Gensler co-CEOs Jordan Goldstein and Elizabeth Brink have outlined a forward-looking vision for the future of cities, workplaces, and real estate in the firm’s 2026 Design Forecast, highlighting how design agility, technology, and climate resilience are reshaping the built environment.
Speaking on the I Hear Design podcast with host Robert Nieminen, Goldstein and Brink discussed the six major “meta trends” — known as the “6 in ’26” — that emerged from extensive research across Gensler’s 33 practice areas and 57 global offices. The trends reflect a rapidly changing landscape driven by economic volatility, technological acceleration, and evolving human expectations.
A key theme of the forecast is the growing role of AI as a creative partner in design. Rather than replacing designers, artificial intelligence, predictive cost intelligence, and digital twins are enabling smarter decision-making, risk reduction, and long-term adaptability. These tools are increasingly being used to support complex projects such as office-to-residential conversions and large-scale campus planning.
The co-CEOs emphasized that real estate value is being redefined beyond square footage and rent. Clients are now prioritizing experience-based metrics such as dwell time, emotional response, and behavioral patterns to design more engaging workplaces, hospitality-driven offices, and mixed-use districts.
Another major focus is “future-fitting” existing buildings, with adaptive reuse positioned as a strategic response to shifting market demands and sustainability pressures. Goldstein and Brink noted that cities are evolving into layered environments where work, living, leisure, and culture increasingly overlap.
Climate resilience and carbon performance also feature prominently in the forecast. Once viewed primarily as sustainability goals, these factors are now considered core business imperatives, influencing investment decisions and long-term asset performance.
The discussion concluded with insights into the skills designers will need in the coming years, including data literacy, curiosity, and confidence working alongside AI tools. According to Gensler’s leadership, firms of all sizes can begin applying these insights now to navigate complexity and unlock new opportunities.
As cities face unprecedented change, Gensler’s 2026 Design Forecast positions design not just as a response—but as a strategic driver shaping the future of the built environment.
