Harvard CGBC Lecture Series: Gordon Gill

"Discovering Form Through Performance: From Master Planning to the Tallest Building in the World"
April 20, 2017
Gordon Gill is one of the world’s preeminent exponents of performance-based architecture. His work, which ranges from the world’s largest buildings to sustainable communities, is driven by his philosophy that there is a purposeful relationship between formal design and performance; and that there is a language of performance, which is the basis of his practice: Form Follows Performance.
A founding partner of award-winning Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, Gordon’s work includes the design of the world’s first net zero-energy skyscraper, the Pearl River Tower (designed at SOM Chicago), the world’s first large-scale positive energy building, Masdar Headquarters, the world’s tallest tower, Kingdom Tower in Jeddah Saudi Arabia and most recently the design of Astana Expo 2017 and its sustainable legacy community for 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. Gordon’s designs also include performing arts centers, museums, strategic carbon planning and urban master plans across the globe.
His work has been published and exhibited widely in the U.S. and internationally and his designs have repeatedly been recognized by the American Institute of Architects. In 2009 he was selected as Chicago’s Best Emerging Architect by the Chicago Reader and in 2013 Gordon was elected to The College of Fellows at the American Institute of Architects.
Prior to founding AS+GG in 2006, Gordon was an Associate Partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and a Director of Design for VOA Associates.
The Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities aims to transform the building industry through a commitment to design-centric strategy that directly links research outcomes to the development of new processes, systems, and products.
www.harvardcgbc.org