INTERNI. The Magazine of Interiors and Contemporary Design

致敬ART GENSLER

 

 

A TRIBUTE TO ART GENSLER
A legacy of influence and inspiration forever transforming the architecture and design industry

致敬ART GENSLER(1935-2021)

一位彻底革新建筑设计行业、予人无限启迪、影响无远弗届的传奇人物

 

 

 

MAY 10, 2021

2021年5月10日

Art Gensler, an architect and visionary who propelled a small practice into one of the largest and most admired firms in the industry, has passed away peacefully at home in Mill Valley, California. He was 85.

Art Gensler于美国加利福尼亚州米尔谷家中安详辞世,享年85岁。作为一位极富远见的建筑师,他将一间小型工作室逐步缔造为业内规模最大、享誉最盛的建筑设计公司之一。

 

Art was an industry icon and entrepreneur with the vision that we not only design spaces, but we do so with the understanding that they have the power to shape how we experience the world and who we become within it.

他是业界楷模,亦是心怀远大愿景的企业家。他认为,我们不仅需要专注于设计空间本身,更要深刻理解空间设计所拥有的力量,它帮助我们构建体验世界的方式,并塑造着身在其中的我们。

 

During a 65-year career, his gift to the firm was an ethos that has allowed Gensler to continue to grow and prosper. That ethos was distinguished by a belief in collaboration, support of design education and career advancement, respect for individuals, dedication to clients, and endorsement of sustainable design. All these values blended to form the unique and lasting culture he established at his namesake firm.

长达65年的传奇建筑生涯中,Art Gensler赋予公司最为宝贵的财富是一系列无论面对任何困境,仍能持续发展繁荣的精神信条,包括笃信团队协作、支持设计教育、促进职业发展、尊重个体、全心全意服务客户、不懈倡导可持续设计。这些价值观共同构成了Gensler特色鲜明、影响深远的企业文化核心。

 

His vision of a collaborative culture that emphasizes a selfless client-first design approach has become a characteristic Gensler trait, and has helped propel the firm to global prominence long after Art stepped down as CEO in 2005 and Chairman in 2010.

他极富远见的协作文化强调无私忘我、客户至上的设计理念,如今已成为Gensler的强大优势。即使他本人于2005年卸任CEO、2010年卸任董事长,这一理念依然长久推动着公司强劲增长、走向全球。

 

 

After Art’s retirement from the board, he remained a constant presence in the firm, renowned as a mentor to our next generation of leaders. Art made a profound difference in the lives of many people in the firm and the local, national, and international community. Of all the architects of his generation, Art Gensler stands out as the preeminent firm-builder. He founded and built a collaborative practice that has had wide influence on the profession and become the industry benchmark for a well-run, conservatively managed business.

辞任董事会岗位后,他依然时常来到公司,以导师的身份悉心培养下一代领导者。无论是当地、国内还是国际社区,他深刻地改变了许多人的生活。放眼同侪,Art Gensler的企业家才能亦是出类拔萃。由他构建的团队协作实践方式对行业产生了广泛的影响,并将公司打造为经营良好、管理妥善的业界标杆。

 

 

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1935, he completed his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning in 1958, during which time he met his wife of almost 60 years, Drucilla (Drue) Cortell Gensler. The couple married in 1957 and moved from New York to San Francisco in 1962. In 1965, Art and Drue co-founded M. Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates, Inc. with James Follett. They started the business in a one-room office with just one draftsman and $200 in the bank.

Art Gensler于1935年出生在纽约布鲁克林,1958年获康奈尔大学建筑艺术规划学院(AAP)学士学位,也在此结识了之后相伴近60年的妻子Drucilla (Drue) Cortell Gensler。两人于1957年步入婚姻殿堂,1962年从纽约迁至旧金山生活。1965年,Art和Drue夫妇联合成立M. Arthur Gensler Jr.联合股份有限公司,当时只有一位员工James Follett。凭借一间办公室、一位制图员和账户里的200美元,他们开启了创业之路。

 

Art started the firm with a focus on work that fell below the radar screen for many architects — space planning and interiors. In the process, he virtually created interior design as a new category of architectural practice, bringing it to a new level of professionalism.

创办之初,公司主营少有建筑师关注的业务范围——空间规划和室内设计。期间,Art将室内设计打造为一种独立于以往的全新建筑实践类型,并逐步将其提升至更高的专业水准。

 

 

Under his leadership, the firm was pioneer in the practice of interior architecture, playing a significant role in developing client understanding of the value of the profession. Early in his career, he recognized the need for a new architectural discipline that came to be known as tenant development. Beginning with the Alcoa Building in San Francisco, the firm developed the programming practices that have become the framework for interior architectural projects throughout the profession.

有赖于他的领导,Gensler成为室内建筑设计领域的开拓者,大大促进了客户对于这一行业细分的价值认同。职涯早期,Art意识到一种新的建筑专业需求,亦即后来的“租户发展”。从旧金山的美国铝业大厦开始,Gensler开创了众多关于功能分区规划的重要实践,如今这些方法已成为整个室内建筑设计行业的基础框架。

 

In 2010, Art stepped down as the firm’s chairman — putting the Co-CEO model in place that still exists today with Andy Cohen and Diane Hoskins leading the firm. Art spent his later years giving back to the community and his alma mater, serving as a Trustee of the Buck Institute for Aging, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the California College of the Arts.

2010年,Art辞去董事长一职,并确立了联席CEO的管理模式,由Andy Cohen与Diane Hoskins继续领导公司至今。晚年,Art致力于回馈社区及母校,曾担任巴克衰老研究所(Buck Institute for Aging)、旧金山现代艺术博物馆(San Francisco Museum of Modern Art)和加州艺术学院CCA(California College of the Arts)理事。

 

Recently Art, along with his family, gifted $10 million to Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) — a gift that will sustain AAP’s thriving New York City- based program, which was a longtime dream of Art’s.

近期,Art与家人赠予康奈尔大学建筑艺术规划学院1000万美元,鼎力支持其纽约城复兴项目,完成个人夙愿。

 

Art is widely credited, awarded, and recognized with elevating the interior design practice to professional standing. The reputation he helped the firm secure as a model for the architectural profession led to its being the Year 2000 recipient of the American Institute of Architects’ Architecture Firm of the Year, the Institute’s highest honor to a collaborative practice.

Art大幅提升了室内设计实践的专业程度,获得业界广泛认可,载誉无数。他助力公司巩固建筑行业标杆地位并斩获2000年美国建筑师学院(AIA)年度建筑事务所大奖,此奖项是AIA表彰团队协作实践的最高荣誉。

 

Accomplishments throughout his storied career include being named a Fellow of both the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) and the International Interior Design Association (FIIDA), and a professional member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. He received a Design Futures Council Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. A charter member of Interior Design magazine’s Hall of Fame and a recipient of IIDA’s Star Award, he also received Ernst & Young LLP’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Cornell Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

此外,他荣列美国建筑师学院成员(FAIA)、国际室内设计师联盟成员(FIIDA),以及英国皇家建筑师协会的专业会员。2016年,他获得未来设计学会终身成就奖(Design Futures Council Lifetime Achievement Award)。他位列《室内设计》杂志“名人堂”创始元年成员,并获得国际室内设计师联盟(IIDA)星光奖(Star Award)、安永终身成就奖(Ernst & Young’s Lifetime Achievement Award)和康奈尔年度创业家奖(Cornell Entrepreneur of the Year Award)。

 

Art was predeceased by his wife of nearly 60 years, Drucilla (Drue) Cortell Gensler. He is survived by his four sons and their families: David and his children (Aaron, Thisbe, Dunia, and Pales) with Alisoun; Robert and his wife Gillian; Douglas and his children (Cortie, Cailin, and Mamie) with Kinzie; and Kenneth and his children (Morgan, Jake, and Sam) with Jennifer and grandchild (and Art’s great-grandchild) Charlotte.

与Art相伴近60年的妻子Drucilla (Drue) Cortell Gensler已先于他离世。他们共育有四个儿子,家庭成员包括:David、Alisoun夫妇,育有Aaron、Thisbe、Dunia、Pales;Robert、Gillian夫妇;Douglas、Kinzie夫妇,育有Cortie、Cailin、Mamie;Kenneth、Jennifer夫妇,育有Morgan、Jake、Sam,孙女Charlotte(Art的曾孙一辈)。

 

Art Gensler与中国团队

 

QUOTES WITH ATTRIBUTION

致敬与怀念

 

Andy Cohen, Co-CEO, Gensler

Andy Cohen,Gensler联席CEO

 

“Art’s passing is a great loss for our industry and for me personally. He was my mentor, coach, and great friend for 40 years. As our founder, he helped mold my career and those of so many other Gensler leaders. He laid the foundations for the company to become a global powerhouse – one that has repeatedly been recognized as the most admired design firm in the world. He taught us all about pursuing personal passions, opening doors for our people to excel at what they love to do, and working together to redefine the profession. He demonstrated how design has the power to create a better world. He showed us anything is possible.”

“Art的离世无论是对于行业还是我个人而言,都是巨大的损失。四十年来,他不仅是为我指点迷雾的良师,更是亲密无间的益友。作为公司创始人,Art曾指导我开启职业生涯,许多Gensler的其他领导同样受教于他。他为公司进一步成长为全球重磅企业奠定了坚实的基础。如今,Gensler在全球声誉斐然,不断获得各界好评。他教会我们追随个人的激情,帮助员工发展兴趣所在,引领大家通力合作、重新定义建筑行业。他向我们亲身示范如何用设计创造更加美好的世界,更让我们看到:一切皆有可能。”

 

“Art’s founding principles established our one-firm-firm philosophy: that we are one seamless and integrated Gensler family around the globe. He thought of the company as a “constellation of stars,” celebrating our diversity of perspectives, experience, and expertise. The firm, he always said, was not about him, but about all its people moving forward together, through thick and thin, in the same direction. He believed deeply that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The one-of-a-kind spirit of collaboration and inclusiveness that Art established still serves as the foundation of our firm, uniting us in purpose and vision for generations to come.

“Art为我们塑造了‘全球一体化运作企业’(one-firm-firm)理念:Gensler是一个全球一体、紧密无间的大家庭。他将公司视作‘由星球构成的星座’,尊重我们丰富多元的视角、经验和专业知识。他常说,公司不应围绕他个人,而是在于所有成员朝着同一个方向披荆斩棘、共同迈进。他坚信‘整体大于部分之和’。协作与包容的独特文化仍然是Gensler今日的重要基石,它让我们向着未来的目标和愿景而集结起来。”

 

“We will forever honor Art’s leadership and legacy as an industry pioneer. He taught us through example that putting our client’s success at the center of what we do allows us to overcome even the greatest challenges and seize the greatest opportunities across the globe. His vision, values, and influence will live on at the firm that carries his name as we continue to evolve and grow, with each generation taking the company to new heights.

“我们会永远怀念Art的领导,铭记他享誉业界的传奇人生。他以身作则,教会我们将客户的成功视为核心,激励着我们不畏艰险,把握全球机遇。他的愿景、价值观和影响力将在他创办的这间同名公司长存永续,促使其持续繁荣和成长,激励着每一代人再攀新高。”

 

 

Diane Hoskins, Co-CEO, Gensler

Diane Hoskins,Gensler联席CEO

 

“Art’s legacy on the industry is in how he elevated the interior design profession and drove innovation across an entire industry. His vision for our firm was that, together, designers and clients can solve the world’s biggest challenges. This has never been more important than it is right now. His legacy as a person was in the way he mentored almost everyone he met. An instant friend with an open mind and a master connector of people, the built environment, and the human experience.”

“Art革新升级室内设计产业,并推动了整个行业的创新,这是他为整个行业留下的宝贵遗产。他对于公司的愿景是:设计师和客户携手合作,再大的困难也可以克服。面对当前的全球局势,这一点比以往任何时候都更加重要;而从个人层面来说,他几乎让每个接触过他的人都能有所收获。他是一个思维开放、乐于帮忙的好友,一个可以将人、已建成环境和人文体验巧妙融合的建筑大师。”

“We have so much to be thankful for because of Art. He gave us Gensler’s core culture, our focus on people and the human experience, and our continued philosophy to design for optimism. He was also a mentor and a friend. He founded our firm on a central set of principles, one of those being our commitment to our clients. Art didn’t seek the next great project — he attracted amazing clients, many of whom we still work with today.

“我们对Art有着太多的感谢,他创造了Gensler的核心文化,引导我们聚焦于人及人文体验、秉承乐观主义设计哲学。他也是一位导师,一个朋友。他基于一系列核心原则创办公司,包括我们对于客户的承诺。Art不为寻求大项目而奔波,他总能自然而然地吸引到优质客户,这些客户直到今天依然在与我们融洽合作。

 

As our firm continues to evolve and grow, we will remain steadfast in the lessons we learned from Art and the work that reflects the culture he created.”

随着公司的发展和壮大,我们会始终传承Art的理念,从蕴含着他精神的过往工作中汲取经验。”

“Art was instrumental in shaping my career at Gensler. I joined the firm because Art’s vision and values were so compelling: a belief in people and a deep commitment to the human experience, a belief in the power of design as a tool to propel business performance and a drive towards growth ignited by curiosity and a can-do attitude. He laid the foundation for us to become the firm we are today and we will continue to honor his legacy in the future of the firm.”

“Art对于我在Gensler的职业生涯举足轻重。他令人信服的愿景和价值观吸引我加入公司,包括对人的信任、对人文体验的矢志承诺,坚信设计的力量可以推动业务表现,以及依靠好奇心和积极心态激励增长。Gensler的今日,由他奠定基础;Gensler的未来,将延续他的传奇。”

 

 

Xiaomei Lee, Regional Managing Principal of Greater China

李晓梅,大中华区执行总裁

 

Art was an industry icon and visionary. He has been a mentor and friend to me over the 18 years we’ve worked together. Our daily conversations and collaboration during the design of the Shanghai Tower was a personal highlight. Art made a profound difference in my life and the lives of countless others.

“Art是业界楷模,亦是心怀远大愿景的企业家。在我们一起工作的18年里,Art对我来说一直是一位了不起的导师和朋友。在上海中心大厦的设计过程中,我们的日常对话和讨论是我人生的亮点。Art对我和无数其他人的生活产生了深远的影响。”

 

 

 

 

 

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