patterns of educators and staff in order to determine the right balance of space.

Heading into 2025, it is increasingly apparent that the design of the university campus plays a critical role in meeting a university’s goals and mission during this period of economic headwinds and cultural change.

As reported in Gensler’s 2025 Design Forecast, hybrid teaching and learning, remote working, new technologies, and high operational and capital costs point to a new reality for educational institutions: Change is the new normal. At the same time, schools are contending with declining student motivation and well-being.

The workplace is evolving beyond a collection of experiences and becoming a space designed to foster intentional transformations. This is the new Transformation Economy, where the emphasis shifts from what we do to who we become. In the Transformation Economy, the focus is on motivating and inspiring individuals to create lasting change. It’s about workspaces that connect with people on an intensely personal level. High performing companies are dedicated to helping employees grow, evolve, and achieve their fullest potential — making work not just a place to earn a living, but a place to transform personally and professionally.

The office is often misunderstood as a space designed for peak productivity, but in reality, it has always been a place of compromise. The traditional office was never meant to be a finely tuned environment for specialized work; rather, it was created to accommodate the broadest range of needs with the least amount of friction.

As Amazon, JPMorgan, AT&T, and other companies across industries ask their employees to return to the office five days a week, there’s a renewed focus on workplace design.

At first glance, this would seem to solve the ongoing issue of the glut of empty office buildings in cities around the world. That’s not what’s happening.

Anxiety levels are on the rise in major cities. Our 2024 City Pulse Survey identified that while their cities supported individual well-being, anxiety levels rose in Austin, London, Mexico City, and New York, ranging from 9-34% increase as compared to 2021 data. This aligns with the Surgeon General’s latest warnings that, following the pandemic-induced isolation, loneliness has led to a greater decrease in health outcomes than smoking.

How should the U.K.’s government be addressing the housing crisis and the current backlog of 4.3 million homes? Unsurprisingly, the housing crisis was the top of the agenda in the government’s first days in office with a number of announcements aimed at solving this challenge. It was exciting to see the government recognize that reform of the planning system is now critical.