“I think we often seek opportunity when, in fact, it might be present—we just don't recognize it,' the architect told Newsweek.
Gordon Gill, the architect behind the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, which will be the world’s tallest building upon completion, has a message that may seem counterintuitive in an age of record-breaking skyscrapers—the future of architecture lies not in building higher, but in rethinking what already exists.represents only a small fraction of the country’s built environment.
In his view, the real challenge—and opportunity—sits within existing buildings. , Gill says height is no longer the primary goal. Asked about the next benchmark he hopes to achieve, he replied: “Sustainability is what matters to me the most…to get to the point where we're contributing with buildings and turn them into assets, versus looking at them as deficits. ”.
Nearly half of America’s 125 million buildings are more than 50 years old, according to the American Institute of Architects , highlighting the scale of existing structures that could be reimagined. At the same time, demand for conversions is rising rapidly—nearly 25,000 apartments were created from repurposed buildings in 2024 alone, a 50 percent increase year-on-year, according to RentCafe. The environmental case is just as strong.
The AIA has found that reusing buildings can avoid 50 to 75 percent of the carbon emissions associated with new construction by eliminating the need for new materials and the embodied carbon tied to their production and transport. For Gill, the importance of existing buildings is not just about preservation, but about long-term relevance.
“It’s the existing building stock you have to keep your eye on…refreshing that stock and keeping them relevant, part of the sustainability legacy,” the architect said, warning that maintaining the “longevity of your stock” is important to “avoid obsolescence. ”“The programming of existing building stock" as well as its renovation, and"the creativity of public open space through technology…is going to be a fascinating opportunity in the United States,” Gill said.
Gill believes architects often overlook opportunities already in front of them.
“We have to turn inward, as much as we do have to look at what it is that we're building,” he said. “I think we often seek opportunity when, in fact, it might be present—we just don't recognize it. ”Gill points to renovations like the Willis Tower in Chicago—once the tallest building in the world—as an example of what is possible. The building’s transformation focused on sustainability upgrades, reducing energy and water use.
The tower earned LEED Platinum designation, the highest environmental standard for the certification program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.
“We’ve proven that we can renovate an existing building and actually help the building next door, or help more buildings next door,” Gill said, suggesting that retrofits can have a ripple effect across entire urban areas. “This is where I think the opportunity rests, not just to help yourself, but to help everyone. ”Looking ahead, Gill sees innovation emerging not just from architecture itself, but from intersecting technologies.
“We're seeing the impact of unmanned drones…air vehicles…people now creating drone traffic models for cities,” he said, noting that such systems are already influencing design in parts of the Middle East. As cities become denser, he expects changes in how people move through space.
“I think you will see vertical and horizontal movement in cities at heights that we had not necessarily seen before,” he said, adding humanity’s shift from ground-based living to vertical environments is still evolving. “You have to listen very closely to the environment you're in…hopefully offer something that is helping them move forward,” he said. Do you have an architecture or design-related story to share? Let us know via s.kim@newsweek.com, and your story could be featured by
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