Gensler publishes an annual Design Forecast on the state of design trends internationally. Led by the Gensler Research Institute, the Design Forecast identifies the most impactful trends informing the places we live, work, play, and how we get there. Following the recent announcement of Gensler’s new office at Nashville Yards, I reached out to Brian Hubbard, AIA, Kelly Cathey, AIA, and Christopher Goggin, AIA, IIDA, Assoc. AIA, RID, NCIDQ, LEED AP, here in Nashville; to get their take on the firm’s outlook on design trends regionally.
“Design is a powerful catalyst for change, especially as cities and communities face unprecedented challenges. Gensler’s Design Forecast 2026 explores the solutions responding to those pressures — from climate resilience to new ways of working — and highlights how design can deliver meaningful impact at every scale. If you’re looking for the ideas shaping tomorrow’s world, this is your roadmap. Packed with incredible insights and powered by cutting-edge digital tools, it’s a celebration of Gensler’s 60 plus years of design leadership and the belief in the power of design to create a better world.”
A link to Geneler’s 2026 Design Forecast can be found at the end of the Q&A.
Question 1
With the increasing popularity of mixed-use developments, how can single-use developments still thrive?
Mixed-use developments have flourished over the last two decades because they offer consumers a more efficient and economically affordable way to realize the live-work-play lifestyle they want. Developers and retailers are eager to satisfy this demand and have followed through with build-out projects from scratch, or by adapting the reuse of historic/unused buildings. Walkability is also a significant factor contributing to the popularity of mixed-use developments. If people do not need a car to shop for groceries, buy new clothes, or go to a movie, this becomes an attractive quality of life issue, especially for those with families. Such an environment also decreases carbon emissions and injects a new sense of energy into a neighborhood.
On the other hand, the need for single-use development is not going away. Essential facilities such as schools, hospitals, government buildings, and infrastructure plants are not a natural partner for mixed-use developments, but they serve a singular purpose, and they do it very well. Success for these projects depends on location and their ability to respond to fundamental questions about accessibility, purpose, and lifespan. Schools are ideally suited to residential neighborhoods. Hospitals, while sometimes connected to high-density urban areas, still serve one purpose above all others. The same applies to government and infrastructure facilities (electrical, water, etc.), even as they are not typically places that generate interest as social gathering spots.
The point is, this is not an either/or decision. We have a need for both.
Question 2
Talk about the new demands of the incoming workforce and how Gensler is responding to them during the design process.
The demands of the workforce in general are shifting, regardless of age or career tenure. Younger generations may be fluent in innovative technology, but they certainly share something with their older peers: a desire for spaces that facilitate their professional, physical, and mental well-being. In years past, workplace expectations were quite different: you clocked in, got your work done, clocked out, and then went home.
Today, employers increasingly embrace the notion that investment in their employees goes way beyond the cubicle. Flexible office layouts, focus rooms, hybrid work models, spaces that support neurodiversity, and working parents are all examples of how employees are doing more than just providing their employees with a desk. Quiet zones, biophilic spaces, and dedicated amenities do more than lower stress levels and help employees let down their defense mechanisms; they serve as invitations for them to stay and instill in them a greater sense of belonging.
Question 3
Many companies are actively trying to return their workforce to the office. Talk about the role transportation is playing in the success or failure of those initiatives.
Since the pandemic, hybrid and work-from-home models have become more commonplace than ever, making the task of enticing workers back to the office more challenging. For many, the choice to work at home provides them with the spaces of focus, comfort, and convenience they need to become as productive as possible. Most conveniently, there is no commute. In 2025, the U.S. Census Bureau released its research findings on how long Americans are spending traveling to work – whether by self-transport or mass transit. The mean one-way commute for those driving to work was 27.2 minutes, but that number is steadily rising.
Whether driving a car or riding the train or bus, workers are more amenable to commuting when they know their destination puts them in the best position possible for them to succeed. Many companies have responded by seeking mixed-use opportunities with walkable access to restaurants, cafes, and recreational facilities, and collaborating with municipal transportation departments. The latter is an effort to better align office locales with mass transit routes, making commutes to work a bit easier.
Additionally, companies are rethinking the interior design of their office spaces. As mentioned above, amenities as well as components like office adaptability, lighting, and biophilic materials are now a critical part of office design, turning the office from a place workers must be into a place they want to stay.
Question 4
What innovations in multimodal transportation are on the horizon from which Nashville might benefit?
Strategic positioning of housing and mixed-use facilities around transit stations continues to be an effective way for cities to not only generate new ridership, but create new, vibrant communal gathering spaces while limiting greenhouse gas emissions. That synergy between mobility, housing, and energy is critical for municipalities and corporate leaders to understand.
Companies that successfully persuade municipalities to devote more funds to public infrastructure will continue to lead the charge on transportation accessibility. Bus and rail transportation need support from city and business leaders; that includes adjusting routes for efficiency and demographic changes. While some developers are willing to wait for that public/private cooperation, others are moving the ball forward on their own terms. Innovations such as self-driving vehicles and heli-taxi hubs, together with micromobility modes such as e-bikes and scooters, could potentially entirely change the dynamic for commuters and employers alike.
Question 5
With new office construction experiencing a nationwide decline, talk about the challenges facing organizations in need of new real estate.
Even with a nationwide decrease in new office construction, the demand for Class A office space is strong and is still attractive to companies looking to establish a new headquarters. These spaces allow for more amenities such as gyms, cafes, outdoor walking trails, and curated indoor spaces for workers and visitors alike. This again references the shifting demands of the workforce and creating spaces where workers feel invited to stay, rather than required to remain.
For companies simply looking to establish their footprint in a market, new real estate is hard to come by, which means they need to think creatively about how to repurpose or use existing spaces. This is where adaptable/reuse comes into play. Breathing new life into vacant buildings, especially historic ones, can serve to reflect a small, unique flavor of the community back to the workers who live there. At the same time, the added challenge for developers when modernizing existing buildings is introducing that same adaptability, resilience, and workplace experience demanded today.
To learn more about Gensler’s 2026 Design Forecast visit the website (here).
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