CHICAGO.- Adrian Smith, FAIA, RIBA, and Gordon Gill, AIA announce the formation of their new design practice Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. The firm will focus on the design of high performance and sustainable architecture on an international scale, intending to be a leader in the development of new strategies for environmentally conscious buildings.

Smith, a former Design Partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), and Gill, a former Associate Partner at SOM, have extensive international experience in the creation of mixed-use projects and supertall towers. Their recent collaboration while at SOM, a zero energy tower in Guangzhou, China, demonstrates the designers' commitment to sustainability. The project aims to be the world's first supertall tower that produces as much energy as it consumes. It is currently featured in the exhibitions "Sustainable Architecture in Chicago" and "Massive Change" both at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.

Smith and Gill emphasize that while the firm is dedicated to design quality and energy efficiency, they are not committed to a single aesthetic. Smith and Gill said, "Our philosophy is based on a holistic approach to design that integrates all disciplines. Because the process is predicated on creating high-performance designs, it always results in a unique architectural expression."

Combined, Smith and Gill have over 50 years of design experience. While at SOM, Smith designed such projects as Burj Dubai, slated to be the world's tallest tower; Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai; McGraw Hill, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley European Headquarters and 201 Broadgate Tower in London; Rowes Wharf in Boston; United Gulf Bank in Manama; ATT/USG Headquarters, the Millennium Park Master Plan and Trump Tower Chicago, all in Chicago; and 601 Congress Street in Boston, the first all-double wall LEED(R) certified building in the country. Projects under his direction have won 90 awards for design excellence.

In addition to 10 years of experience at SOM, Gill has previously worked for design firms in Orlando, Detroit and Toronto. As a senior designer at SOM, his work included Pearl River Tower in Guangzhou; Nanjing Greenland Tower; Samsumg Togok Tower in Seoul; the Jesse Brown Medical Center in Chicago; and the Virginia Beach Convention Center, the recipient of an AIA Chicago Distinguished Building Award.