Art Gensler, who grew his San Francisco interior design business into the world’s largest architecture firm, has died aged 85.
Gensler, whose eponymous practice designed many of the world’s best-known buildings — from China’s tallest skyscraper to terminals at San Francisco International Airport — passed away on Monday at his home in Mill Valley, California, following a battle with long-term illness, a company spokesperson confirmed.
Born in New York City in 1935, Gensler went on to study at Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning — a school that he would support financially throughout his six-decade career (including a $10 million gift earlier this year).
In 1965, he founded M. Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates, Inc. alongside his wife Drucilla, who died in 2017, and their business partner James Follett. But what began as a small interiors shop soon expanded its scope to span architecture, planning and consulting. (CNN)
