It’s rare enough for anyone to tower over the Burji Khalifa, currently the tallest building in the world at 2,716 feet, but for them to also look down on the world’s soon to be tallest building, the Kingdom Tower, a matter of seconds later is almost unheard of.

The ULI Chicago Young Leaders group was able to accomplish this feet whilst sharing wine and cheese with two of the world’s most renowned architects, Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill, at the YL Leadership Series event on February 13. Adrian and Gordon hosted the group at their office in the loop and shared their perspectives on a wide variety of topics. They touched on the derivation of the forms of their most well known works, the origins of their firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, international business, and the most heavily emphasized point of the evening, sustainability.

The passion with which Adrian and Gordon spoke of sustainability was clear to all. While touching on their recently established MEP group PositivEnergy Practice, Adrian and Gordon expressed how dire the need was to bring change to certain construction and development processes in the States. They spoke of a critical shift that needs to take place in the domestic mindset related to sustainability but did not do so in a hopeless manner. At one point, Gordon looked over to his Director of Sustainability, Christopher Drew, who was also very active in the conversation, and expressed in a semi-private moment that the people with the power to better our country in the future were the Young Leaders sitting before them. They then followed up by highlighting some of the projects and developers they most admire. Leading the list was Gerald Hines, with his understanding of the added value sustainable actions can bring to a project.

In short, the evening was enlightening. To be able to take part in an open discussion with the two men who literally have had the largest impact on the built environment to date was truly a treat. Who knows what boundaries they will shatter next? Well actually … the Young Leaders know!