Former CSI President Michael T. Owen, Sr., FCSI, CDT, presented the award to Gensler during the Opening General Session of the convention. Gensler spoke humbly of his 40-plus years of experience in the industry after accepting the award, attributing his continued success to the high caliber of staff across the firm.
"I am very honored to receive this award from an organization that shares Gensler's commitment to innovation, creativity, and most importantly, to the people who work so hard to make the AEC industry world-class," Gensler said.
Gensler is founder of Gensler, an international architecture and design firm that grew from a three-person office in San Francisco in 1965, to a company with 30 offices around the world with more than 3,000 employees. He has been a transformative figure in the industry, having pioneered the discipline of commercial tenant interior design and encouraging the use of interdisciplinary design teams. Throughout his career, Gensler also has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to sustainable architecture and he has strongly supported efforts to advance design education.
"We are pleased to recognize Mr. Gensler with the Institute's highest honor," said CSI President Eugene Valentine. "His innovative and exceptional contributions to the industry are to be greatly commended."
The CSI award is named after Michelangelo Buonarotti, the renowned artist, architect, and poet of the Italian Renaissance. It recognizes individuals for a lifetime of distinguished, innovative, and far-reaching service to the design and construction industry, exhibited by excellence in the mastery of creating and sustaining the built environment.
Previous award winners include Dr. Charles H. Thornton, Ph.D., P.E., founding principal of the Thornton-Tomasetti Group Inc., and landscape architect Lawrence Halprin, FASLA.
