At Gresham Smith, one of the great highlights of what makes us unique is our commitment to Genuine Ingenuity. This means we genuinely care — not just about the design process, but about the people who will ultimately inhabit our spaces, and the communities impacted by our projects. Our care fuels a relentless drive to approach every challenge with creativity and innovation. We constantly push ourselves to evolve professionally, embrace digital transformation, and rethink the design process to deliver meaningful solutions that truly stand out. This ethos is reflected across our projects, culture, and client relationships, making us a place where professionals can thrive and make a lasting difference.
Here’s why I believe Gresham Smith stands apart, and why it could be the perfect fit for you!
A Culture Built on Core Values
At the core of our success and identity are four fundamental values: integrity, commitment, teamwork, and respect. These aren’t just words framed on a wall — they’re living principles that influence every decision, interaction, and project we undertake.
Integrity guides us through complex situations where the right path might not always be the easiest. In my own experience, countless decisions boil down to doing what’s ethically right for the communities we serve, even when compromises are necessary. This honesty solidifies trust with clients and teammates alike.
Commitment isn’t only about meeting deadlines or budgets; it’s about unwavering support for our colleagues and clients. Early in my career here, I was often leaned on to support others but also received strong team backing when I faced challenges. That reciprocal commitment creates a culture of mutual support and collective achievement.
Teamwork is fundamental to how we operate. Our projects often require collaboration across disciplines, offices, and markets. Breaking down silos, sharing knowledge, and blending perspectives lead to richer ideas and better outcomes. No one person can do it all — we succeed together.
Finally, respect nurtures an inclusive environment where everyone’s voice matters and everyone belongs. From approachable leadership to a culture that embraces risk-taking and learning from failure, respect allows innovation and growth to flourish.
Together, these values create a nurturing environment that supports professional development and personal fulfillment. Whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, you’ll find a place where your contributions are valued, and you’re given space to grow in your own unique way.
Innovation: Shaping the Future of Design
Innovation at Gresham Smith goes beyond adopting new technologies — it’s embedded in the mindset of genuine care paired with ingenious problem-solving. Our tagline, Genuine Ingenuity, captures this perfectly: we care deeply about our process, the people, and the resulting impact, compelling us to innovate thoughtfully and meaningfully. Another thing that makes us unique is the supporting structure that enables this.
Internally, innovation is fostered through several key initiatives. The Futures Lab continuously researches emerging trends and technologies, serving as a knowledge hub to keep the firm on the forefront. The Collaboratory encourages multi-market and cross-disciplinary teams to come together, breaking down traditional barriers and promoting shared problem-solving. When ideas demonstrate promise, they move to Studio-X — our platform for scaling innovations so they can be integrated firmwide.
What makes this truly unique is our willingness to take calculated risks while ensuring alignment with the firm’s strategic vision. From reimagining the entire design process to challenging project lifecycles—starting from project inception through decommissioning — innovation is a deliberate, grassroots effort fueled by our people. We believe that by empowering employees to challenge norms and pursue bold ideas, we not only increase innovation but also prepare ourselves to lead the future of our profession.
Relationship-Driven Design: Co-Creating with Clients
At Gresham Smith, design is never done in isolation. We believe that the best outcomes come from genuine partnerships with our clients and communities. Recently, our innovation efforts have emphasized relationship-driven design, shifting from simply producing good design to co-creating with our clients and augmenting the incredible work that our professionals can do. This collaborative ownership significantly enhances the client experience and project results.
Our team members are empowered to deepen client relationships, moving beyond transactional interactions to trusted partnerships. This allows us to anticipate client needs more effectively and adapt creatively. Combined with internal collaboration, where employees are also partners in driving innovation, this relationship-first approach underpins how we deliver services in the evolving digital landscape.
This dual focus on partnership, both externally with clients and internally among employees, makes Gresham Smith distinctive. We’re not provider and customer; we’re collaborators alongside our clients, committed to creating positive impact together.
Rooted in Community: Commitment to Social Impact
Our commitment extends beyond buildings and infrastructure—we are uniquely and deeply invested in the communities we serve. Almost every project we work on is centered around delivering benefits for local populations and improving the quality of life.
Gresham Smith actively encourages and supports employee volunteerism and community involvement. These ongoing engagements keep us connected to community needs and reinforce the real human impact of our work. Leadership champions this culture, and many employees, especially those newer to their careers, find meaning in this opportunity to serve.
This continuous connection between professional role and community impact nurtures empathy and understanding, making us better designers, engineers, and collaborators.
At Gresham Smith, you’ll find an environment that values your core humanity as much as your professional skills. Our foundation of integrity, commitment, teamwork, and respect fosters growth and collaboration. Our culture of Genuine Ingenuity creates space for creative problem-solving and leadership in design innovation. Our relationship-driven approach ensures your work matters — not just for our clients but for the people and communities behind every project. And our deep commitment to social impact means your role contributes to more than just infrastructure, but to better lives.
Together, we’re not just executing work; we’re shaping communities and the future of design. This allows us unique paths of growth as professionals. I, for one, am truly proud to be here for it.
