Gensler Retains No. 1 Spot In L.A.'s Workplace Spaces.

HEADING into its silver anniversary in the Los Angeles market, Gensler shows no signs of losing its momentum as the region's premier commercial interior design firm.

Gensler, which is headquartered in San Francisco and opened its Los Angeles office in 1976, racked up $16.3 million in local billings in 2000. Although business last year was down slightly from 1999, Gensler still outpaced its closest rival, SmithGroup, by more than $6 million to finish on top for the fourth year in a row.

"Last year was a great year for a lot of people, and there were a lot of great opportunities, not only with tech firms but we did a lot of work with financial firms and law firms," said Nila Leiserowitz, vice president of Gensler's Los Angeles workplace practice.

Among Gensler's major projects in 2000 was designing the interiors for Pillsbury Winthrop LLP's move within 725 S. Figueroa St. and work for Deloitte & Touche, Foothill Capital and Credit Suisse First Boston. One project that stood out was Gensler's conversion of a 50,000-square-foot Culver City warehouse into office space for e-commerce consulting firm Viant.

"That was a really exciting space, and we did a lot of work with Viant before we even put pen to paper," Leiserowitz said. "The guiding principle of the firm is to design an environment that fits with our clients' business goals and objectives. We're heavily focused on understanding why the client is looking at a new environment."

With a slowing economy, Gensler, which has about 50 people in its workplace practice, is taking a cautious approach in 2001 but expects to stay busy throughout the year, Leiserowitz said.

"It's a different world out there than it was last year, but we're still very busy," she said. "We're lucky because about 85 percent of our (interior design) work comes from repeat customers. The services we are providing might be different, they might want to redesign their existing space instead of a major move, but they are still calling us."

In 2000, Gensler was in major hustle mode, working on 137 projects in the Los Angeles region. The firm's most active interior practices are located in this area, New York, San Francisco, Houston, Washington, D.C. and London.

And the work done in Los Angeles has its own character. Leiserowitz said Los Angeles companies tend to be more concerned with aesthetics than businesses in other areas. In more practical terms, local companies are always looking for ways of creating work environments that enhance the potential for telecommuting.

"We find that is more critical here in an area where long commutes are a big issue," Leiserowitz said.

With projects from England to Japan, Gensler is one of the most successful architecture firm on the international level as well, with 2,225 people working in 22 offices worldwide.

In 2000, the company was selected as Firm of the Year by the American Institute of Architects, leading AIA president Michael Stanton to sing its praises.

"Gensler pioneered the practice of interior design, and used the diversity of its work and services to drive innovation," Stanton said. "In design expression, its buildings reflect its clients' renewed understanding that place matters, that architecture has strategic value."

COMMERCIAL INTERIOR DESIGN

Winner

GENSLER

San Francisco

Runners Up

SMITH GROUP

San Francisco

HELLMUTH OBATA+KASSABAUM INC.

St. Louis