Gensler’s 2026 Design Forecast: How AI, Climate Resilience, and Adaptive Reuse Are Shaping Future Cities
Gensler co-CEOs Jordan Goldstein and Elizabeth Brink have unveiled a bold, forward-looking vision for the future of cities, workplaces, and real estate in the firm’s 2026 Design Forecast, highlighting how design agility, emerging technology, and climate resilience are redefining the built environment.
Speaking on the I Hear Design podcast with host Robert Nieminen, Goldstein and Brink discussed six transformative “meta trends,” collectively referred to as the “6 in ’26.” These trends were identified through extensive research across Gensler’s 33 practice areas and 57 global offices, reflecting rapid shifts driven by economic uncertainty, technological acceleration, and evolving human expectations.
AI as a Creative Partner in Design
A central theme of the 2026 Design Forecast is the growing role of artificial intelligence in architecture and urban design. Rather than replacing designers, AI tools such as predictive cost intelligence, generative design, and digital twins are enhancing decision-making, reducing project risk, and improving long-term adaptability. These technologies are already supporting complex initiatives, including office-to-residential conversions, mixed-use developments, and large-scale campus planning.
Redefining Real Estate Value
According to Gensler’s leadership, real estate value is no longer measured solely by square footage or rental yield. Clients are increasingly prioritizing experience-based metrics—including dwell time, emotional engagement, and behavioral insights—to create hospitality-driven workplaces, human-centered offices, and vibrant mixed-use districts that foster connection and productivity.
Adaptive Reuse and Future-Fitting Buildings
The forecast places strong emphasis on adaptive reuse and future-fitting existing assets as strategic responses to changing market conditions and sustainability demands. Goldstein and Brink noted that modern cities are becoming layered environments, where work, living, leisure, and culture converge, driving demand for flexible and resilient building typologies.
Climate Resilience as a Business Imperative
Climate resilience and carbon performance are now core business considerations rather than optional sustainability goals. Gensler’s 2026 Design Forecast highlights how low-carbon design, energy efficiency, and climate-adaptive infrastructure are increasingly shaping investment strategies, asset valuation, and long-term real estate performance.
Skills for the Next Generation of Designers
The discussion concluded with insights into the evolving skill sets required for designers and planners, including data literacy, cross-disciplinary curiosity, and confidence collaborating with AI-driven tools. Gensler’s co-CEOs emphasized that firms of all sizes can begin applying these principles today to navigate complexity, manage risk, and unlock new opportunities.
As global cities undergo unprecedented transformation, Gensler’s 2026 Design Forecast positions design not merely as a reaction to change—but as a strategic driver shaping the future of the built environment.
