Entertainment
We believe entertainment has the power to shape the human experience. Our creative visionaries and design strategists develop impactful stories, craft groundbreaking experiences, and realize them for a global community.
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We connect creators with developers to establish partnerships and create unprecedented entertainment projects, globally. By shepherding audacious creative goals and matching them with smart strategy, we deliver meaningful impact — revitalizing our cities and communities by connecting people to ideas, fun, and each other.
—Bob Weis & Lexi Barry, Entertainment leaders
38 Items
TOCA Social
London, United Kingdom
Gensler partnered with TOCA Social to create a new and exciting leisure and hospitality destination centered around the globally adored phenomena — football. Visitors are invited to experience the journey of a footballer through the clever play on space typologies found in football stadiums.
Plantronics: Experience Design
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Plantronics expo center is a fully immersive experience. With nods to their rich history and culture around every turn, the expo center surrounds visitors in the company’s brand.
American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog
New York, New York
Centered around the relationship between humans and dogs, American Kennel Club’s (AKC) Museum of the Dog activates the AKC’s mission with a visitor experience that educates, engages, and entertains.
“GameXPloration” at Saint Louis Science Center
St. Louis, Missouri
The St. Louis Science Center’s “GameXPloration” harnesses the idea of gamification and turns the visitor experience into a real-life game that delights.
American Dream
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Gensler leveraged expertise in hospitality and retail design to realize a vision to create the third-largest mixed-use development in North America.
Jackie Robinson Museum
New York, New York
The Jackie Robinson Museum presents the life of the first African American inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in a dynamic setting, designed by Gensler.
Bally’s Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
The design of Bally’s Chicago creates a sense of wonder and adventure, bringing nature and wellness to the hotel and casino on the downtown riverfront.
JIDU ROBOVERSE Sanlitun Experience Center
Beijing, China
JIDU’s ROBOVERSE Experience Center at Taikoo Li Sanlitun is a next generation brand experience center for the intelligent car 3.0 era.
Atari Hotels
Las Vegas, Nevada
Atari Hotels partnered with Gensler to bring its iconic gaming brand to life with the debut of an experience-driven hospitality, esports, and entertainment destination.
Hyundai Card Music Library + Understage
Seoul, Korea
In an ongoing effort to offer credit card holders new experiences and elevate its brand standing, Hyundai Card developed this unique entertainment complex...
Cadillac House
New York, New York
A leading automotive brand at the forefront of design, technology, and style since 1902, Cadillac partnered with Gensler to design Cadillac House—a physical...
University of Texas at Austin, Moody Center
Austin, Texas
Gensler helped the University of Texas consolidate its campus sports venues and create the Moody Center, a LEED Gold Certified basketball arena and live music venue.
New York Road Runners Run Center
New York, New York
New York Road Runners (NYRR) serves as the heart of all runner programming, services, and race-bib distribution in New York City. The brand comes to life in...
Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
Orlando, Florida
Nestled within the grounds of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts, the Swan Reserve is a 349-key boutique hotel that offers the refined luxury expected of the Marriott Autograph Collection.
Cloud 9
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Cloud 9, a dynamic new entertainment facility that is part of the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) master plan, offers a range of activities for Saudi teens and pre-teens, who face a lack of options for safely socializing and being active.
New York Mets Citi Field
Queens, New York
To enhance visitors’ game day experience, Gensler worked to upgrade several key club and suite spaces at the New York Mets’ Citi Field.
The AXIS, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada
Formerly known as PH LIVE, the newly renovated AXIS at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino is the largest theater of its kind in the United States. Gensler’s...
The View at The Palm
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Gensler worked with Nakheel Properties to design a viewing deck overlooking Palm Jumeirah as well as an interactive museum to create a memorable visitor journey
Parx Hotel and Casino
Bensalem, Pennsylvania
Gensler is working with Parx Casino, the top casino in Pennsylvania and one of the largest privately owned commercial casinos in the U.S., to design a luxury hotel to complement the market‐leading casino and entertainment operation.
Holland Casino Venlo
Venlo, Netherlands
The Holland Casino Venlo takes inspiration from the natural patterns and dramatic textures of the Dutch landscape, creating a memorable guest journey through the physical and digital transformation of color, texture, light, and ambiance.
Ferrari Store Regent Street Windows
London, United Kingdom
Gensler London partnered with Ferrari Store to create an installation expressive of its brand identity with a physical intervention that would engage the...
Motion Picture Association
Washington, D.C.
The Motion Picture Association’s space invokes the glamour of old Hollywood and modern innovation. The advocacy association is a cultural entertainment hub...
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Los Angeles, California
Gensler collaborated with Renzo Piano Building Workshop to transform a 230,000-square-foot historic landmark structure into the lively Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which encompasses more than 50,000 square feet of gallery space, theaters, education labs, offices, conservation facilities, a restaurant, and a retail store.
Panasonic Future Work Playland
Japan
Panasonic partnered with Gensler Tokyo to help plan and create an entirely re-imagined virtual office of 2025. Our Digital Experience designers and consultants collaborated with Panasonic to realize the fully rendered “Future Work Playland” project, complete with video and motion graphics.
Toys“R”Us
New York, New York
Two former Broadway theaters are combined architecturally to create the expansive, column-free, four-story flagship superstore for this renowned retailer...
NBA Store Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Designed by Gensler, the NBA Store Berlin strengthens the fandom and brand presence of the National Basketball Association in Europe, acting as a gathering hub for fans outside of the U.S.
Shintora-Dori CORE
Tokyo, Japan
Shintora-Dori Core, a new mixed-use building, opened in an evolving area in Tokyo, Toranomon.
Chubu Centrair International Airport Terminal 2
Aichi, Japan
Gensler was tasked with designing Chubu Centrair International Airport’s new terminal (T2) for LCC flights.
Teatro el Triciclo
San José, Costa Rica
For its new 160-seat theater, comedy troupe El Triciclo sought a performance space that would surprise and delight its audiences. The result is a sequence...
Blackpool Leisure Masterplan
London, United Kingdom
Blackpool Central is a comprehensive masterplan for a unique recreation-driven mixed-use development that is set to revitalise and support Blackpool’s growth and regeneration.
Robotters Arena
Cedar Park, Texas
The proposed Robotters Arena will be an innovative and interactive venue where robotics student teams can build and test prototypes, and participate in competitions.
Harman International Flagship Store
New York, New York
Harman International’s first North American retail flagship is an immersive, interactive experience.
Harman
Munich, Germany
Opening its first European retail flagship location in the heart of Munich, Harman enlisted Gensler to design a vibrant retail experience that showcases the...
Dylan's Candy Bar
Multiple U.S. locations
Following the continued growth and success of her first store, Dylan Lauren turned to Gensler to help develop an effective design strategy for several new...
Brooks Trailhead
Seattle, Washington
Brooks’ new flagship retail store appeals to multiple senses, engaging runners and reflecting its passion for its products and customers. Comprising the...
CoolMess Ice Cream Parlor
New York, New York
The unique retail concept for CoolMess puts the spotlight on the ice cream-making experience. Fun and modern, it’s a place that encourages tweens to party, experiment and just hang out.
REACH LA
Los Angeles, California
Gensler Los Angeles partnered with REACH LA to design a vibrant and welcoming space where the nonprofit organization can engage and empower LGBTQ+ people of color through creative arts, health and wellness, personal development, and social enterprise.
Keurig
Burlington, Massachusetts
Keurig’s new flagship store in the Burlington Mall is a showcase for the company’s products, where the company can test new products and interact with its...
Services
We leverage the full breadth and depth of our global expertise to customize interdisciplinary teams that partner with clients to bring their full creative vision to life, from conception to delivery.
Creative Visioning
Our creatives and strategists forge deep thought partnerships with clients at the very inception of an idea to develop a Blue-Sky vision. Tailored for each client and project, our ideation work encompasses industry research, benchmarking studies, initial story and visual exploration, a curated interdisciplinary design charrette, and collaborative creative sessions, to open possibilities and craft early ideas for groundbreaking projects.
Concept Development
At the spark of an idea, we connect with clients to fan the flames and begin to realize concepts. Our multi-modal concept development process converts big ideas into concrete expressions with early narrative treatments and key concept visuals, to give shape to the form and function of a space.
Creative Strategy and Advisory
We empower our clients’ creative strategy by embedding subject matter experts to elevate the ideation and project development process. This process includes fostering new entertainment industry connections and shepherding potential partnerships between content creators and real estate owners and developers.
Master and Menu Planning
We connect with clients to develop project programming at a portfolio menu level, and to translate that program into an integrated site layout, capturing both the intent and function of a project at scale.
Design Services
We leverage Gensler’s multi-disciplinary global design talent to steward a project through the full design process. This includes the production of drawings, visuals, and written assets through multiple phases, while ensuring proper integration, strong strategic positioning, and the ultimate integrity of the client’s creative vision as we help interpret it into buildable details.
Vendor Management and Production Oversight
As projects enter later-phase work, the Gensler Entertainment team’s services can be extended to provide production oversight and the management of vendor operations to ensure proper integration of complex project scopes and to protect the creative intent.
INSIGHTS
Blog
Trends to Watch: The Future of Entertainment in the Built Environment
Gensler’s Entertainment leaders discuss the opportunities shaping the future of entertainment, from immersive experiences to entertainment districts.
Blog
Using Experience Strategy to Design What People Truly Want
By vividly depicting potential users early in the design process, the resulting room, building, or campus is more likely to meet their needs.
Blog
What Makes a Great Retail Experience? Community, Connection, and Exhibition
Astute retail and hospitality brands recognize that in-person connection is a vital part of their offerings. But what does that visceral experience actually look like?
Podcast
From Stores to Stories: Immersive Experience and the Future of Retail
Gensler’s Bob Weis, Rob Bischoff, and Lara Marrero, unpack what truly makes an experience immersive and the role designers play in shaping the landscape.
WEBINAR
Magnetizing People & Places Through the Power of Brand
Gensler’s Brand Design and industry leaders delve into a conversation about the power of brand strategy and storytelling.
Blog
How the EveryFan Journey Drives Engagement in Stadium Design
Today’s sports and entertainment venue experience is no longer solely about the event itself; it is intrinsically connected to the fan journey.
Blog
How Augmented Reality Can Drive More Engaged Communities
New and emerging technologies are bringing even more opportunity to enhance the ways communities engage with the cities around them.
Blog
Rethinking Engagement: Strategies for Immersive Design
How can we drive and sustain meaningful engagement between our clients’ spaces and their employees, partners, and customers? Immersive experiences are key.
Blog
Why Brand Fleets Are Key to Creating an Engaging, Multiplatform Experience
Brand fleets can create brand loyalty and reach the customer of now and the younger audience of the future.
Research
Hospitality Experience Survey 2023
As travel ramps up, our survey explores the growing blend of business and leisure travel, new definitions of luxury hospitality experiences, and heightened guest expectations.
Blog
The Internet of Places: How Will Web3 Transform the Built Environment?
See how new tech trends in AI, VR, and Web3 will transform the built environment.
Blog
Trends to Watch: 5 Opportunities Shaping the Future of Tech in the Built Environment
Here are five opportunities that shape the future of technology in the built environment.
Blog
Creating Spaces That Evoke Joy Through Immersive Design
How can physical spaces evoke joy? Design needs to incorporate multiple characteristics and fully engage our senses to be considered an immersive experience.
Blog
Bob Weis, Former President of Walt Disney Imagineering, on Immersive Experiences and the Story of Our Cities and Spaces
Now at Gensler to lead Immersive Experience Design, Bob talks about how physical experiences are connecting people to place in inspiring new ways.
Blog
Rethinking Las Vegas, Its Hidden Potential, and Future Promise: A Conversation with Brett Robillard
Brett Robillard, a principal and studio director at Gensler’s Las Vegas office, discusses Las Vegas’ ripe potential for growth and expansion, its many misconceptions, and what a new kind of design thinking can bring to the future development of the city.
ENTERTAINMENT DESIGN TRENDS TO WATCH
New partnerships will bring together content creators and visionary developers.
The 2023 entertainment labor strikes revealed that the industry is changing from the ground up. New types of partnerships will emerge between content creators and developers and owners, which would bring together funding, ideas, and unique storytelling to create new location-based entertainment experiences based on great storytelling and immersive design.
Repurposing underutilized real estate will create moments for joy and connection.
Entertainment has a unique role to play in creating community vibrancy by reimagining commercial real estate. By crafting experiences that invite communities to gather and connect, feel joy, and find meaning, entertainment will revitalize underutilized properties such as empty malls and big box retail into multifaceted experiential spaces with participatory community engagement.
Amid financial uncertainty, the entertainment industry can earn the price of admission with transcendent immersive experiences.
In times of financial crisis, opportunities for belonging and life enrichment are paramount to psychological well-being. When leisure spending is heavily scrutinized, entertainment must earn the ticket price. To stay relevant and thrive, immersive experiences must transcend the expected to delight, transport, and connect people to deliver shared joy at value.
ENTERTAINMENT LEADERSHIP
Lexi Barry
Global Entertainment Leader, Principal
Lexi is a Strategy Director and Global Entertainment Leader, based in Gensler’s Los Angeles office. As a Strategy Director, Lexi is passionate about redefining the future of...
Bob Weis
Global Entertainment Leader
Bob Weis leads Global Entertainment for Gensler. As former President of Walt Disney Imagineering, Bob brings more than 30 years of leadership creating, designing, and developing...
NEWS
In The Media
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Blooloop
Entertainment Leader Bob Weis Shares Why Themed Experiences Are Taking on “New Relevance” Across Sectors
Blooloop interviewed Bob Weis about his career at Disney and the opportunity to bring engaging, storytelling experiences across a variety of industries at Gensler.
July 20, 2023
In The Media
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Building Design+Construction
Bob Weis and Andy Cohen Discuss the Power of Storytelling to Connect People to Places
In a video Q+A, Global Entertainment Leader Bob Weis and co-CEO Andy Cohen describe how Gensler will focus on storytelling to connect people to places.
June 06, 2023
In The Media
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The Architect’s Newspaper
Gensler Unveiled New Renderings of Bally’s Casino in Chicago
The $1.7 billion project will be the first ground-up, mixed-use gaming complex and resort in the center of a major city.
May 16, 2023
In The Media
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Insider Retail
How JIDU’s Roboverse Experience Centre Is Disrupting the Auto Industry
Electric vehicle maker JIDU’s new experience centre, designed in collaboration with Gensler, merges product experience, digital experience, brand display, an art space, and other functions.
May 16, 2023
In The Media
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Frame
JIDU ROBOVERSE Sanlitun Experience Center is a Hybrid Physical-Digital Brand Building Experience
The collaboration between JIDU and Gensler offers a next generation brand experience center for the intelligent car 3.0 era that unites people, art, and technology.
May 09, 2023
In The Media
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VenuesNow
The New York Mets Are Reshaping Citi Field and Enhancing the Fan Experience With a Design by Gensler
The upgrade will provide a greater variety of seating options and include memorable, hospitality-driven spaces infused with the spirit of New York City.
April 02, 2023
In The Media
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Premier Construction
The Gensler-Designed NBA Store Berlin Creates a 360 Product and Brand Experience
The NBA’s first retail store in Germany features a full-size basketball court marked out on the shopfloor, a customization lab, bespoke fixtures, and digital installations.
February 25, 2023
In The Media
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Architectural Record
Bob Weis Discusses His New Role Leading Entertainment at Gensler and Alternative Career Paths for Architects
Bob Weis reflects on the value of storytelling in architecture and shares his own career journey.
February 24, 2023
In The Media
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CoStar
Gensler’s Hiring of Bob Weis Spotlights the Importance of Experiential Design
Bob Weis, former head of Disney Imagineering, will lead global entertainment design at Gensler, whether a building involves sports, mixed-use, or offices “in need of some other magic.”
February 07, 2023
In The Media
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The Creative Factor
Bob Weis Discusses Designing Spaces That Reward Visitors for Taking the Journey and Encourage Them to Return
In a Q+A with The Creative Factor, Andy Cohen, co-CEO of Gensler, and Bob Weis, former head of Disney Imagineering, describe the importance of storytelling in design.
January 26, 2023
In The Media
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Architect Magazine
Former President of Walt Disney Imagineering Joins Global Architecture and Design Firm
Bob Weis, who spearheaded more than 200 projects for Disney, has joined Gensler to envision and create immersive experiences for clients across a variety of industries.
January 17, 2023
In The Media
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Archinect
Former Disney Imagineering President Will Lead Entertainment Design at Gensler
Weis brings more than 30 years of cutting-edge experience at Disney to his new role leading the creation of unique entertainment experiences for Gensler’s clients.
January 13, 2023
In The Media
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Fast Company
The World’s Biggest Architecture Firm Just Hired Disney’s Former Head Imagineer
Fast Company shares that Bob Weis is joining Gensler to design the real world — calling the move “a signifier of where the industry is heading.”
January 12, 2023
Press Release
Bob Weis Former Head of Walt Disney Imagineering to Join Gensler
Weis brings deep expertise in cutting-edge experiences and immersive entertainment to Gensler’s world-class global clients.
January 12, 2023
In The Media
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Premier Hospitality International
Walt Disney World Swan Reserve Provides Guests With a “Refined and Tranquil Oasis”
Premier Hospitality International spoke with Gensler Design Directors Siobhan Barry and Peter Wang about the design vision for the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve boutique hotel.
November 01, 2022
In The Media
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The New York Times
The Jackie Robinson Museum Celebrates His Achievements On and Off the Field
The interactive Gensler-designed museum focuses on the athlete’s civil rights work and legacy in baseball.
July 25, 2022