LEGO Burj Khalifa, User Manual, Page: 2 / 36

Adrian D. Smith
With notable supertall skyscrapers such as the Buri Khalifa,
Jin Mao Tower and the Trump International Hotel & Tower
to his name, Adrian D. Smith is one of the most recognized
and respected architects in the world today.
Born in Chicago in 1944, Adrian moved to the
West Coast as a young child and was brought up in San
Clemente, California. Growing up next to the ocean
and beach instilled in him a respect for the relationship
between a building and its environment. And this “sense of
place”, as he described it, would later play a major part in
his work as an architect.
After studying at Texas A&M University, a chance
encounter back in California led him to a apply for a job with
the renowned architect company, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
(SOM), in Chicago. In 1967, Adrian began his thirty nine year
career with the company working on the John Hancock
Center. From 1980 to 2003 Adrian was a Design Partner in the
Chicago office of SOM and a Consulting Design Partner from
2004 to 2006. Adrian also served as the SOM’s Chief Executive
Officer (1993 to 1995). He was the Chairman for the SOM
Foundation (1990 to 1995) which serves to recognize and
nurture students in architecture, design, urban design and
structural engineering.
After nearly four decades with Skimore, Owings &
Merrill (1967–2006), Smith left to found his own firm
(Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture) with Gordon Gill
and Robert Forest.
Projects under his design direction have won over 90
major awards for design excellence, including five international
awards, eight National AIA awards, 22 Chicago AIA awards,
and two ULI Awards
for Excellence. Smith’s
work at SOM has been
featured in major
museums in the United
States, South America,
Europe, Asia and the
Middle East. He is a
Senior Fellow of the
Design Futures Council.
Adrian D. Smith (Image: Emaar Properties)
Placehol
der (Adri
an Smith
)
2
21008_BI.indd 2 23/12/2010 12:47 PM