From Skyline to Streetlife: Performance and Public Engagement in Tall Buildings

Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | 2:00pm | Regnier Forum, Regnier Hall

Join us for an afternoon exploring the evolving world of tall building design and renewal. This symposium brings together two distinguished voices shaping the skylines of today and tomorrow. One, a global architect known for designing supertall towers with an emphasis on performance, sustainability, and urban integration. The other, a project leader behind the transformative reimagining of Chicago’s Willis Tower base, focused on making iconic architecture more accessible, livable, and user-centered.

Through back-to-back lectures followed by a moderated discussion, this event will explore how tall buildings can balance bold vision with human-scale experience—redefining both global cities and local communities in the process.

Gordon Gill, FAIA, is one of the world’s foremost exponents of performance-based architecture. Ranging from the world’s tallest buildings to sustainable communities, his work is driven by his philosophy that there is a purposeful relationship between formal design and performance; that there is a Language of Performance, which is the basis of his practice: Form Follows Performance.

His approach is based on an ecologically conscious philosophy that sets new standards for the relationships between the built and natural environment. His buildings and urban projects have transformed cityscapes and defined as well as restored city centers around the world.

A founding partner of award-winning Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG), Gordon’s work includes the design of the world’s first net zero-energy skyscraper, Pearl River Tower in Guangzhou, China (designed at SOM Chicago); the world’s first large-scale positive energy building, Masdar Headquarters; the next world’s tallest tower, Jeddah Tower in Jeddah Saudi Arabia; and most recently Al Wasl Plaza, the open space for the centerpiece of Expo 2020 Dubai featuring an intricate domed trellis that is the world’s largest immersive projection experience and the design of Astana Expo 2017 and its sustainable legacy community in Astana, Kazakhstan. These landmark projects pursue energy independence by harnessing the power of natural forces on site and striking a balance with their environmental contexts.

Michael Townsend, LEED AP, AIA, Mixed Use & Retail Centers Leader, Design Director, Principal is an award-winning Design Director and Mixed Use & Retail Centers Leader for Gensler’s North Central region. A Principal based in Gensler’s Chicago office, he brings nearly 20 years of design experience on large-scale commercial, retail, workplace, civic, aviation, hospitality, and education work across the U.S. and Asia. He strives to bring thoughtful investigation to every facet of projects and demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability. Michael develops, shepherds, and communicates design and vision on some of the firm’s most complex projects, balancing forward-thinking creativity with a foundation of informed strategy.