Gensler has been ranked No. 1 in the Urban Development and Real Estate category on the 2026 World’s Most Innovative Companies list published by Fast Company. The recognition marks the third consecutive year the global design firm has appeared on the list and the sixth time overall.
The ranking highlights the firm’s role in advancing design innovation that addresses both urgent community needs and long-term urban transformation.
Rapid-response design after Los Angeles wildfires
A key factor behind the recognition was Pali High South, a rapid-response campus created after the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires severely damaged Palisades Charter High School.
Nearly 40% of the school’s campus was destroyed, prompting an urgent need for alternative facilities. In response, Gensler converted an abandoned department store in Santa Monica into a fully operational school campus within 30 days.
The project delivered space for more than 2,500 students and was completed with a $6 million budget. Permitting was secured in less than 72 hours, while a global 24-hour design workflow dramatically accelerated the project timeline.
Designing spaces that rebuild communities
According to Kelly Farrell, Global Lifestyle Sector Leader and Managing Director of Gensler in Los Angeles, the initiative focused on more than simply providing temporary classrooms.
The goal was to restore a sense of belonging and stability for students, families and the broader community following the disaster.
Leadership at Gensler emphasized that the project demonstrates how collaborative design can support communities during moments of crisis while maintaining high-quality architecture and functionality.
Innovation across multiple initiatives
Each year that Gensler has appeared on the list has been tied to a specific innovation initiative. Recent examples include:
- Pali High South (2026) – a rapid-response school campus developed after wildfire damage
- GPS Standards™ (2025) – sustainability guidelines designed to improve material selection across projects
- Conversions+™ (2024) – a proprietary algorithm helping accelerate office-to-residential building conversions to address housing shortages
These initiatives reflect the firm’s broader strategy of using technology, research and design thinking to address urban challenges.
Expanding the rapid-response design framework
Following the success of the emergency school project, Gensler plans to expand the concept into a Rapid Response Design framework that can be adopted by cities, school districts and governments when disasters disrupt community infrastructure.
The approach aims to demonstrate how design, public institutions and communities can collaborate quickly to restore critical spaces such as schools and community centers.
A global design firm focused on human impact
Founded in 1965, Gensler has grown into one of the world’s largest architecture and design firms, employing more than 6,000 professionals and working on projects in over 100 countries.
The firm’s work spans architecture, urban planning, interior design and workplace strategy, with a focus on improving the human experience within the built environment.
