Art Gensler, Founder of World's Largest Design Firm, Dies at 85 May 12, 2021 Art Gensler, industry titan and Interior Design Hall of Fame member, passed away May 10 at his home in Mill Valley, California, at age 85. During his 65-year career as an architect and an entrepreneur, he transformed what started out as a three-person practice in San Francisco into the world's largest design firm. Launching offices around the globe, he and Gensler the firm forever changed the profession by elevating the practice of interior design and inviting client collaboration. Since opening its doors in 1965, Gensler has amassed an unwavering reputation of excellence stemming from its “one-firm firm” culture, which values “we” over “me,” stressing the importance of teamwork. This ethos has won and guided countless projects worldwide, starting with such early clients as The Gap and expanding to office headquarters—including TikTok’s and the Motion Picture Association’s—airports, showrooms, hospitality environments, even the Shanghai Tower, recognized as the second tallest building in the world. They’ve all lead to widespread admiration both for Art and the practice.