CTBUH Gold Member

Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture

About

Member Since: 2008

Member Offices: Chicago

Website: http://smithgill.com/

Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture is dedicated to the design of high-performance, energy-efficient and sustainable architecture on an international scale.

They believe that architecture has the unique power to influence our world. They strive to create designs that aid society, advance technology, sustain the environment and inspire those around us to improve our world.

Their office is dedicated to the creation of new paradigms for sustainable development. They use a holistic, integrated design approach that emphasizes symbiotic relationship with the natural environment -- a philosophy they've termed ""global environmental contextualism.""

The firm was founded in 2006 by partners Adrian Smith, Gordon Gill and Robert Forest. Today there are 100 employees in offices in Chicago and Beijing.

Fields of Expertise

Architecture; Interior Design; Urban Design

Buildings

RANK
Name
Status

Completed

Architecturally Topped Out

Structurally Topped Out

Under Construction

On Hold

Proposed

Vision

Never Completed

Demolished

Competition Entry

Canceled

Proposed Renovation

Under Renovation

Renovated

Under Demolition

See all status definitions
Height
1 Jeddah Tower
1,000 m / 3,281  ft
2 Uptown Dubai Tower 1
711 m / 2,333  ft
3 HeXi Yuzui Tower A
498.8 m / 1,636  ft
4 Wuhan Greenland Center
475.6 m / 1,560  ft
5 Central Park Tower
472.4 m / 1,550  ft
6 Chengdu Greenland Tower
468 m / 1,535  ft
7 HeXi Yuzui Tower C
350 m / 1,148  ft
8 Uptown Tower
333.4 m / 1,094  ft
9 Xinda Kingtown International Center Tower 1
320 m / 1,050  ft
10 Shenzhen Zhongzhou Holdings Financial Center
300.8 m / 987  ft

Awards

TD Terrace

Award of Excellence: TD Terrace

Best Tall Building, by Region, Americas 2025

Ctbuh Leaders

Richard Wilson

Richard Wilson

CTBUH Urban Habitat / Urban Design Committee, 2014 – Present

Chicago

Christopher Drew

Christopher Drew

CTBUH Working Group: High Performance Facades, 2015 – Present

Chicago

Katrina Fernandez Nova

Katrina Fernandez Nova

CTBUH Future Leaders Committee, Chicago, 2019 – Present

Chicago

Building Completions Timeline

Videos

30 October 2019

Urban Advances: The Reality and The Virtual

Gordon Gill, Partner at Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, speaks at the 2019 CTBUH International Congress in Chicago on 30 October 2019.

View all

Research

22 December 2023

Remembering Charles H. Thornton, 2012 Fazlur Khan Lifetime Achievement Awardee

This edition of Talking Tall is an interview from the CTBUH archives. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat would like to remember Charles...

View all

Global News

15 April 2025

65-Story Residential High-Rise Proposed for Toronto's Financial District

CTBUH has confirmed that a new proposal for a 65-story skyscraper has been submitted to the City of Toronto. The joint application by KingSett Capital,...

View all
RANK
Name
Height
1 One Dubai Tower A

1,008 m / 3,307 ft
2 Jeddah Tower

1,000 m / 3,281 ft
3 One Dubai Tower B

874 m / 2,867 ft
4 Uptown Dubai Tower 1

711 m / 2,333 ft
5 Shimao Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Centre

700 m / 2,297 ft
6 One Dubai Tower C

685 m / 2,247 ft
7 Wuhan Greenland Center

636 m / 2,087 ft
8 One Park Avenue

550 m / 1,804 ft
9 Thompson Center Redevelopment

518 m / 1,700 ft
10 HeXi Yuzui Tower A

499 m / 1,636 ft
11 Wuhan Greenland Center

476 m / 1,560 ft
12 Central Park Tower

472 m / 1,550 ft
13 Abu Dhabi Tower

470 m / 1,542 ft
14 Chengdu Greenland Tower

468 m / 1,535 ft
15 Dancing Dragon Tower 1

446 m / 1,463 ft
16 Multifunctional Highrise Complex - Akhmat Tower

435 m / 1,427 ft
17 Tribune East Tower

433 m / 1,422 ft
18 Imperial Tower 3

400 m / 1,312 ft
19 Dancing Dragon Tower 2

378 m / 1,240 ft
20 HeXi Yuzui Tower C

350 m / 1,148 ft
21 Uptown Tower

333 m / 1,094 ft
22 Xinda Kingtown International Center Tower 1

320 m / 1,050 ft
23 Shenzhen Zhongzhou Holdings Financial Center

301 m / 987 ft
24 Suzhou Keyne Center Office and Hotel

300 m / 984 ft
25 645 Yonge Street

280 m / 919 ft
26 Xinda Kingtown International Center Tower 2

260 m / 853 ft
27 Burj Vista Tower 1

255 m / 835 ft
28 648 Yonge Street

254 m / 833 ft
29 Qintai International Tower

248 m / 814 ft
30 60 Yonge Street

246 m / 808 ft
31 FKI Tower

245 m / 805 ft
32 TD Terrace

237 m / 776 ft
33 Forbes International Tower

230 m / 755 ft
34 The Mansion at Burj Khalifa

227 m / 745 ft
35 One Bromfield

224 m / 735 ft
36 830 Brickell

221 m / 724 ft
37 HeXi Yuzui Tower B-2

220 m / 722 ft
38 Suzhou Keyne Center Residential Tower

220 m / 722 ft
39 Freed Hotel and Residences

219 m / 719 ft
40 175 Wynford Tower 1

209 m / 685 ft
41 Epstein Project

200 m / 656 ft
42 175 Wynford Tower 2

193 m / 634 ft
43 Una Residences

187 m / 613 ft
44 Vantone Center

185 m / 607 ft
45 175 Wynford Tower 3

178 m / 585 ft
46 Chengdu Greenland Center Tower 2

173 m / 568 ft
47 Chengdu Greenland Center Tower 3

166 m / 545 ft
48 Shenzhen Zhongzhou Holdings Financial Center Tower B

158 m / 517 ft
49 The Waterfall Tower

138 m / 453 ft
50 The Crystal at Waterfront Square

114 m / 374 ft
51 K2

112 m / 366 ft
52 PPA 30 Parcel 5.03 Tower 1

105 m / 344 ft
53 Kazakhstan Pavilion and Science Museum

100 m / 328 ft
54 Al Wasl Plaza Dome

67 m / 221 ft
55 Rove Expo City North Tower

55 m / 180 ft
55 Rove Expo City South Tower

55 m / 180 ft
57 Al Wasl Plaza Building 1

50 m / 163 ft
57 Al Wasl Plaza Building 3/10

50 m / 163 ft
57 Al Wasl Plaza Building 5

50 m / 163 ft
60 Meraas Tower

-

Statistics

Average Building Age*

6 Years

Most Common Function*

Mixed-use (43%)

Most Common Material*

Composite (54%)

* Based on 150 m+ buildings currently in the database

Based on 14 buildings over 150 m height with a function
 
Based on 13 buildings over 150 m height with a material
 

Building Completions Timeline

Building Map

Construction Time Chart

NOTE: Construction start time is not available for all buildings. The average construction time is only displayed if there is three or more buildings with construction start and complete data in that year.

Designated Experts

Juan Betancur

Director of Design, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Chicago, United States

Katrina Fernandez Nova

Director, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Chicago, United States

Anthony Viola

Director, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Chicago, United States

Michelle Swanson

Director, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Chicago, United States

Christopher Drew

Director of Sustainability, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Chicago, United States

Ctbuh Leaders At Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture

CTBUH Urban Habitat / Urban Design Committee, 2014 – Present

Richard Wilson

City Design Director, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Chicago, United States

CTBUH Working Group: High Performance Facades, 2015 – Present

Christopher Drew

Director of Sustainability, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Chicago, United States

CTBUH Future Leaders Committee, Chicago, 2019 – Present

Katrina Fernandez Nova

Director, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Chicago, United States

CTBUH College of Fellows, 2023 – Present

Peter Weismantle

Director of Supertall Building Technology, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Chicago, United States

CTBUH Women Rising Committee, 2025 – Present

Michelle Swanson

Director, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Chicago, United States

Videos

Filter by

30 October 2019

Urban Advances: The Reality and The Virtual

Gordon Gill, Partner at Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, speaks at the 2019 CTBUH International Congress in Chicago on 30 October 2019.

28 March 2018

Building Tall Skyscraper Lecture Series: Naturalizing the Vertical Realm

Thursday, February 1, 2018. Chicago, United States of America. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) and the Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) held...

30 October 2017

Quay Quarter Tower: Humanizing the High-Rise

Quay Quarter Tower (QQT) will create a stunning new building on the Sydney skyline that sets new benchmarks in office tower design globally and creates...

16 March 2017

Building Tall Skyscraper Lecture Series: How High Can We Go?

Thursday, March 16, 2017. Chicago, United States of America. Hosted in collaboration with the Chicago Architecture Foundation, the first lecture of the series Building Tall...

16 March 2017

How High Can We Go? (Highlight)

Thursday, March 16, 2017. Chicago, United States of America. Hosted in collaboration with the Chicago Architecture Foundation, the first event in the Building Tall lecture...

20 October 2016

Singularly Slender: Sky Living in New York, Hong Kong, and Elsewhere

Thursday October 20, 2016. Hong Kong, China. Carol Willis of The Skyscraper Museum in New York City presents at the 2016 China Conference Plenary 7:...

19 October 2016

From San Diego to Guangzhou: The Story of Marketing Tall Buildings

One of the keys to attracting buyers and tenants for a contemporary tall building is a succinct marketing strategy and a robust understanding of how...

18 October 2016

Saudi Arabia, Jeddah City and Jeddah Tower

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has embarked on an ambitious project to construct the world’s tallest building, Jeddah Tower. Surrounding the kilometer-plus building will be...

18 October 2016

Jeddah Mall: The Connection Between Jeddah Tower and the Urban Environment

The Jeddah Economic City Mall and Exhibition Center is a multi-functional installation that rises up to the challenge of making the city walkable around the...

18 October 2016

Lighting the Next Tallest Building in the World, the Jeddah Tower

Following experience around the world with tall buildings and monuments, Pierre Marcout has sought to transmit his passion for highlighting monuments for new constructors and...

Research

22 December 2023

Remembering Charles H. Thornton, 2012 Fazlur Khan Lifetime Achievement Awardee

Charles Thornton & Richard Tomasetti

This edition of Talking Tall is an interview from the CTBUH archives. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat would like to remember Charles...

16 May 2023

The Economics of Record-Breaking Height

Jason Barr & Peter A. Weismantle

This paper reviews the development history of record-breaking skyscrapers to better understand their economics. Given how tall they are, the supposed reason for their construction...

22 August 2022

Structural Design of Iconic Tower, Egypt: Culmination of a Concrete Optimization Process

Tarek Hassan, Yehia El-Ezaby & Charles Malek, rector Dar Al Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners)

This paper presents an overview of a process of optimizing concrete mixture for tall buildings, culminating in the design of the Iconic Tower, the key...

12 January 2021

Interactive Study on Tall Buildings in 2020: COVID-19 Contributes To Dip in Year-On-Year Completions

CTBUH Research

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat has released its annual report, CTBUH Year in Review: Tall Trends of 2020, part of the Tall...

25 June 2020

Curtain Wall Façades on the New Generation of Supertall Buildings Present and Future Directions

Sae Hwang Oh, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture

Beginning in the late 19th century, construction of skyscrapers spread throughout Chicago, New York City, and then the world as demand of space in buildings...

20 March 2020

Interactive Study on The Tallest 20 in 2020: Then and Now

CTBUH Research

This research paper undertakes a review of the 2012 report by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, “Tallest 20 in 2020: Entering the...

28 December 2019

Tall Buildings of the Future as Seen From the Present

SawTeen See, Robert Bird Group Pty Ltd

Aerodynamic damping through the use of vertical long slots reduces the dynamic component of the wind loads on the building. Seminal examples include the three-legged...

28 October 2019

Fifty Years of Fire Safety In Supertall Buildings

Peter Weismantle, AS+GG; James Antell, Telgian Engineering & Consulting

As international design teams participated in the development of high-rise structures around the world, many of the concepts of fire-safe design first introduced in the...

12 December 2018

Year in Review: Tall Trends of 2018

CTBUH Research

The astronomical growth in tall building construction observed over the past decade continued in 2018, though the total number of completed buildings of 200 meters’...

Global News

15 September 2023

Firms Race to Finish the World’s Tallest Tower in Jeddah

The company responsible for constructing the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia has restarted work on the project and has compiled a list of contractors who...

01 September 2022

Dubai Uptown Tower Office Space is Fully Pre-Leased Ahead of its Completion

The office space at the 340-meter Uptown Tower has been fully pre-leased in advance of the completion of its construction later in 2022.  Over 495,000...

27 May 2020

Plans Approved For 102-Story Skyscraper That Could Be Chicago's Second-Tallest

A 102-story skyscraper known as Tribune East Tower could become Chicago’s second tallest building in the coming years, after aldermen on Wednesday, 20 May, 2020...

21 November 2019

Planned Chicago Supertall Undergoes Minimal Changes After Community Review

On 19 November 2019, developers unveiled updated plans for a mixed-use supertall tower slated for the parking lot just east of Chicago’s landmark Tribune Tower....

07 November 2019

Design for Mixed-Use Complex in Nanjing Announced

Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG) has announced the design of the new South HeXi Yuzui Financial District in Nanjing. The firm won an...

07 November 2019

Design for Mixed-Use Complex in Nanjing Announced

Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG) has announced the design of the new South HeXi Yuzui Financial District in Nanjing. The firm won an...

08 October 2019

Chicago’s Next Supertall Nears Approval Amid Flurry of Development

The developer of a proposed supertall skyscraper on North Michigan Avenue next to Tribune Tower is nearing an agreement with the city in “a couple...

18 September 2019

Two Supertalls Top Out in New York City

The Grand Central Terminal-adjacent supertall One Vanderbilt officially topped out this week, reaching its full 1,401-foot (427-meter) height. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, the tower...

21 January 2019

“Tower Fifth” Could Become New York City’s Second-Tallest

For decades, the New York City skyline was dominated by one building, the 1,250-foot-tall (381-meter) Empire State Building. But 17 “supertall” skyscrapers — defined as...

CTBUH Initiatives Involving Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture

CTBUH President Antony Wood sits on Jury for the International Architectural Design Competition for Nanjing Jiangbei New Financial Center II

21 November 2021

On November 21, 2021, CTBUH President Antony Wood sat on the jury panel for the International Architectural Design Competition for Nanjing Jiangbei New Financial Center II. Eight internationally renowned architectural design firms – Archilier, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, Arata Isozaki, Büro Ole Scheeren, HKS, GOA, MVRDV, and SPARK Architects - presented innovative proposals for Jiangbei New Area.

Fourth Building Tall Lecture Series: Greening Tall

01 February 2018

The Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) and CTBUH hosted a panel discussion on the movement to incorporate green features into tall buildings.

CTBUH Supports High-Rise Conference at Samara State University

04–07 September 2017

22 speakers discussed the state of high-rise design & construction at this conference, a partner event between the CTBUH and Samara State Technical University.

Master's Thesis Challenge

28 August 2017

CTBUH is launching a new academic initiative, empowering Master's-level architecture students to research new possibilities in rope-less elevator technology.

Partnered Event Explores High-Performance Skyscraper Design

24 May 2017

CTBUH, ComEd, and Seventhwave partnered to host a breakfast seminar focused on high-performance building envelope design with the goal of identifying opportunities for energy savings.

CTBUH Leads AIA Orlando Panel Discussion on Urban Sustainability

28 April 2017

The CTBUH had a significant presence at this year's AIA Conference in Orlando, convening a panel discussion investigating the sustainability of urban and suburban living patterns.