Author: Colleen Zhang
Editor: Henry Lin
Brief Bio:
Jeanne Gang, born in 1964, is an American architect raised in Belvidere, Illinois. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Illinois in 1986 and a Master of Architecture with Distinction from the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 1993. She is the founder and leader of Studio Gang, an architecture and urban design practice based in Chicago.
Architectural Style:
Jeanne Gang’s architectural style uses a harmonious blend of nature and culture, driven by a deep appreciation for the intricate relationships between ecological systems and human communities. Her designs are more than just structures; they are dynamic spaces that foster connection among people, community, and environment.
Gang is forward thinking perspective on the design of educational spaces. She questions the traditional one-way communication model of education. As an advocate for architectural designs, she supports collaborative, engaging, and joyful learning environments. Thus, it is not just about creating buildings; it's about fostering communities, nurturing environments, and shaping experiences that shape her architectural style.
Alongside her architectural projects, she and her studio, Studio Gang, engage in research, publications, and exhibitions, embodying what she calls "actionable idealism." This aspect of her work focuses on using design to raise public awareness and drive societal change. Her firm has advocated for promoting ecological biodiversity in urban spaces, promoting bird-safe building techniques, and creating an experimental prairie ecosystem atop their Chicago office.
Notable Works:
Vista Tower (Chicago, Illinois):
The Vista Tower is currently the tallest building that a woman architect has ever designed.
The tower presents itself as three interconnected volumes of differing heights, each moving rhythmically in and out of the plane in a flowing appearance. It also uses a special material of thermal-rated glass in a gradient of blues and whites, taking its cue from water; an exploration into new glass to bring out the human shape of a figure.
The inspiration behind the skyscraper encompasses a blend of nature-inspired aesthetics —specifically a type of crystal formation called "frustum," which looks like a pyramid without a pointy peak. Functional environmental considerations were also considered to decrease wind pressure.
Aqua Tower (Chicago, Illinois)
The Aqua Tower, at eight hundred and fifty-nine feet, was the tallest structure ever designed by a female-led firm during that time.
This 82-story mixed-use residential skyscraper, completed in 2010, is one of Jeanne Gang’s most famous works.
It is also famous for its unique balcony design, which creates the illusion of undulating waves rippling across the building's facade. The rippling surfaces suggest a natural topography of hills, valleys, and pools that are implemented into the tower's design, which also promotes energy efficiency and offers residents spectacular views of the city.
Gilder Center (New York) :
This piece was created for the American Museum of Natural History. The design vastly improves the museum campus's functionality and visitor experience. The project creates more than thirty connections among ten different buildings by establishing a new, fully accessible entrance on Columbus Avenue and a strong east-west axis. In the interior of the building, the stone cladding, deep-set windows and trees help cool the building during the summer and bring light and air circulation deep into the building.
The architecture was inspired by natural form-making processes. The central, five-story atrium of the building greets arriving visitors like an intriguing landscape ready to be explored, similar to a porous geologic formation shaped by the flow of wind and water.
Award and Recognitions:
Her work has been exhibited widely, including at the Museum of Modern Art, the International Venice Architecture Biennale, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
The Charlotte Perriand Award (2023)
Louis I. Kahn Memorial Award (2017)
ULI Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development (2022)
Architect of the Year by the Architectural Review (2016)
Works Cited:
Dogan, Reyyan. “8 outstanding works of Jeanne Gang.” Parametric Architecture, 12 October 2023, https://parametric-architecture.com/8-outstanding-works-of-jeanne-gang/. Accessed 17 January 2024.
McKnight, Jenna. “Jeanne Gang explains design for Chicago's Vista skyscraper.” Dezeen, 22 September 2015, https://www.dezeen.com/2015/09/22/jeanne-gang-movie-vista-residences-skyscraper-chicago-waterfront/. Accessed 17 January 2024.
“Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation at the American Museum of Natural History.” Studio Gang, https://studiogang.com/project/gilder-center. Accessed 17 January 2024.
“The St. Regis Chicago (Vista Tower).” Studio Gang, https://studiogang.com/project/vista-tower. Accessed 17 January 2024.
Waldman, Amy. “Jeanne Gang in the Wild.” The New Yorker, 12 May 2014, https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/05/19/the-urban-wild. Accessed 17 January 2024.
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