Designers of Jin Mao Tower and Pearl River Tower Form New Architecture Firm

Designers of Jin Mao Tower and Pearl River Tower Form New Architecture Firm

November 30, 2006

    CHICAGO, Nov. 30 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Adrian Smith,
FAIA, RIBA, and Gordon Gill, AIA announce the formation of
their new design practice Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill
Architecture.  The firm will focus on the design of high
performance and sustainable architecture on an
international scale, intending to be a leader in the
development of new strategies for environmentally conscious
buildings.

    Smith, a former Design Partner at Skidmore, Owings
& Merrill (SOM), and Gill, a former Associate Partner
at SOM, have extensive international experience in the
creation of mixed-use projects and supertall towers.  Their
recent collaboration while at SOM, a zero energy tower in
Guangzhou, China, demonstrates the designers' commitment to
sustainability.  The project aims to be the world's first
supertall tower that produces as much energy as it
consumes.  It is currently featured in the exhibitions
"Sustainable Architecture in Chicago" and
"Massive Change" both at the Museum of
Contemporary Art in Chicago.

    Smith and Gill emphasize that while the firm is
dedicated to design quality and energy efficiency, they are
not committed to a single aesthetic.  Smith and Gill said,
"Our philosophy is based on a holistic approach to
design that integrates all disciplines.  Because the
process is predicated on creating high-performance designs,
it always results in a unique architectural
expression."

    Combined, Smith and Gill have over 50 years of design
experience.  While at SOM, Smith designed such projects as
Burj Dubai, slated to be the world's tallest tower; Jin Mao
Tower in Shanghai; McGraw Hill, Bank of America, Morgan
Stanley European Headquarters and 201 Broadgate Tower in
London; Rowes Wharf in Boston; United Gulf Bank in Manama;
ATT/USG Headquarters, the Millennium Park Master Plan and
Trump Tower Chicago, all in Chicago; and 601 Congress
Street in Boston, the first all-double wall LEED(R)
certified building in the country.  Projects under his
direction have won 90 awards for design excellence.

    In addition to 10 years of experience at SOM, Gill has
previously worked for design firms in Orlando, Detroit and
Toronto.  As a senior designer at SOM, his work included
Pearl River Tower in Guangzhou; Nanjing Greenland Tower;
Samsumg Togok Tower in Seoul; the Jesse Brown Medical
Center in Chicago; and the Virginia Beach Convention
Center, the recipient of an AIA Chicago Distinguished
Building Award.

    For more information, please contact:

     Carrie Neill
     Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
     Tel:  [phone]
     Web:  http://www.smithgill.com 

SOURCE  Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture