Happy, but Conservative Culture - Architectural Designer Gensler Employee Review

4.0
Nov 23, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

This is the happiest architecture firm at which I've ever worked. The compensation and hours are great, and there is emphasize on community through company-sponsored happy hours and weekly studio meetings. It is possible to have your design ideas heard, even as a young designer. There are many smart, talented, driven architects who put their egos aside and are interested in collaborating to make great projects.

Cons

Gensler Houston is NOT a good environment for female architects. There are few female leaders and the women seem to be the first to go in layoffs. Women are often overlooked for design roles and some male principals just simply don't work with women. The percentage of women in architecture positions (not interiors, marketing, or business) at Gensler Houston is significantly lower than even the industry standard. I spoke with many women who felt either pigeon-holed into technical positions or were afraid of losing their jobs. This is a client-oriented firm, and many projects suffer from a lack of an overarching vision or lose many initial design ideas in a process of value-engineering. Lack of middle-management leaves talented young staff without sufficient guidance.

avatar
Gensler Response
10y
Thanks for providing feedback on your experience at Gensler. We find it incredibly valuable! It was great to hear that you enjoyed our culture and our emphasis on community. It was also nice to hear that you think Gensler is the "happiest architecture firm!" We're open to feedback of all kinds, and we take your comments to heart, especially those related to the advancement of women architects in the Houston office. We recognize that female professionals still face obstacles in the workplace, and Gensler has been especially proactive in promoting women to senior-level leadership roles. Our firm is led by Diane Hoskins (our Co-CEO), 40% of our Board of Director is female, and 37% of our office leaders are women. Gensler was even recognized by ULI for its success in promoting women to leadership roles. We're hopeful that our commitment to professional development programs will lead to even more leadership opportunities for those that represent all dimensions of diversity, including women in architecture. Again, thank you for your feedback. Rest assured, we will share your comments with our leadership team.

Explore other reviews about Gensler

5.0
Apr 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good firm to work at

Cons

Nothing bad about the firm

avatar
Gensler Response
2mo
Thanks for providing feedback on your experience at Gensler. We value our interns and love to hear their perspectives. We are thrilled and delighted to see your 5-star rating!
5.0
Jul 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Resources, project opportunities, benefits, talented coworkers, respectful

Cons

Politics, corporate, ego-driven, company is too big, quantity over quality

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All