Adrian Devaun Smith (born August 19, 1944) is an American architect. He designed the world's tallest structure, Burj Khalifa, as well as the building projected to surpass it, the Jeddah Tower. A long-time principal of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, he founded his own architectural partnership firm, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, in Chicago in 2006. Some of his other works include the Central Park Tower in New York City, Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago, Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai, and Zifeng Tower in Nanjing.
Early life and education Adrian Smith was born in Chicago in 1944. When he was four years old, his family moved to Southern California, where he grew up. His interest in drawing led his mother to suggest that he study architecture.
Smith attended Texas A&M University, pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture while being involved with the Corps of Cadets. However, he did not graduate and instead started working for Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) in 1967.Texas A&M He finished his education at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Architecture and Arts, graduating in 1969. In 2013, Smith was presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Letters degree from Texas A&M University.Texas A&M
Career Smith spent many years at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in Chicago, beginning in 1967. He served as a Design Partner from 1980 to 2003 and as a Consulting Design Partner from 2003 to 2006.
In 2006, he founded Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG), which is dedicated to designing high-performance, energy-efficient, and sustainable architecture on an international scale. In 2008, he co-founded the MEP firm PositivEnergy Practice (PEP), which specializes in environmental engineering for high-performance, energy-efficient architectural design.
Contributions to architecture The petal shape of the Burj Khalifa was a major architectural contribution by Smith. The shape of the Burj Khalifa was inspired by the spider lily flower. The three-petal shape reconfigures as the building height increases. The change in pattern along the height does not allow the flow pattern to organize. This confuses the wind and protects the building from the effects of vortex shedding. Smith was also credited with introducing the first large-scale commercial passive double-wall structure in the United States, located at 601 Congress Street in Boston in 2006.
Recognition Projects Smith designed have won over 125 awards, including 5 international awards, 9 National American Institute of Architects Awards, 35 State and Chicago AIA Awards, and 3 Urban Land Institute Awards for Excellence. He was the recipient of the CTBUH 2011 Lynn S. Beedle Lifetime Achievement Award. Smith's work at SOM has been featured in museums in the United States, South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He is a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council.
Selected projects The following is an abridged list of work Smith was primarily responsible for, as a partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill: or as Design Partner at Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture.
Completed
Building Year City Country Firm830 Brickell2023MiamiUnited StatesAS+GGWuhan Greenland Center2022WuhanChinaAS+GGCentral Park Tower2021New York CityUnited StatesAS+GGExpo 20172017AstanaKazakhstanAS+GGWaldorf Astoria Beijing2014BeijingChinaAS+GGFKI Tower2013SeoulKoreaAS+GGChicago Central Area Decarbonization Plan2011ChicagoUnited StatesAS+GGPearl River Tower2011GuangzhouChinaSOMBurj Khalifa2010DubaiUnited Arab EmiratesSOMTrump International Hotel and Tower (Chicago)2009ChicagoUnited StatesSOMBroadgate Tower2009LondonUnited KingdomSOMChemsunny Plaza2008BeijingChinaSOMJubilee Park Pavilion2004LondonUnited KingdomSOMTower Palace III2004SeoulKoreaSOMCanary Wharf, International banking headquarters buildings: HQ1, DS1, DS3, DS4; FC21991–2004LondonUnited KingdomSOM601 Congress Street, Manulife Financial2003BostonUnited StatesSOMGeneral Motors Renaissance Center2003DetroitUnited StatesSOMMillennium Park and Millennium Park Master Plan2002ChicagoUnited StatesSOMSede do BankBoston2002São PauloBrazilSOMWashington University Arts and Sciences Building2000St. LouisUnited StatesSOMJin Mao Tower1998ShanghaiChinaSOMWashington University Psychology Building1996St. LouisUnited StatesSOMSummer of New Hope – Warren Blvd Project1996ChicagoUnited StatesSOMAramco Headquarters Office Building1993DhahranSaudi ArabiaSOM10 Ludgate Place1992LondonUnited KingdomSOMAT&T Corporate Center (currently Franklin Center)1991ChicagoUnited StatesSOMNBC Tower1989ChicagoUnited StatesSOMRowes Wharf1988BostonUnited StatesSOMOlympia Centre1986ChicagoUnited StatesSOMUnited Gulf Bank Building1986ManamaBahrainSOMBanco de Occidente1980Guatemala CityGuatemalaSOM
Currently under construction
Project Type City Country Status Completion Date FirmChengdu Greenland TowerSupertallChengduChinaConstruction2026AS+GGJeddah TowerMegatallJeddahSaudi ArabiaConstruction2028AS+GG
Significant unbuilt projects Building City Country FirmMasdar HeadquartersAbu DhabiUnited Arab EmiratesAS+GG1 DubaiDubaiUnited Arab EmiratesAS+GG7 South DearbornChicagoUnited StatesSOMKing Abdullah CityKing Abdullah City Saudi ArabiaSOMMitsui Headquarters CompetitionTokyoJapanSOMSamsung TogokSeoulKoreaSOMXiamen Posts and Telecommunications BuildingXiamenChinaSOM
Monographs Smith, Adrian, The Architecture of Adrian Smith, SOM: Toward a Sustainable Future, Images Publishing Group Pty Ltd, Smith, Adrian, Pro Architect 24: Adrian D Smith, Archiworld Company Ltd,
References
External links
Bloomberg Businessweek 'Shedding the Vortex' March 24, 2014 Popular Science 'The Rise of the Supertall' February 15, 2013 Modern Luxury 'On Top of the World' March 15, 2012 The Wall Street Journal 'The State of Super-Tall Towers' July 8, 2011 The Architect's Newspaper 'Smart Grid City' January 17, 2011 Chicago Tribune Article 'Sweet new start for architect Adrian Smith' Feb 24, 2008