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Adrian Smith photo By Goyaforya

Top 10 Things to Know About Architect Adrian Smith

Architect Adrian Smith was born on August 19, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. He is famously known for designing the world’s tallest structure known as Burj Khalifa. Other projects he was part of include the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago, Zifeng Tower in Nanjing, and the Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai.

Even though he was born in Chicago he grew up in Southern California. When Smith was only four his parents migrated to Southern California and hence ended up growing there.

Adrian’s interest in drawing started early and his mother noticed and suggested that he study architecture. He joined Texas A&M University and studied for a Bachelor of Architecture. However, he did not graduate since he started working for Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill in 1967. He later joined the University of Illinois, Chicago College of Architecture and Arts where he finished his studies and graduated in 1969.

1. Adrian Designed the World’s Tallest Structure, Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa photo By Laika ac

One of the interesting things to know about Adrian is that he designed one of the iconic buildings the Burj Khalifa. It is the tallest structure in the world with a total height of 829.8m and a roof height of 828m.

Burj Khalifa is a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It has been the tallest structure and building in the world since its topping out in 2009. Its construction began back in 2004 and the exterior was completed in later 2009.

2. He Founded Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture

Smith was the founder of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG), an architecture firm and design firm based in Chicago. This firm focuses on the design of high-performance, energy-efficient, and sustainable architecture on an international scale.

He founded the firm in 2006 after quitting the SOM firm where he had worked for more than 30 years of his life.

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3. Adrian has Completed Several Projects

Adrian Smith photo By Goyaforya

Throughout Smith’s architectural career, he has completed several projects when was a partner at Skidmore Owings & Merrill or as Design Partner at Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture.

Some of his finished projects include Central Park Tower (2021), Trump International Hotel and Tower (2009), Chicago Central Area Decarbonization Plan (2011), Waldorf Astoria Beijing (2014), General Motors Renaissance Center (2003), Washington University Arts and Sciences Building (2000), Aramco Headquarters Office Building (1993), AT&T Corporate Center (currently Franklin Center) in 1991, and Summer of New Hope – Warren Blvd Project (1996) among others.

4. He has Worked for Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM)

Skidmore Owings Merrill photo By Szczebrzeszynski

Smith worked for Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill for a long time.  When he was a student at Texas A&M University he started working for SOM and stopped going to school. He began working for this American architectural, urban planning, and engineering firm in 1967.

From 1980 to 2003, he was a Design Partner and worked as a Consulting Design Partner in the year 2003 to 2006 in SOM. Later in 2006, he founded his firm and stopped working for SOM to give his firm total attention.

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5. He Attended Two Architectural University

Texas A&M University photo By Oldag07

Initially, Smith attended Texas A&M University to pursue a Bachelor of architecture while being involved with the Corps of Cadets, a student military organization. Before he graduated, Adrian started working for Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) in 1967 where he worked for many years.

Later, he joined the University of Illinois, (the largest university in the Chicago metropolitan area) Chicago College of Architecture and Arts where he finished his studies and graduated in 1969.

6. His Designs have Won Several Awards

One important thing to know about Smith is that he is a good architect. He has designed many buildings and several of his projects have won awards. Approximately he has won more than 125 awards for his projects.

Smith has won 5 international awards, 35 State and Chicago AIA Awards, 9 National American Institute of Architects Awards, and 3 Urban Land Institute Awards for Excellence. His work at SOM has been featured in museums in the United States, Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East.

7. Smith has Several Projects Under Construction

Despite the many projects Smith has completed, he has other projects under construction. All these projects are under his Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG) firm.

Some of this Smith’s projects under construction include Wuhan Greenland Center in Wuhan, China, 830 Brickell in Miami, United States, Chengdu Greenland Tower in Chengdu, China and Jeddah Tower in Megatall, Jeddah which his construction is at hold.

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8. He Co-Founded the Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Firm (MEP)

Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing refer to the installation of services that provide a comfortable space for the building occupants. In commercial and residential buildings, specialized MEP engineering firms offer these services.

Two years after founding (AS+GG), Smith co-founded the MEP firm of PositivEnergy Practice in 2008 under his firm (AS+GG) which specifically focused on the environmental engineering of high-performance, energy-efficient architecture.

9. Adrian has Some Unbuilt Projects that he Designed

Adrian has several buildings that he has designed. Some are completed, others are under construction and others are unbuilt projects to date. There are several projects he designed that are yet to be built.

7 South Dearborn is one of the unbuilt buildings designed by Smith. It was a planned skyscraper in Chicago, United States. The building was designed to be 1,567 feet and it would be the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere at the time.

King Abdullah Economic City is another Smith’s designed building that is unbuilt. It was a megaproject announced by the former king of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 2005.

Other unbuilt projects designed by Adrian include Xiamen Posts and Telecommunications Building in Xiamen, China, Mitsui Headquarters Competition in Tokyo, Japan, Masdar Headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Samsung Togok in Seoul, Korea and 1 Dubai in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

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10. Despite Been Born in Chicago he Grew Up in Southern California

Adrian Smith was born in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. on August 19, 1944, and became a citizen of Chicago by birth. However, he did not grow up in Chicago.

He was a son to James William Smith (his Father) and Joanne Smith (his mother). When he was only four-year-old, his family moved to Southern California where he was raised and grew up.