Women Rising Office Tour Series

The CTBUH Women Rising Committee invites professionals in the sustainable cities industry interested in the mission of Women Rising to join our exclusive office tour series, highlighting women leaders across the global CTBUH member network.

There will be a guided tour through the AS+GG office space which will showcase models, videos, and images of a diverse portfolio of high-performing projects, including supertall towers, office and residential buildings and Expo campus developments. Following the tour there will be a presentation by the women leaders of AS+GG, highlighting the role that each of the presenters plays within the office and on their projects.

The Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture office is located on the 4th floor of the iconic Inland Steel Building in downtown Chicago. Completed in 1958, this landmark of Mid-Century Modern architecture was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), with Walter Netsch and Bruce Graham as lead architects. Commissioned by the Inland Steel Company, the building was intended to symbolize the strength and innovation of the American steel industry.

Architecturally, the Inland Steel Building features a sleek façade of stainless steel and glass. It was the first skyscraper constructed in Chicago’s Loop after the Great Depression and introduced several groundbreaking innovations: a column-free interior, fully air-conditioned spaces, and a separate service core. This separation enabled open, flexible floor plans—an embodiment of the Miesian ideal of “universal space.”

Inside, the AS+GG studio reflects the firm’s dedication to sustainable design, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The layout is open and adaptable, designed to foster creativity and teamwork. Natural light is maximized throughout the space, which is organized into zones for focused work, collaborative meetings, and informal gatherings. Sustainable materials and energy-efficient lighting are used throughout, aligning with the firm’s ethos of environmental responsibility.

The office also functions as a living laboratory, where new technologies and strategies are tested before being implemented in real-world projects. This includes the use of physical models, advanced digital modeling tools, fabrication equipment, and a full-wall interactive Prysm screen in the lab space—used for displaying animations, presentations, and immersive design reviews.

Throughout the studio, visitors can view architectural models of AS+GG’s built work alongside conceptual study models, offering insight into the firm’s design process.

Presenters

Tobi Fagbule: Sustainability Team

Tian Tian: Sustainability Team

Katrina Fernandez Nova: Project Manager Director

Melissa Marrero: Design Team Leader

Michelle Swanson: Technology Director

Melissa Venoy: Technical Team Leader

Rebecca Cryder:  Interiors Team Leader

Weiwei Luo: Project Manager Director

WOMEN RISING

CTBUH Women Rising is a strategic initiative designed to elevate and advance women within the CTBUH network and the tall buildings and sustainable cities industry. This program fosters a more diverse and inclusive professional community by providing targeted networking opportunities, mentorship, and professional development programs that drive leadership and business growth. View the committee members here.