Gensler is a global design and architecture firm founded in 1965 in San Francisco by Art Gensler, his wife Drue Gensler, and James Follett. What began as a corporate interiors practice has grown into the largest architecture firm in the world by revenue, generating roughly $1.88 billion in 2024 with about 6,000 employees across 57 offices in 17 countries.
While Gensler is best known for corporate towers and workplace design, its sports practice has become a major force in stadium architecture, with dozens of completed and in-progress venues worldwide. The firm has designed soccer-specific stadiums, led major arena interiors, and partnered on NFL stadium renovations, blending large-scale structural design with a focus on fan experience and mixed-use development around venues.
Stats at a Glance
- Founded: 1965, San Francisco
- Founders: Art Gensler, Drue Gensler, James Follett
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California
- Firm size: About 6,000 employees, 57 offices worldwide
- 2024 revenue: About $1.88 billion
- Notable stadiums: BMO Stadium, McDonald’s Park, Al-Ahly Stadium
- Known for: Largest architecture firm in the world by revenue
From Corporate Interiors to Stadium Architecture
Gensler’s roots are in corporate interiors, with early projects like San Francisco’s Alcoa Building and Bank of America Building in the 1960s. Over decades the firm expanded into nearly every building type, and its sports and entertainment practice now spans arenas, training facilities, and stadiums across multiple continents.
One of the firm’s clearest stadium credits is BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, originally opened as Banc of California Stadium on April 18, 2018. Home to LAFC and Angel City FC, it was the first open-air stadium built in the city of Los Angeles since Dodger Stadium in 1962, seating about 22,000 fans in a sunken bowl with seats as close as 12 feet from the pitch.
Signature Stadium Projects
Gensler served as interior designer on San Francisco’s Chase Center, working alongside lead design architect MANICA on the arena that opened in September 2019 and seats about 18,064 for basketball. In Chicago, Gensler designed McDonald’s Park (formerly Chicago Fire FC Stadium), a roughly 22,000-seat, $750 million soccer venue anchoring The 78 riverfront development.
Internationally, Gensler led design of Al-Ahly Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, a roughly 42,000-seat venue built around a massive structural arch, with a sunken pitch designed to comply with height restrictions from a nearby airport flight path. The firm has also partnered with the Baltimore Ravens on a multi-year renovation of M&T Bank Stadium and was selected as architect for San Diego State University’s expandable, roughly 35,000-seat football stadium.
Explore more: See more stadium design firms and architects.
Gensler Venues on ThrillZing
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Gensler FAQs
Is Gensler a real architecture firm?
Yes. Gensler was founded in 1965 in San Francisco and has grown into the largest architecture firm in the world by revenue, with about 6,000 employees across 57 offices worldwide as of 2025.
What stadiums has Gensler designed?
Gensler’s stadium work includes BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, McDonald’s Park in Chicago, and Al-Ahly Stadium in Cairo, plus interior design on Chase Center in San Francisco and a renovation partnership on Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium.
Does Gensler only design stadiums?
No. Gensler is primarily known for corporate offices, interiors, hospitality, and mixed-use towers; stadium and arena design is one specialty within a much broader global practice.
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Photo: Baycrest / CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.