San Diego

Gensler San Diego brings over two decades of local market experience across a breadth of spaces in our city and beyond. Our team of design professionals offers deep local expertise combined with access to our firm’s global resources. We work in close partnership with our clients to reimagine the future of hospitality, mixed-use, airports, commercial, education, workplace, health and wellness, science, civic and culture, sports facilities, and more.

Awards and Recognition

News

[FPO] The Architect’s Guide to San Diego

News

[FPO] Office, Industrial Markets Recovery

News

[FPO] Brigantine Proposing $26M Redevelopment of Fish Market Restaurant on San Diego Bay

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[FPO] $3.8B Terminal 1 Part of Decades-Long Project to Overhaul SAN

No. 1

Architecture firm, San Diego Business Journal

20+

Years Experience In the San Diego Market

250+

Design Awards

No. 1

Architecture firm, San Diego Business Journal

20+

Years Experience In the San Diego Market

250+

Design Awards

[NEEDS INPUT: alt text] — San Diego International Airport is the region’s primary gateway, acting as the city’s front door to 25 million annual visitors, residents and businesses each year.

Selected Projects

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San Diego International Airport Terminal 1 & Roadways

Reimagining the city as a global gateway; San Diego’s new Terminal 1 blends sustainability, culture, and design to reflect the community it serves.

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Petco Park, Western Metal Supply Co. Building

Strategic upgrades to Petco Park’s historic Western Metal Supply Co. Building elevate retail, hospitality, and rooftop spaces while deepening fan engagement.

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San Diego State University, Snapdragon Stadium

SDSU’s flexible, LEED-Gold Snapdragon Stadium extends performance beyond game day as a year-round civic anchor for campus, community, and San Diego.

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Southwestern College Student Union

Southwestern College’s new Student Union creates a vibrant center of gravity for campus life, bringing student services and community together to foster access, visibility, and belonging.

What’s Shaping Our Work

Research

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[FPO] 5 Ways Suburban Office Campuses Are Transforming Into Thriving Communities

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[FPO] The Perpetual Asset: Design for an Evolving Market

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[FPO] The Future of Work Is Human: Designing for Culture and Experience

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Office Managing Directors

Tom Heffernan

Tom is Co-Managing Director of Gensler’s San Diego office and Global Education Practice Area Leader, bringing more than 25 years of experience designing and planning environments that support learning, collaboration, and community.

Elif Tinney

As a Principal and Managing Director of Gensler's San Diego office, Elif has more than 25 years of experience leading workplace projects with clients including Apple, PIF, SDG&E, Qualcomm, Microsoft, Alexandria Real Estate, Samsung, BNY, and Prebys, among many others.

Regional and Office Leadership

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John Adams

John brings 30 years of experience as an architect, real estate strategist, and planner to his role as Regional Managing Principal for Gensler's Southwest region. He leads clients and teams across six offices in delivering innovative, high-performing design solutions. He serves on Gensler's Management Committee and is invested in the continued renewal of our cities.

J. Kevin Heinly

Kevin is Co-Regional Managing Principal of Gensler's Southwest region and Co-Managing Director of Gensler San Diego.

Stacy Cannon

As a Principal and Studio Director in Gensler’s San Diego office, Stacy Cannon brings a client-focused approach, technical expertise, and strategic leadership to complex architecture and workplace projects.

Darrel Fullbright

Darrel Fullbright is a global leader in Gensler’s Office Building Practice Area, guiding projects across a diverse range of types and scales.

Richard King

As a Principal for Gensler San Diego, Richard has helped grow the Cities and Health sector work in higher education and healthcare across the region, including work on seven University of California campuses, multiple California State Universities and community colleges, and private colleges and medical centers across California.

Garrett van Leeuwen

As a Principal and Design Director, Garrett brings a dynamic blend of creativity, technical expertise, and strategic vision to every project.

Life at Gensler

Gensler San Diego brings together diverse perspectives, local expertise, and a shared passion for design to create meaningful impact for our clients and communities.

@genslersandiego

Join the Team

We’re looking for talented designers, architects, strategists, and thinkers wanting to make an impact.

Join a team that’s shaping the future of San Diego and beyond.

Open Roles [NEEDS INPUT: careers link]

FAQ

What is Gensler San Diego and what does the firm do?

Gensler San Diego is a local studio of Gensler, a global architecture, design, and planning firm. The office provides architecture, interior design, urban planning, and strategic consulting services across a wide range of sectors, from airports and life sciences campuses to workplaces, sports and entertainment venues, and civic spaces.

What sectors and project types does Gensler San Diego specialize in?

The San Diego office works across a broad range of sectors, including aviation and transportation, life sciences and research, workplace strategy and interiors, hospitality and retail, civic and cultural facilities, and adaptive reuse. This breadth enables the team to bring cross-sector thinking and diverse expertise to complex projects.

How does Gensler San Diego approach sustainability?

Sustainability is embedded in how the studio approaches every project, guided by Gensler’s firmwide commitment to a net-zero future. From reducing operational carbon to improving resilience and resource efficiency, the team works with clients to create high-performing places that deliver long-term value. Projects such as San Diego International Airport’s Terminal 1 demonstrate how sustainability can be integrated at the scale of major public infrastructure.

Why do clients choose Gensler San Diego?

As part of a global firm, the San Diego office combines international expertise and industry-leading research with deep local knowledge and longstanding community relationships. The team brings together strategy, design, and technical excellence to help clients solve complex challenges and create lasting impact.

All Gensler Locations

Washington, D.C.

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Washington, D.C.