SHAPING THE FUTURE OF CITIES
Every research project at Gensler has a common goal: to uncover insights that help us shape the future of our cities and build a great experience for the people who live in them every day. This work is particularly poignant in today’s changing world. With a global population shift toward cities, issues such as urbanization, climate change, mobility, connected city technology, housing, and homelessness represent growing challenges. Many of our clients recognize the change and they see an uncertain future because of it. At Gensler, we believe it’s our responsibility to take on tough challenges and make a positive difference in our cities and communities. We’re also uniquely positioned to do just that. We have a breadth of expertise as a global collaborative of 6,000 architects and designers in over 50 cities around the world that is second to none. We also do the research. Since we published the last volume of this Catalogue, our research program has grown exponentially in both breadth and scale, including becoming a formal Research Institute in 2018. Our research spans more countries and disciplines than ever before. We’re integrating traditional research methods with cutting-edge technologies that establish new connections between
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people and place, giving us unprecedented access to behavioral and realtime data. But Gensler’s culture of curiosity is, and always has been, the true momentum behind what we do. We ask first what people need, and then how design can positively manifest change. It is by leveraging our research, our people, the scale of our expertise, and the power of our innovation platform that we will make a positive difference in the world and help our clients navigate an uncertain future. The 54 projects documented in this catalogue each explore an aspect of our cities and environments. Building on the first two volumes of the Gensler Research Catalogue, each entry is organized around a simple framework that outlines the methods, context, results, and next steps of each project. As these projects demonstrate, we are unwavering in our commitment to use design and research to take on the toughest challenges facing cities; to connect people and build community; and to design an inclusive, purposeful, and impactful future for all.
Diane Hoskins, FAIA, IIDA Co-CEO
Andy Cohen, FAIA, IIDA Co-CEO
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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SHAPING THE FUTURE OF CITIES
THE GENSLER CITY DESIGN INDEX
HOMELESSNESS
10 The Gensler City Design Index
12 Design Solutions for Homelessness
TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE
DESIGNING FOR RESILIENCE
URBAN ECOLOGY
56 60 66
70 74 78
ENHANCING URBAN MOBILITY
CARS AND PARKING
Impact by Design A Path Toward Net Zero Energy Buildings Designing Dynamic Facades to Conserve Energy
Urban Strategies for Coastal Resilience Preserving Urban Ecosystems Underground Retail and Rooftop Farming
94 Forecasting Design Shifts Under Future Vehicle Technologies 100 Projecting Future Parking Demands of Autonomous Vehicles
106 Investigating Parking in the Age of Automation
SHIFTING THE WORKPLACE NARRATIVE
THE GLOBAL WORKPLACE SURVEYS
WELLNESS IN THE WORKPLACE
122 128 132 136
138 Emotional Security in the Workplace 140 Prioritizing Psychological Well-Being
CREATING A RICH URBAN EXPERIENCE
THE EXPERIENCE INDEX
TRAVEL AND LEISURE
180 184 188
194 Exploring Multigenerational Travel 198 The Impact of AirBnb on Hospitality
BUILDING INTELLIGENT CITIES
SENSED ENVIRONMENTS
MACHINE LEARNING
234 Designing Intelligent Retail Places 238 Spatializing Our Data 240 IoT Technology in the Workplace
2 44 The Value Opportunities of Machine Learning Design Strategies
U.S. Workplace Survey 2019 Germany Workplace Survey 2019 Latin America Workplace Survey 2017 History of the Global Workplace Surveys
Retail Experience Index 2018 Museums Experience Index 2019 Hospitality Experience Index 2018
HOUSING
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
18 A New Model for Intergenerational Living 22 Designing Intergenerational Communities 26 Hong Kong's Next Generation of Senior Living 28 Converting Office Buildings for Residential Use
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42 46 52
Achieving Inclusivity in the Design Process Designing Gender Inclusive Restrooms
Local Development in Sub-Saharan Africa Investigating Downtown Neighborhood Resurgence A Framework for Holistic Urban Planning
RESILIENCE IN THE WORKPLACE
82 The Effects of Living Walls 88 Implementing the Circular Economy
AIR AND RAIL
110 Understanding Airports through Social Data 116 Japan’s Railway Retail Hubs
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
SPACES FOR SCIENCE
EVOLVING THE DESIGN PROCESS
146 152 154
156 158
164 Narrative-Driven Design 166 Rapid Workplace Redesign 170 Building Repositioning Strategies 174 Future-Proofing Design Strategies
Balancing Density and Employee Engagement Work Styles and Spatial Preference The Value of Customer Experience Centers
Designing Effective Research Buildings Adaptable Life Science Lab Design
ENHANCED EDUCATION
COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS
OPTIMIZING HEALTH CARE
2 02 A Toolkit for Active Learning Environments 208 A Comparative Analysis of Enhanced Classrooms
212 216
2 20 A Model for Integrated Ambulatory Care Clinics 224 Enhancing the Waiting Room Experience 228 Optimizing Exam Room Design
A New Model for the Public Library The Future of USPS Real Estate
CONNECTED REAL ESTATE
APPENDIX
2 48 Real Estate and the Intelligence Economy
255 History of the Gensler Research Institute 256 About Gensler 258 Bibliography 268 Index 272 Acknowledgments
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EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
HOUSING
HOMELESSNESS
THE GENSLER CITY DESIGN INDEX
RESILIENCE IN THE WORKPLACE
URBAN ECOLOGY
DESIGNING FOR RESILIENCE AIR AND RAIL
CARS AND PARKING
How is design making a positive impact on the human experiencee in our cities and communities?
TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE How can design adequately address the challenge of climate change through innovation in the built environment?
ENHANCING URBAN MOBILITY As transport options proliferate in cities around the world, are cities delivering on their citizen's need for mobility?
EVOLVING THE DESIGN PROCESS
SPACES FOR SCIENCE
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
WELLNESS IN THE WORKPLACE
GLOBAL WORKPLACE SURVEYS
OPTIMIZING HEALTHCARE
COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS
ENHANCED EDUCATION
TRAVEL AND LEISURE
THE EXPERIENCE INDEX CONNECTED REAL ESTATE
MACHINE LEARNING
SENSED ENVIRONMENTS
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SHAPING THE FUTURE OF CITIES
How must the modern workplace adapt and evolve to meet the needs of today's global workforce?
CREATING A RICH URBAN EXPERIENCE Are the myriad spaces in which we spend our daily lives designed to elevate the human experience?
BUILDING INTELLIGENT CITIES How are our cities deploying technology in service of the human experience?
SHIFTING THE WORKPLACE NARRATIVE
The Gensler City Design Index How does the design and form of our cities impact the human experience?
WHAT WE’RE DOING
We are exploring the impact of city design on the human experience by integrating original research and feedback from the residents of cities around the world with data gathered about the design and physical form of cities, as well as cities’ performance on a variety of socioeconomic factors. Our goal is to understand how our cities are working directly from the perspective of the people who live, work, and play in them every day—and to create new insights that bring the voice of the people to shift conversations about what really makes cities thrive and grow. The study is structured to understand the city through the lens of people’s daily behaviors in cities, and the places they spend their time in—where they live, work, learn, connect, stay healthy, and move throughout the city. This “people” data—50,000 survey responses gathered across 50 cities—will then be integrated with data gathered on the aspects of city place and performance to create a full picture of the urban experience. THE CONTEXT
Cities today account for only 3% of the world’s landmass, but generate over 80% of global GDP and use 70% of the world’s energy. And as the world’s population continues to flock to cities—well over half of the global population already lives in urban
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areas, with a projected 70% living in cities by 2030—it’s clear these trends are poised to continue. Cities around the world are major drivers of innovation and opportunity for both individuals and businesses; but they also come with unique challenges. The challenges faced include providing affordable housing, reducing homelessness, and improving the quality of life around the globe—all while addressing the pressing issues of climate change. Our research will help us capture deeper data and insight to understand how our cities really work, and uncover unique opportunities for design to optimize the human experience and help build a better world. WHAT’S NEXT
The Gensler City Design Index is the most ambitious, integrated research project the Gensler Research Institute has ever undertaken. By integrating original survey data with place and performance data captured from a variety of datasets, we hope to uncover insights connecting the physical and spatial characteristics of place directly with how people experience space, and its impact on their overall health, happiness, and success. These insights will in turn inform the future of Gensler’s work across myriad project types and scales as we partner with our clients and communities to build the cities of the future.
Shaping the Future of Cities | The Gensler City Design Index
LAND USE DENSITY
CLIMATE
DESIGN TYPOLOGIES
INFRASTRUCTURE
P L AC E ECT NN CO
WORK
PEOPLE
LEA R N
P
MO VE
HUMAN EXPERIENCE INDICATORS LI
ER
VE
BE
W
FORMA
EL
L
E C N
REAL ESTATE PERFORMANCE
TALENT ATTRACTION
RESILIENCE
GDP PUBLIC HEALTH
PEOPLE
PLACE
PERFORMANCE
Data capturing the human experience directly from the behaviors, perceptions, and day-to-day experiences of the people who live in each city.
Measuring the aspects of physical place in all dimensions—from land use and zoning, to the age and height of buildings, to the form and quantity of open spaces.
Variables measuring a city’s performance from a social, economic, and public health standpoint—quantifying aspects of business performance and human well-being. 11
DESIGN IMPLICATIONS
Floor plates are square and conversion is relatively easy depending on plan depth and window line.
Triangular floor plates result from the city’s infrastructure, or street layout and boundaries. The configuration is receptive to conversion.
This category of office building often has a lease depth greater than 40 feet. This dimension exceeds residential planning depths, which limits conversion opportunities. However, light slabs are receptive to conversion while heavy slabs may be resistant.
The blinder typology has floor plates that are impacted with limited or no openings on side walls. Residential conversion may be logistically complex and financially unsound.
Depending on the floor plate size and shape this typology may be highly desirable for conversion. Stair and elevator locations can be a limiting factor. 30
Shaping the Future of Cities | Converting Office Buildings for Residential Use
The Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice New York, New York
The renovation of the Foundation’s Manhattan headquarters embraces the dignity of all people. The atrium features a brick pathway that increases wheelchair access by 50% and opens circulation. A touch-and-smell garden takes center stage, including features for the visually impaired and braille signage totems. 37
Latin America Workplace Survey 2017 CDMX
How well is the Latin American workplace supporting the region’s knowledge workers, and what are the opportunities to improve? CITIES SURVEYED
San José Medellín
México City, México
Lima, Perú
San José, Costa Rica
Santiago, Chile
Medellín and Bogotá, Colombia
Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil
Bogotá
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Lima
Rio de Janeiro São Paulo
WHAT WE DID
We surveyed an anonymous, panelbased sample of over 4,000 office workers across nine major cities in Latin America. As with Gensler’s other Workplace Surveys, we gathered responses using our proprietary Workplace Performance Index® SM (WPI ) survey tool. Our goal is to further develop our understanding of how and where people are working, and how well their spaces support that work. We use this information to understand the differences (and similarities) between Latin American workers and others around the world; and to identify targeted strategies to improve workplace design and maximize employee and business performance in the region. 132
Santiago
Shifting the Workplace Narrative | Latin America Workplace Survey 2017
Buenos Aires
“People felt better about work when invited to participate in the design of their work environment, and unfairly excluded from decisionmaking processes when not given a voice.” –Jeremy Myerson, Chair of Design, Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, RCA E X P LO R E T H E C O N T E X T
E X P LO R E T H E C O N T E X T
E X P LO R E T H E C O N T E X T
Q1
Is there a common identity to the group? e.g. demographics, place of origin, education level
Q1
Does the organization care about and support work life balance? If so, how?
Q1
How does the organization invest in staff?
Q2
What do you think the purpose of the organization/ business is?
Q2
How stressful is the working environment/culture? Do people work long hours?
Q2
Do employees feel valued?
Q3
Do employees have meaningful relationships? Do they socialize at work?
Q3
Do people work away from the office? Why?
BELONGING BELONGING UNDERSTAND THE EMOTION Q1
What makes you feel connected to something/ someone? Why?
Q2
Where do you feel a sense of belonging? (place)
SERENITY SERENITY Q1
What makes you feel safe/peaceful?
Q2
When/why would you need serenity?
Q3
Is this about being alone or being with other
THE STATE OF BEING PEACEFULpeople? OR TRANQUIL; MARKED BY OR SUGGESTIVE OF UTTER CALM OR QUIETUDE.
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING TOOLKIT
PSYCHOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGICALWELLBEING WELLBEINGTOOLKIT TOOLKIT
GENSLER
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING TOOLKIT
GENSLER
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING TOOLKIT
E X P LO R E T H E C O N T E X T Q1
Does the organization involve employees in making decisions around how it is run? In what capacity?
Q3
Is there good communication between people in the organisation? If so, what methods/tools do they use?
INFLUENCE INFLUENCE Think of an example of when you have been able to affect change. How did it make you feel?
Q2
If you could change/control your environment, would you? How often? Why/When?
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING TOOLKIT
Q1
Where and when have you felt Awe?
Q2
Can you describe this word/feeling?
Q3
What does it trigger in you?
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING TOOLKIT
GENSLER
GENSLER
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING TOOLKIT
GENSLER
Q1
How does the organization inspire its employees?
Q2
How does the organization encourage personal growth?
Q3
What is the age group and education level of the end users?
Q4
Is the wider community/ city engaging? Are things ‘happening’ around?
UNDERSTAND THE EMOTION
A COMBINATION OF FEAR, RESPECT AND WONDER, OFTEN INSPIRED BY THE SUBLIME.
GENSLER
How could Recognition be represented?
STIMULATION STIMULATION
UNDERSTAND THE EMOTION
THE CAPACITY OR POWER OF PERSONS OR Q3 How wouldON you like to be able to change/control THINGS TO BE A COMPELLING FORCE your environment? OR PRODUCE EFFECTS ON THE ACTIONS, BEHAVIOR, OPINIONS, ETC., OF OTHERS PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING TOOLKIT
How expressive is the organization/business? Does it invite and thrive on the ‘wow’ factor?
AWE AWE
UNDERSTAND THE EMOTION Q1
How do people define the relationship between their activity and environment? (A high stress environment may need to tread carefully. A sedentary task/environment may benefit from a dose of Awe.)
Q3
Can you recall when you felt a sense of recognition? Was it about you as an individual?
Q2
E X P LO R E T H E C O N T E X T
Are the end users encouraged to be experimental and creative in their day to do day work, even if it means failure?
Q2
Q1
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING TOOLKIT
GENSLER
Q1 Q2
UNDERSTAND THE EMOTION
BEING ACKNOWLEDGED; SPECIAL NOTICE Q3 How would you like to be acknowledged? OR ATTENTION (THROUGH SOME TOKEN OF APPRECIATION).
GENSLER
E X P LO R E T H E C O N T E X T Are employees empowered to make decisions on a daily basis?
RECOGNITION RECOGNITION
UNDERSTAND THE EMOTION
TO FEEL CONNECTED TO OR Q3PART How OF do you feel a sense of belonging? (culture) How SOMETHING; TO HAVE A CLOSE ORdo you make yourself ‘at home’ somewhere? INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP.
Q1
What gets you excited at work? What do you feel enthusiastic about?
Q2
What would encourage you to become active?
THE ACT OF BEING EXCITED TO ACTIVITY OR GROWTH; ENCOURAGEMENT OF SOMETHING SO THAT IT DEVELOPS OR BECOMES ANIMATED. GENSLER
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING TOOLKIT
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING TOOLKIT
GENSLER
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING TOOLKIT
GENSLER
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Six emotional state cards These cards define each emotional state of wellbeing and provide reflective prompts to engage workshop participants.
THE RESULTS
We completed six 90-minute workshops in San Francisco and London with designers and non-designers. The workshops combined a variety of different activities and prompts. Each session began by introducing the project and identifying the design problem. We then defined psychological well-being and discussed its design-related contexts. For reference, we provided six cards (shown at left) that outlined the key emotional states of psychological well-being in the workplace. After participants identified the emotional states that were most important to address in their projects, they completed a series of worksheets and engaged with multisensory prompts to create a moodboard. Both the worksheets and the visual, audio, and tactile prompts challenged participants to think more deeply about how to manifest the emotional states in the workplace design. Participants then broke into small groups to present their moodboard, discuss their experiences, and generate and evaluate ideas. It was necessary to have a tangible outcome to the workshop, so we created the emotional brief. The emotional brief developed organically from the completed worksheets and contains potential solutions to the design problem identified at the start of the workshop. It should stand alongside, or be integrated into, the design brief, and can be referenced and/or revised throughout the design process as needs evolve.
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Shifting the Workplace Narrative | Prioritizing Psychological Well-being
Kimpton Aertson Hotel Nashville, Tennessee
As the interior designer for the 180-key boutique hotel, Gensler created an atmosphere that spoke to Kimpton’s mission to help guests feel as if they were in a comfortable and stylish home, rather than a generic hotel. A focus on a carefully curated mix of textures, materials, and space conveys the rustic and eclectic charm of Nashville. The hotel incorporates a natural palette, and seemingly handmade elements, that offer visitors an authentic experience. 193
The Future of USPS Real Estate How can we reimagine USPS’s mission of connecting people to evolve with an aging real estate paradigm?
WHAT WE DID
We evaluated shifting value propositions for physical post offices in the U.S., and what that means for our communities as well as for the real estate portfolio of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). We connected with external experts to advise our research process, and conducted primary and secondary research into the history and current state of the post office. We documented how the post office has historically served as a catalyst for enterprise, industry, and communication. We analyzed how the post office has created or amplified a sense of identity and place in America— and for the communities it represents.
12 years. Over that period, the rise of e-commerce has precipitated the transition of USPS from a mail-dominated to a packageand parcel-dominated business. Although this has increased gross revenues, because of the outsize cost of package and parcel shipping and handling, it has decreased overall profits.
Pressure to change comes from all angles. Amazon and FedEx have dampened revenue streams by using similar, if not the same, logistical networks as USPS to carry out consumer deliveries. These major competitors are testing autonomous deliveries and other means of streamlining logistical patterns. Additionally, technology Ultimately, we understood USPS as a has replaced traditional mail with emails and series of systems and assets; we used this text messages. These shifting communication understanding to establish a framework for community and site selection parameters. patterns have forced the USPS to restructure its logistical network—commissioning Now, as the USPS considers how best to new delivery modes to reach 100% of all use its existing real estate, it can ensure U.S. addresses. that its future real estate strategy keeps with the USPS mission of bringing USPS has adjusted to this new paradigm communities together. by reducing the number of total offices and routes as well as investing in its THE CONTEXT fleet—greatly expanding the number of vehicles and delivery points. As a backdrop The USPS, and its physical post office to USPS’s shifting business model, the locations, is an American institution. By institution has often been politicized in the numbers, it covers 100% of American national conversations as a social symbol addresses, accounting for 2.7 billion annual visits. The Postal Service has 35,000 facilities or a symptom of financial irresponsibility. Currently, a federally appointed task force across the country, occupying 200 million is looking at ways to privatize, sell assets, square feet of real estate. However, pension and sell facilities. payouts and federal money issues have driven USPS into the red for the past
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Creating a Rich Urban Experience | The Future of USPS Real Estate
The value of post offices derives from their unique position in the community ecosystem.
The U.S. Postal Service covers 100% of American addresses, and accounts for 2.7 billion annual visits.
USPS has 35,000 facilities across the country, occupying 200 million square feet of real estate.
Technology has replaced traditional mail with emails and text messages.
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