Heading into 2025, it is increasingly apparent that the design of the university campus plays a critical role in meeting a university’s goals and mission during this period of economic headwinds and cultural change.

As reported in Gensler’s 2025 Design Forecast, hybrid teaching and learning, remote working, new technologies, and high operational and capital costs point to a new reality for educational institutions: Change is the new normal. At the same time, schools are contending with declining student motivation and well-being.

The workplace is evolving beyond a collection of experiences and becoming a space designed to foster intentional transformations. This is the new Transformation Economy, where the emphasis shifts from what we do to who we become. In the Transformation Economy, the focus is on motivating and inspiring individuals to create lasting change. It’s about workspaces that connect with people on an intensely personal level. High performing companies are dedicated to helping employees grow, evolve, and achieve their fullest potential — making work not just a place to earn a living, but a place to transform personally and professionally.

The office is often misunderstood as a space designed for peak productivity, but in reality, it has always been a place of compromise. The traditional office was never meant to be a finely tuned environment for specialized work; rather, it was created to accommodate the broadest range of needs with the least amount of friction.

As Amazon, JPMorgan, AT&T, and other companies across industries ask their employees to return to the office five days a week, there’s a renewed focus on workplace design.

At first glance, this would seem to solve the ongoing issue of the glut of empty office buildings in cities around the world. That’s not what’s happening.

Anxiety levels are on the rise in major cities. Our 2024 City Pulse Survey identified that while their cities supported individual well-being, anxiety levels rose in Austin, London, Mexico City, and New York, ranging from 9-34% increase as compared to 2021 data. This aligns with the Surgeon General’s latest warnings that, following the pandemic-induced isolation, loneliness has led to a greater decrease in health outcomes than smoking.

How should the U.K.’s government be addressing the housing crisis and the current backlog of 4.3 million homes? Unsurprisingly, the housing crisis was the top of the agenda in the government’s first days in office with a number of announcements aimed at solving this challenge. It was exciting to see the government recognize that reform of the planning system is now critical.

Your office space, your local hospital, your kid’s preschool, and your nearest airport all share several common building materials, from carpet and drywall to ceiling tiles and textiles. The composition of these products can significantly impact whether the environment is healthy or potentially harmful for you and those who manufactured them. Building materials greatly affect the carbon footprint of a space. Instead of contributing to high levels of embodied carbon, they can be produced using methods that reduce carbon emissions, or even come from materials that sequester carbon. Additionally, at the end of their lifecycle, materials can either be discarded or incinerated, or they can be reclaimed and reintegrated into a circular economy.

The real estate industry is in a time of great uncertainty with volatile inflation and interest rates, rising construction costs, major geopolitical events, and social and economic futures that feel unpredictable. Similar to how the past several years created opportunities to fundamentally rethink how we live, work, and interact with our communities and the built environment, the current upheaval is a chance for us to continue to adapt and innovate.

The convergence of our physical and digital ecosystems continues to revolutionize our lives, reshape our behaviors, and reimagine our ability to navigate the complex beauty and challenges of life in a boundaryless world. Radical technological innovations have resulted in a fundamental mindset shift of our behaviors, needs, and desires , moving from Live, Work, Play (and Shop), to a hybrid of Live, Live, Live.

Single-use buildings are at the highest risk to market volatility. By taking a different approach and designing buildings for adaptability and sustainability, we can extend their lifespan and reduce their environmental impact — creating a “Perpetual Asset” that retains value through changing trends and market conditions.

Domestic and international travel has seen a significant resurgence over the past 18 months. Business and leisure travel is up, consumer expectations are evolving, and travel advisors and hoteliers are reaping the rewards from one of the busiest travel phenomena in several years. Call it pent up demand, “revenge travel,” or new opportunities to gather with colleagues. Whatever the reason, people are on the go despite challenging transit experiences, financial uncertainty, and soaring prices.

Today, we find ourselves at an inflection point in the hospitality industry as Generation Z comes of age. This eco-conscious generation has a strong commitment to sustainability and expects companies and brands to prioritize sustainable practices in all aspects of their business. Just look at the trends they have had a hand in moving forward: electric vehicle sales are growing, more cities are adopting dark skies protocols, and new energy codes continue to reduce electricity usage.

Hotels have long been seen as standalone entities catering primarily to travelers. However, in today’s urban environments, they are increasingly becoming integral parts of retail-driven mixed-use developments. From integrating retail as an amenity to engaging with the local community and enhancing entertainment experiences, hotels are reshaping the way people interact with other uses around them. As designers, we approach these spaces not just as places of accommodation but as dynamic contributors to a vibrant urban experience.

Throughout the past four years, we’ve seen the retail sector undergo a remarkable transformation. The pandemic shook brick-and-mortar stores as the shift to online shopping and food delivery skyrocketed. And after years of isolation upended how we gather and socialize, people were increasingly seeking the experiences they missed out on. But what was once simply post-pandemic behavior has become the new normal, and these changes are prompting retailers and landlords to reassess what they’re offering to ensure the relevance and staying power of their businesses and/or places.

While consumer shopping habits have evolved considerably over the past three years, driven by pandemic closures of brick-and-mortar stores and the increased convenience of online shopping, we are starting to see a shift in preference back to in-person experiences. This resurgence brings with it not only a new consumer experience, but an equal emphasis on a new employee experience. Brands are considering human behavior and psychology to create spaces and experiences for lasting impact and connection. Design considerations for storefronts, layout, lighting, storytelling, and function are all key components in creating an impactful experience for everyone.