These annual rankings were last updated on June 6, 2025. Want to see your firm on next year’s list? Continue reading for more on how you can improve your studio’s ranking. Traversing the German nation, one will encounter a similar historic program to other European capitals — Romanesque churches, Renaissance monuments and more — blended with functionalist and modernist structures. Early twenty-first-century Germany gave rise to the thriving Bauhaus. Founded by Walter Gropius, this school introduced brand-new architectural thinking, an ideology rooted in function, clarity and mass production. Materials like concrete and glass were favored, socially progressive housing blocks were constructed, and a newfound appreciation for modernism emerged. The spirit of the great Bauhaus teachers — Mies van der Rohe, for example — vigorously lives on and inspires contemporary designers today. Additionally, modern industrial architecture took off post-war and has played a prominent role in the nation’s economic growth, continuing to do so today. The architectural devastation from WWII resulted in mass reconstruction efforts. The post-war restoration and rebuilding embraced a functional attitude, which continued the legacy of the Bauhaus movement despite its closing over a decade prior. Today, German architecture continues to champion the nation’s modernist brilliance through innovative designs that push technological boundaries and celebrate culture. With so many architecture firms to choose from, it’s challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in Germany based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge. How are these architecture firms ranked? The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firm’s level of architectural excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firm’s ranking, in order of priority: The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2025) The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2025) The number of projects selected as “Project of the Day” (2009 to 2025) The number of projects selected as “Featured Project” (2009 to 2025) The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2025) Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of Germany architecture firms throughout the year. Without further ado, here are the 30 best architecture firms in Germany: 30. Format Elf Architekten © Format Elf Architekten Simple and touching. Format Elf Architekten is an architecture firm that focuses on residential architecture. Some of Format Elf Architekten’s most prominent projects include: Longhouses, Bad Birnbach, Germany FORMSTELLE, Töging am Inn, Germany House B, Munich, Germany Die Basis, Munich, Germany The following statistics helped Format Elf Architekten achieve 30th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 4 29. Bruzkus Batek Architects © Jens Bösenberg | Whitelight Studio GmbH BRUZKUS BATEK Since 2007, this internationally active office specialised in designing hotels, offices, shops, restaurants and private housing – and particularly in the detailing of high-quality interiors. After 10 successful years, it is time for a change. As of 2018, Bruzkus Batek is splitting into BATEK ARCHITECTS and ESTER BRUZKUS ARCHITECTS. Some of Bruzkus Batek Architects’ most prominent projects include: Razorfish, Berlin, Germany Office Ester Bruzkus Architekten, Berlin, Germany Colette Tim Raue Munich, Munich, Germany Apartment PP, Berlin, Germany Dean, Berlin, Germany The following statistics helped Bruzkus Batek Architects achieve 29th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 3 Total Projects 28 28. Ester Bruzkus Architekten © Ester Bruzkus Architekten Founded in 2002 in Berlin, Ester Bruzkus Architekten is an architecture and interior design practice with global ties: Berlin, New York, Paris, Tel Aviv, Boston, Dubai, Moscow, Vladivostok, Tenerife. We have extensive experience with design at many scales: from the design of tables and furniture to exquisite residences and workspaces to international theaters, restaurants and hotels. Straight lines, precise planning, material contrasts – and plenty of surprises. The architecture of Ester Bruzkus and her team makes use of contrasts of thick and thin, sharp and soft, curved and straight, rough and smooth, common and opulent, colorful and restrained, playful and well-resolved. Special projects result from a dialogue of space and light, materiality and color, existing constraints and new opportunities – and especially a synergy between the needs of the client, the space and the aspirations of great design. Some of Ester Bruzkus Architekten’s most prominent projects include: Razorfish, Berlin, Germany Office Ester Bruzkus Architekten, Berlin, Germany Colette Tim Raue Munich, Munich, Germany Apartment PP, Berlin, Germany Dean, Berlin, Germany The following statistics helped Ester Bruzkus Architekten achieve 28th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 3 Total Projects 34 27. Architekten Wannenmacher + Möller © Architekten Wannenmacher + Möller GmbH Architects Wannenmacher + Möller, based in Bielefeld Germany, has been in practice for almost 60 years. Today the office is run by second generation Andreas Wannenmacher and Hans-Heinrich Möller. It was founded by Gregor Wannenmacher in Düsseldorf, Germany in 1955. Over the years the office grew continuously and became one of the largest architectural firms in the German region Eastern Westfalia. Most of the activities were focused in this region. During the last years, however, the office had the opportunity to design buildings and control their realization outside this region, some of them in foreign countries throughout Europe, Asia, and the USA. Some of Architekten Wannenmacher + Möller’s most prominent projects include: Ford Hagemeier Halle , Germany Wohnhaus Möllmann, Bielefeld, Germany House P+G, Weinheim, Germany House in Paderborn, Paderborn, Germany Borchen Sports Hall, Borchen, Germany The following statistics helped Architekten Wannenmacher + Möller achieve 27th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 4 Total Projects 14 26. Design.Develop.Build – GA Tech | PBSA | RWTH © Design.Develop.Build - GA Tech | PBSA | RWTH Students from the Georgia Institute of Technology, RWTH Aachen University and PBSA Düsseldorf design, develop and build civic architecture. Some of Design.Develop.Build’s most prominent projects include: Guga S’Thebe Children’s Theatre, Cape Town, South Africa The following statistics helped Design.Develop.Build achieve 26th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: A+Awards Winner 2 A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 1 25. Ecker Architekten © Ecker Architekten Ecker Architekten is an architecture and design firm based in Germany. Ecker Architekten’s design portfolio includes a variety of architectural projects, such as cultural, commercial, government and health, educational, and more. Some of Ecker Architekten’s most prominent projects include: The Forum at Eckenberg Gymnasium, Adelsheim, Germany Field Chapel, Buchen (Odenwald), Germany Kindergarten Dandelion Clock, Germany Kanzlei Balkenhol, BW, Germany Branch Bank in Hettingen, Hettingen, Germany The following statistics helped Ecker Architekten achieve 25th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: Featured Projects 4 Total Projects 8 24. Sehw Architektur © Helin Bereket “Sehw stands for meaningfulness, emotion, attitude and change.” Our mission: building architecture sustainably, thinking innovatively and creating social added value. “Sehw stands for an aesthetic of sustainability in architecture.” // Sustainability // Acting sustainably We are not just planning for today but for the generation of tomorrow and beyond. For us, sustainable architecture means forward-looking planning and the development of future-proof utilization concepts. In times of rapid climate change, we are committed to resource-conserving construction methods and the use of renewable energies. Recyclable building materials and circular economy are the basis for a long life cycle and corresponding sustainability certifications of our buildings. We value and protect existing structures and materials. Some of Sehw Architektur’s most prominent projects include: KIT, Karlsruhe, Germany Weitblick Innovation Campus, Augsburg, Germany Inclusive School Centre Döbern, Döbern, Germany The Copper Coil, Rostock, Germany Around the Corner – Student Apartment Building, Berlin, Germany The following statistics helped Sehw Architektur achieve 24th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 18 23. PHILIPPARCHITEKTEN Anna Philipp © PHILIPPARCHITEKTEN Anna Philipp A passion for houses. There’s nothing more significant to describe what our architecture office is about: houses — simple, yet complex. The archetype of all construction is our passion. That’s what we stand for. On this we work holistically with a team of architects and engineers. Center of our designing is the human being. We understand architecture as a second skin, which must be tailored. At the same time it’s essential to reflect the unique character of the location. The goal is a harmonious triad of mankind, nature and architecture. The focus and specialization on houses and villas is faced by a wide diversification in the range of services offered. Some of PHILIPPARCHITEKTEN Anna Philipp’s most prominent projects include: Villa Philipp, Waldenburg, Germany Villa Lombardo, Lugano, Switzerland A monastery of modernity, Augsburg, Germany Villa Schatzlmayr, Passau, Germany Villa Mauthe, Bahlingen, Germany The following statistics helped PHILIPPARCHITEKTEN Anna Philipp achieve 23rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 22 22. KRESINGS © Roman Mensing KRESINGS is a studio for architecture, interior design, urban planning and product design with offices in Munster and Dusseldorf. Since its founding by Rainer Maria Kresing in 1985 four further partners joined the management: Kilian Kresing, Christian Kawe, Matthias Povel and André Perret. More than 60 employees — architects, designers, planners and engineers — guarantee a broad range of creative and qualified services. Experience meets creative ease. The studio has been awarded with national awards like those of the BDA (Bund Deutscher Architekten) and the DAM (Deutsches Architektur Museum). KRESINGS: Experts and team players in areas of office and industrial buildings, facilities for research, education and culture as well as individual designs for residential buildings. Some of KRESINGS’ most prominent projects include: Student Residence Boeselagerstraße, Münster, Germany Headquarters Mitsubishi Electric Europe, Ratingen, Germany Petting Zoo, Öhringen, Germany Freiherr-vom-Stein-High-School, Münster, Germany Residential Building Hoher Heckenweg, Münster, Germany The following statistics helped KRESINGS achieve 22nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 33 21. 3deluxe © 3deluxe The interdisciplinary design collective 3deluxe, consisting of about 30 individuals centered around Dieter Brell, Peter Seipp and Andreas and Stephan Lauhoff, has been creating groundbreaking impulses in the fields of architecture and interior design, graphic and media design. In creative synergy hybrid forms of two and three dimensional design are created: graphic works develop a spatial impact, while architectural drafts are based on communication principles. In this way, complex collages are contrived, so called ‚multilayered atmospheres‘, that foster multiple sensory experiences and allow for a multitude of potential interpretations. Paramount is the broadening of an absolute understanding of space and image towards a dynamic, processual approach. Some of 3deluxe’s most prominent projects include: V- Plaza Urban Development, Kaunas, Lithuania Kaffee Partner Headquarters, Osnabrück, Germany Butterfly Pavilion, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Leonardo Glass Cube, Bad Driburg, Germany Cyberhelvetia The following statistics helped 3deluxe achieve 21st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: A+Awards Finalist 2 Featured Projects 3 Total Projects 20 20. Christoph Hesse Architects © Deimel und Wittmar Christoph Hesse Architects was founded in 2010 by Christoph Hesse, has offices in Korbach and, since 2018, in Berlin. The architectural practice currently employs an international team of 15 people and has won numerous awards. Some of Christoph Hesse Architects’ most prominent projects include: VITOS Outpatient psychiatric clinic for traumatized refugees, Korbach, Germany Villa F / the off-the-grid house in the central highlands of Germany, Medebach, Germany StrohTherme, Medebach, Germany Room of Silence, Korbach, Germany The following statistics helped Christoph Hesse Architects achieve 20th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: A+Awards Winner 2 Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 4 19. Zeller & Moye © Zeller & Moye Zeller & Moye is a design studio based in Mexico City and Berlin that works at the intersection of architecture, arts, design and latest technology through an experimental, multidisciplinary and collaborative working culture. Some of Zeller & Moye’s most prominent projects include: HAUS KÖRIS, Brandenburg, Germany SANDRA WEIL Store, Mexico City, Mexico TROQUER FASHION HOUSE, Mexico City, Mexico CASA VERNE, Mexico City, Mexico CASA HILO, Mexico The following statistics helped Zeller & Moye achieve 19th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 12 18. Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects © Ippolito Fleitz Group - Identity Architects Ippolito fleitz group is a multidisciplinary, internationally operating design studio based in Stuttgart.We are identity architects. We work in unison with our clients to develop architecture, products and communication that are part of a whole and yet distinctive in their own right. This is how we define identity.With meticulous analysis before we begin.With animated examination in the conceptional phase. With a clarity of argument in the act of persuasion.With a love of accuracy in the realisation.With a serious goal and a lot of fun along the way. Working together with our clients.As architects of identity, we conceive and construct buildings, interiors and landscapes; we develop products and communication measures. Some of Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects’ most prominent projects include: Das GERBER, Stuttgart, Germany Hunke – Jewellers and Opticians, Ludwigsburg, Germany Bella Italia Weine, Stuttgart, Germany ippolito fleitz group | Residential Building, Denkendorf, Germany WakuWaku Dammtor, Hamburg, Germany The following statistics helped Ippolito Fleitz Group - Identity Architects achieve 18th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 4 Total Projects 26 17. VON M © Zooey Braun VON M is an architecture and design firm based in Germany. VON M’s design portfolio includes a variety of architectural projects, such as cultural, residential, educational, commercial, hospitality and sport, and more. Some of VON M’s most prominent projects include: Museum Luthers Sterbehaus, Eisleben, Germany BHM Pavillon, Wolfegg, Germany Kinder- und Familienzentrum, Ludwigsburg, Germany Hotel Bauhofstrasse, Ludwigsburg, Germany HS77, Stuttgart, Germany The following statistics helped VON M achieve 17th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: Featured Projects 6 Total Projects 11 16. Plastique Fantastique © Plastique Fantastique Plastique Fantastique is a collective for temporary architecture that samples the performative possibilities of urban environments. Established in Berlin in 1999, Plastique Fantastique has been influenced by the unique circumstances that made the city a laboratory for temporary spaces. Plastique Fantastique’s synthetic structures affect surrounding spaces like a soap bubble does: Similar to a foreign body, it occupies and mutates urban space. Their interventions change the way we perceive and interact in urban environments. By mixing different landscape types, an osmotic passage between private and public space is generating new hybrid environments.Regardless the way people view a bubble, walk around its exterior or move inside it, the pneumatic structure is a medium to experience the same physical setting in a temporary extraordinary situation. Some of Plastique Fantastique’s most prominent projects include: LOUD SHADOWS, Terschelling, Netherlands Blurry Venice, Venice, Italy Aeropolis, Copenhagen, Denmark superKOLMEMEN, Helsinki, Finland MOBILE PPS (Personal Protective Space) for Doctors The following statistics helped Plastique Fantastique achieve 16th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 5 15. 4a Architekten © 4a Architekten GmbH Shaping atmosphere, lending identity, creating quality of space — these are the values that characterize the buildings of 4a Architekten. The starting point and guiding principle of our work is the concept of architecture as living space. Our buildings come into being through intensive team work shaped by interdisciplinary thinking and action. What characterizes a location in terms of its culture and history? What are the client’s expectations and objectives? What is viable within the budget and what are the benefits for users? These questions and this approach bring us to solutions with an individual character — and they apply just as much to the planning of buildings as to the design of interior spaces. Some of 4a Architekten’s most prominent projects include: Therme Lindau on Lake Constance, Lindau, Germany Balingen Civic Hall, Balingen, Germany Emser Thermal Baths, Bad Ems, Germany Spreewald Spa Hotel, Burg, Germany Stegermatt Aquatic Centre, Offenburg, Germany The following statistics helped 4a Architekten achieve 15th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: Featured Projects 7 Total Projects 15 14. schneider+schumacher © schneider+schumacher / Frankfurt - Vienna - Tianjin Our architectural approach is characterized by the enjoyment we have in finding solutions to the complex demands of today’s buildings. We adapt our buildings to fit into their surroundings, yet we also create landmarks. Pragmatic poetry, nurtured not only by design clarity and a conscientious attitude towards the task in hand, but also by a delight in fine details. This design process is constantly informed by the dialogue that takes place on a daily basis between the various professional disciplines in all our specialized divisions – architecture, construction and project management, design, a.o. — and international offices. schneider+schumacher is headquartered in Frankfurt (GE), and has two branches in Vienna (AU) and Tianjin (CN). Some of schneider+schumacher’s most prominent projects include: Autobahn Church, Wilnsdorf, Germany Oil Harbour Bridge, Raunheim, Germany DOXX – Quayside Development at Mainz Customs Port, Mainz, Germany Städel Museum Extension, Frankfurt, Germany Siegerland Motorway Church, Wilnsdorf, Wilnsdorf, Germany The following statistics helped schneider+schumacher achieve 14th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: A+Awards Winner 1 A+Awards Finalist 2 Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 12 13. ingenhoven associates © ingenhoven associates Celebrating 40 years of excellence since 1985, the studio is pioneer in sustainable architecture, designing and delivering projects of all sizes and typologies across nearly every region of the world, adhering to the highest green building standards, including LEED, Green Star, Minergie, BREEAM, DGNB and CASBEE. With a tailored approach to each location, the multinational, interdisciplinary team creates nuanced architectural solutions with added value and positive social impact. Some of ingenhoven associates’ most prominent projects include: Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus, Düsseldorf, Germany Freiburg Town Hall, Freiburg, Germany Kö-Bogen 2, Düsseldorf, Germany Marina One, Singapore, Singapore Daniel Swarovski Corporation, Männedorf, Switzerland The following statistics helped ingenhoven associates achieve 13th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: A+Awards Finalist 2 Featured Projects 5 Total Projects 28 12. gmp · Architects von Gerkan, Marg und Partner © HG Esch Photography The architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp) are an architectural practice that was founded in Hamburg and has branches worldwide. With our generalist approach and more than 50 years of experience, we complete projects in dialogue with our clients and the participating planning disciplines, at all scales and cultural contexts, covering all design phases and working on all continents. The range of our projects extends from family residences to high-rise buildings, from stadiums to concert halls, from office buildings to bridges, and from door hardware to urban planning. With holistic sustainability in mind, we aim to create new and refurbished architecture that is long-lasting and goes beyond temporary fashions, taking into account the global challenges and issues of urbanization, digitalization, and mobility. Some of gmp · Architects von Gerkan, Marg und Partner’s most prominent projects include: Guna Villa, Jūrmala, Latvia Universiade 2011 Sports Center, Shenzhen, China Olympic Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany Twin Towers, Commodity Exchange Plaza, Dalian, China The following statistics helped gmp · Architects von Gerkan, Marg und Partner achieve 12th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: Featured Projects 8 Total Projects 36 11. kadawittfeldarchitektur © kadawittfeldarchitektur We are kadawittfeldarchitektur. Originally founded in Aachen in 1999, we today stand for more than just architectural design. The interdisciplinary approach of our work, linking architecture, interior and product design on the one hand and at the interface of town planning and urban projects on the other hand, reflects the full range of our creative output. kadawittfeldarchitektur develops added value space. In a team of more than 170 persons, we create architecture with added value space for living, communication and work environments. In the way we deal with volumes, materials, structures and functions, we strive to integrate our schemes into their surroundings with the objective of creating contemporary and sustainable architecture and meeting the needs of both the users and the general public. Some of kadawittfeldarchitektur’s most prominent projects include: CELTIC MUSEUM, Glauburg, Germany ADIDAS LACES, Herzogenaurach, Germany SPZ, HALLEIN, Hallein, Austria SENIOR CITIZENS RESIDENCE ALTENMARKT, Altenmarkt im Pongau, Austria SALZBURG CENTRAL STATION, Salzburg, Austria The following statistics helped kadawittfeldarchitektur achieve 11th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: Featured Projects 8 Total Projects 32 10. GRAFT © GRAFT What is graft? The English word ‘graft’ provokes a variety of meanings and multiple readings. It stands for transplants in the field of medicine, for cheating, but also for hard work.  In the terminology of botany, grafting is described as the addition of one shoot onto a genetically different host. Some of GRAFT’s most prominent projects include: Ice Stadion “Arena Schierke”, Wernigerode, Germany Show Palace Munich, Munich, Germany Autostadt Roof and Service Pavilion, Wolfsburg, Germany Eiswerk, Berlin, Germany Villa M , Berlin, Germany The following statistics helped GRAFT achieve 10th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: A+Awards Finalist 2 Featured Projects 7 Total Projects 17 9. HENN © HENN HENN is an international architecture studio with over 75 years of experience in designing innovative work environments across office, science, healthcare, industry, education, and culture. An interdisciplinary team of 400 professionals works from offices in Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, and Shanghai. The design process is collaborative and driven by curiosity. HENN draws from the rich expertise of three generations and a global network of partners. All three generations share a common mindset: openness and curiosity. This spirit drives the studio to continuously question and redefine architectural typologies. HENN was founded in 1947 by Walter Henn in Dresden. Early on, he specialized in industrial buildings and played a key role in establishing the Braunschweig School through his academic work. Some of HENN’s most prominent projects include: Porsche Pavilion, Wolfsburg, Germany Zalando Headquarters Berlin, Berlin, Germany Bugatti Atelier, Molsheim, France MobileLife Campus, Wolfsburg, Germany The CUBE, Dresden, Germany The following statistics helped HENN achieve 9th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: A+Awards Winner 2 A+Awards Finalist 2 Featured Projects 6 Total Projects 30 8. Auer Weber © Aldo Amoretti Photography Founded in 1980, we are an internationally active architectural firm with offices in Stuttgart and Munich. We employ around 150 people from 20 countries and work on projects of various sizes and tasks from initial design through to completion. Each year, we create entries for between 30 and 40 competitions in our two offices, from which we generate a large proportion of our orders. These range from buildings for the community to educational and administrative buildings, sports and leisure facilities and large infrastructure projects. The diversity of our architecture is the result of in-depth study of the building tasks and where these tasks originate. Some of Auer Weber’s most prominent projects include: Aquatic Centre “Aquamotion” Courchevel , Saint-Bon-Tarentaise, France Arena du Pays d’Aix, Aix-en-Provence, France Extension of the District Office in Starnberg, Starnberg, Germany ESO Headquarters Extension, Garching, Germany Olympic Aquatics Stadium, Route de Torcy, France The following statistics helped Auer Weber achieve 8th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: A+Awards Winner 2 A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 9 Total Projects 24 7. Peter Ruge Architekten © Peter Ruge Architekten GmbH Identity+Sustainability=Architecture Peter Ruge Architekten is a locally and internationally active planning office based in Berlin. Our mission is simple: to develop and build sustainable architecture of the future. The agenda of the team along with three partners Peter Ruge, Kayoko Uchiyama and Matthias Matschewski includes new buildings, optimization of existing properties and urban planning designs. The projects are holistic, i.e. adapted to the climate, culture and needs of the users, and have received numerous awards and certifications. Our detailed understanding of sustainable design processes supports the decisions of our clients. In education field, Prof. Ruge shares our knowledge with a global design community at DIA, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences in Dessau, Shenyang Jianzhu University in China and Kyoto Seika University in Japan. Some of Peter Ruge Architekten’s most prominent projects include: Busan Opera House, South Korea, Busan, South Korea Congress Center Hangzhou, Hangzhou, China House O, Germany, Potsdam-Mittelmark, Germany LTD_1 Hamburg, Germany, Hamburg, Germany Muzeum Lotnictwa Krakow, Poland The following statistics helped Peter Ruge Architekten achieve 7th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: Featured Projects 12 Total Projects 18 6. HPP Architects © Christa Lachenmaier Photography HPP Architects is one of Europe’s leading architectural partnerships with a full range of architectural and master planning services. Since its foundation by Professor Hentrich, the 4th generation of HPP partnership today includes a global team of more than 25 nationalities and 480 architects, engineers, urban designers and specialists. Today it comprises 13 offices including 8 regional offices in Germany and 5 international branches in Turkey, China and Netherlands. HPP Architects’ headquarter is located in the Düsseldorf Media Harbor, further offices are located in Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Istanbul, Leipzig, Munich, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Stuttgart. HPP completed more than 1200 buildings worldwide and aspires to create architectural quality of lasting value beyond the here and now: timeless and yet clearly part of their time, innovative and equally grounded in history. Some of HPP Architects’s most prominent projects include: LVM 5 , Münster, Germany Medical Library Oasis (O.A.S.E.), Düsseldorf, Germany Hochschule Ruhr West, Mülheim, Germany Henkel Asia-Pacific and China Headquarters, Shanghai, China Dreischeibenhaus, Düsseldorf, Germany The following statistics helped HPP Architects achieve 6th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: A+Awards Finalist 3 Featured Projects 12 Total Projects 25 5. Behnisch Architekten © David Matthiessen The Stuttgart-based practice known today as Behnisch Architekten was founded in 1989 under the leadership of Stefan Behnisch. Originally established as a branch office of Günter Behnisch’s practice Behnisch & Partner, it became independent in 1991 and has subsequently developed into an international practice with offices in Stuttgart, Munich, Los Angeles/California (1999 – 2011), and Boston. These offices are directed by Stefan Behnisch and his partners in varying combinations. The Partners are Robert Hösle, Robert Matthew Noblett and Stefan Rappold. Stefan Behnisch is involved in all three offices. From the outset, the social dimension of architecture has been a fundamental aspect of the firm’s design philosophy. Some of Behnisch Architekten’s most prominent projects include: SC Workplaces, California City of Santa Monica Public Parking Structure #6, Santa Monica, California Primary School Infanteriestrasse, München, Germany Harvard University Science and Engineering Complex, Boston, Massachusetts John and Frances Angelos Law Center, University of Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland The following statistics helped Behnisch Architekten achieve 5th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: A+Awards Finalist 9 Featured Projects 8 Total Projects 24 4. wulf architekten © Tobias Vollmer wulf architekten emerged from the architecture practice established 1987 in Stuttgart by Tobias Wulf. Currently the office is managed by Tobias Wulf, Jan-Michael Kallfaß, Ingmar Menzer and Steffen Vogt. From 1996 to 2018, Kai Bierich and Alexander Vohl were partners of Tobias Wulf at wulf architekten. Currently, the company has about 140 employees, nine of them being senior architects. With three office locations – Stuttgart, Berlin and Basel (CH) – wulf architekten is also working on projects abroad. Some of wulf architekten’s most prominent projects include: Parking Garage Facade P22a at the Cologne Exhibition Centre, Cologne, Germany Four primary schools in modular design, Munich, Germany School Center North, Stuttgart, Germany Canteen and Media Center for North vocational school center, Darmstadt, Germany Chamber of Industry and Commerce, headquarters, Stuttgart, Germany The following statistics helped wulf architekten achieve 4th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: A+Awards Winner 1 A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 11 Total Projects 18 3. TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten © TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten GmbH TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten design, plan and build for national and international clients in the public and private sectors. The company, with offices in Hamburg, Berlin and Dresden, is named after Sergei Tchoban, architect BDA, and his partner Ekkehard Voss, architect BDA (1963-2024). With over 150 highly qualified, interdisciplinary employees and many years of experience, it offers architecturally and functionally sustainable solutions for a wide range of building projects in Germany and abroad. TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten is member of the Association of German Architects (BDA), the Chambers of Architects in Hamburg, Berlin and Saxony, the Förderverein Bundesstiftung Baukultur e.V. as well as of the European Architects Network (EAN). Some of TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten’s most prominent projects include: EDGE Suedkreuz Berlin, Berlin, Germany SKF Test Centre for large-scale bearings, Schweinfurt, Germany Seestraße, Berlin, Berlin, Germany Koenigstadt-Quartier, Berlin, Germany EMBASSY – Living alongside Koellnischer Park, Berlin, Berlin, Germany The following statistics helped TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten achieve 3rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: A+Awards Winner 1 A+Awards Finalist 6 Featured Projects 12 Total Projects 29 2. Barkow Leibinger © Barkow Leibinger The scope of Barkow Leibinger’s work spans from cultural projects to industrial ones. Their focus on industrial architecture includes master planning and building representational and functional buildings for production, logistical and office spaces. Some of Barkow Leibinger’s most prominent projects include: Production Hall Trumpf, Hettingen, Germany Stadthaus M1 – Green City Hotel, Freiburg, Germany Harvard ArtLab, Boston, Massachusetts Production Hall, Grüsch, Switzerland Fraunhofer Research Campus, Waischenfeld, Germany The following statistics helped Barkow Leibinger achieve 2nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: Featured Projects 12 Total Projects 17 1. J.MAYER.H © J.MAYER.H J. MAYER H’s studio, focuses on works at the intersection of architecture, communication and new technology. From urban planning schemes and buildings to installation work and objects with new materials, the relationship between the human body, technology and nature form the background for a new production of space. Some of J.MAYER.H’s most prominent projects include: MIAMI MUSEUM GARAGE, Miami, Florida n.n. Residence, Moscow, Russia Hasselt Court House , Hasselt, Belgium Highway Rest Stops, Tbilisi, Georgia Rest Stops, Gori, Georgia Featured image: Tram Stops, Kehl, Germany The following statistics helped J.MAYER.H achieve 1st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Germany: A+Awards Winner 5 A+Awards Finalist 3 Featured Projects 19 Total Projects 30 Why Should I Trust Architizer’s Ranking? With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the world’s largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the world’s best architecture each year. Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York. An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlighted A Guide to Project Awards The blue “+” badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award. The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizer’s Editorial team, and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a project’s likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status: Project completed within the last 3 years A well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphs Architectural design with a high level of both functional and aesthetic value High quality, in focus photographs At least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the building Inclusion of architectural drawings and renderings Inclusion of construction photographs There are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizer’s Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.     We’re constantly look for the world’s best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at editorial@architizer.com. The post 30 Best Architecture and Design Firms in Germany appeared first on Journal.

Michael Giannou, Global General Manager, HoneywellMay 29, 20254 Min ReadAndriy Popov via Alamy StockData centers are quickly becoming the backbone of our information-driven world. At the same time, the increasing sophistication of cybersecurity attacks, combined with the growing frequency of extreme climate events, means there is also greater operational risk than ever before, as bad actors have begun targeting cooling centers to purposefully compromise the equipment, causing irreversible loss and damage.  The best defense against these threats is an integrated system centered around situational awareness and security. By taking steps to safeguard key areas, data center operators can enhance the protection of their facility and data, helping prevent costly threats and downtime.  Seeing the Big Picture Developing a comprehensive awareness and monitoring system serves as a critical first step to protecting data centers. This is especially important as data centers begin to welcome more tenants into shared space, requiring vendors to consider each tenant individually and as part of the broader system. A threat to one tenant can quickly become a threat to all tenants. Centralizing all information in one system provides a single location for operators to view and analyze real-time data, allowing them to instantly access critical information, monitor incidents and respond quickly with pre-defined incident workflows. An intelligent system will integrate all security events -- including video recordings, access point clearance and data reporting -- together in one place to reduce coverage gaps and information silos.  Related:Another benefit of having one comprehensive system is the ability to integrate separate aspects of the system to improve response time. For example, a centralized security system could be configured to ensure that any fire or intruder alarm immediately triggers the CCTV cameras in the vicinity of the alarm, so the security team can quickly and efficiently respond to the situation. Close partnering between systems that transcend departments such as security, IT and the management of employees, contractors and visitors is key to protecting the facility and its data, both in low-friction (e.g. office space) and high-friction (e.g. server space) areas.  Addressing the Gaps Once a centralized security system is in place, operators can address the cybersecurity gaps where the data center is most vulnerable to bad actors. A strong, always-on cybersecurity program should be tailored to the specific facility and its compliance needs, often including:  Data encryption: Whether data is stored in the system or just passing through, encryption is key to preventing unauthorized access. A strong encryption process goes beyond thwarting attacks -- it is critical for establishing trust, ensuring the authenticity of data exchanged, guaranteeing the integrity of commands to smart devices and maintaining secrecy where it is needed most.  Related:Network security: Data center operators can help prevent unauthorized access and cyberattacks by developing strong intrusion detection/prevention systems, firewalls and network segmentation. Facility protection: By integrating technologies such as electronic access control, biometrics, CCTV and perimeter detection, operators can maintain security around the physical facility. Security also requires vendors to adhere to standard operating procedures, often overlooked in today’s technology-focused environment, such as enforcing visitor security policies and requiring visitors to have escorts.  Regular audits and updates: It may seem to be a lower priority than the often-urgent concerns set forth above, but out-of-date firmware carries a significant cybersecurity risk. Proactive attention and system maintenance can reduce operating costs in the long run and help avoid costly downtime. Related:Looking Ahead With so many current considerations to focus on, data center operators must also look ahead to future-proof their facility. As quickly as the industry has grown in recent years, the momentum will likely continue to accelerate. One new frontier emerging is quantum security: using quantum-enhanced randomness to deliver truly unpredictable key generation and safeguard sensitive information. This enables the system to develop armor that evolves just as quickly as cybersecurity threats. As the largest companies make significant investment in data centers -- for example, Microsoft’s plan to invest approximately $80 billion in AI-enabled datacenters in FY25 -- many in the industry are watching to see how these companies’ actions and investments shape the future of both data centers and building security overall.  Another forward-looking trend is military-grade solutions entering the commercial and industrial marketplace. It is clear to understand how a system hardened for integrated perimeter security in harsh environments can also fit the security and resilience needs of a data center. In addition, those solutions have often been certified through rigorous testing and evaluation, giving operators confidence their system can withstand almost all third-party attacks.  Finally, the industry will begin to prioritize modularity -- meaning systems that can be added to in the future, will work with third-party solutions and are both user-friendly and energy-efficient. This allows operators to expand their facilities to include the latest and greatest technology without a costly overhaul of their existing infrastructure. By integrating with their business systems and leaning into wider stakeholder influence, organizations can more effectively monitor and manage their facilities using modular systems. Cybersecurity risks can never truly be considered resolved -- it is constantly evolving. But by continuously revisiting the areas detailed above, data center operators can enhance their facility and systems protections, helping to protect their data now and in the future.  About the AuthorMichael GiannouGlobal General Manager, HoneywellMichael Giannou is a global sales executive with over 15 years of experience leading high-performing teams and driving growth in the data center and technology sectors. As Global General Manager of Data Centers at Honeywell, he built and led a global sales team, delivering double-digit growth and now leads the company’s global data center vertical. Previously, at Schneider Electric, he grew division sales from $70M to $350M over six years. Known for transforming underperforming programs and developing trusted customer relationships, Michael is a strategic, growth-focused leader passionate about mentoring enterprise sales professionals.  See more from Michael GiannouWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore ReportsNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also Like

With a background in industrial design, Amanda Schneider explored every aspect of a product’s trajectory early in her career, from concept development to sales, always via a holistic lens to understand the points of view of manufacturers and consumers. Her ideal role, however, was one that emphasized more than just the bottom line. “It clicked the moment I realized that the real magic happens at the intersection of creativity and strategy,” says Schneider. “I believe that data can empower creatives, and creativity can humanize data. And when we bridge that gap? That’s when design starts changing industries, shaping behavior and moving the world forward.” Amanda Schneider Schneider is founder and president of SANDOW DESIGN GROUP’s ThinkLab, and since 2018 she has led the only market research firm focused on the design and architecture ecosystem. She thrives on uncovering unexpected insights and translating them into stories that inspire meaningful action – essential in the ever-evolving world of work. Industry leaders have taken notice, and today Schneider is a recognized thought leader featured on leading platforms. Her 2024 TEDx talk, Work is Broken. Gen Z can help fix it, has more than 400,000 views and counting. She is also host of the hit podcast Design Nerds Anonymous, and has recently introduced BASELINE, the new ThinkLab initiative. This survey and podcast provides a real-time snapshot of industry sentiment and activity. When she’s not on the job, Schneider is a mom to three boys, and can be found chasing adventure in her Jeep Wrangler. It’s not always easy to maintain an ideal balance, but carving out quality time is essential. “If I am being honest, I am not always great at switching off completely, especially because I love what I do,” Schneider notes. “But one small thing that helps is dinner with my family. No laptops, no phones, just real conversation. It sounds simple, but it’s grounding.” Today, Amanda Schneider joins us for Friday Five, sharing her favorite stats for designers! 1. The average designer has 40X the recommendation power as the average American Consumer has buying power. Source: USDIBR That’s not a typo. According to ThinkLab research, designers influence purchasing decisions at 40 times the rate of the average American consumer. And if you work at one of the top 200 Interior Design Giants of Design firms? That number jumps to a staggering 140 times. While most people pick products for their own homes, designers are making choices that affect dozens – sometimes hundreds or thousands – of people at once. One spec. One project. Ripple effects across supply chains, industries, and how people experience space. That kind of power often flies under the radar. But it shouldn’t. Designers aren’t just making things pretty – they’re making decisions with real impact. And when you zoom out, those decisions can shape how sustainably we build, how inclusively we design, and how responsibly we spend. You already have the influence. The opportunity? That’s using it for good. 2. By 2050, the interior design industry will have influence over approximately one-tenth (10%) of the world’s carbon emissions. Yes, you read that right. One-tenth of global carbon emissions – in some way, shape, or form – will be influenced by decisions made in the interior design industry by the year 2050. Not construction. Not just architecture. Interiors. (Shout out to Metropolis Magazine for this stat and their work on the Climate change toolkit!) It’s easy to think of sustainability as someone else’s job – the architect, the engineer, the client. But designers have their hands on the levers that control how long things last, what materials get used, and how to avoid sending product to the landfill. Multiply that by millions of square feet across homes, workplaces, schools, hotels, hospitals – and it adds up fast. Don’t let this overwhelm you. Let it empower you. Designers helped create this world. That means they’re also perfectly positioned to help redesign it for the better. 3. As of 2025, Gen Z makes up 27% of the workforce. That’s more than one in four employees. And they’re not coming – they’re already here. Gen Z is shaping how we work, live, collaborate, and connect. They bring new expectations around flexibility, inclusivity, tech, and well-being. And they’re just getting started. Why does this matter for designers? Because the spaces you’re designing today will still be in use a decade or more from now. If we’re not paying attention to shifting values, behaviors, and ways of working, we risk building environments that don’t resonate – or worse, don’t function – for the people who will actually use them. Designing for the future means understanding who’s going to be living in it. Gen Z is your new end user. Time to listen. 4. The Interior Design Industry is 85% Female – But Only 40% of Its Leaders Are Interior design is one of the few industries that’s not just female-friendly – it’s female-dominated. Nearly 88% of students entering the field are women. And 85% of practicing professionals are, too. But here’s where it gets tricky: only 40% of leadership roles are held by women once we get to the largest firms. That’s a massive drop-off – and a missed opportunity. When the people doing the work don’t have a seat at the table where decisions are made, the entire industry loses out on perspective, insight, and progress. Diversity isn’t just about fairness. It’s about making the industry better, stronger, and more representative of the people it serves; especially when we are leading design for the built environment for all people. The first step? Awareness. The next? Action. 5. The Average Design Committee Has Doubled in Size Over the Past 5 Years Design decisions are no longer made in a room of two or three. In today’s world, the average commercial design project involves double the number of decision-makers it did just five years ago. That means more voices, more complexity – and a whole new set of challenges. And here’s the truth: It doesn’t matter how great your design is if you can’t communicate its value. Great ideas fall flat without buy-in. Beautiful solutions stall out without alignment. Today’s most successful designers aren’t just creative—they’re translators. They bridge the gap between vision and business case, between aesthetics and impact. Good design always starts with empathy. If you want to better understand your clients – and what’s really happening in their world to move projects forward – check out the Design Nerds Anonymous podcast. Catch Schneider’s TED Talk – Work is broken, Gen Z can help fix it – below:

In this episode of the fxpodcast, we speak with David Schneider, senior DFX supervisor, and Jane Hayen, 2D supervisor from Union VFX, to discuss their extensive visual effects work on the USS Callister episode for Black Mirror season 7. From spacecraft interiors to stylised teleportation and frenetic dogfights in deep space, the duo outlined how their team brought The USS Callister back with upgraded tech, intricate referencing to the original episode, and a keen eye for the audience’s expectations. In addition to the audio podcast, we’ve been creating YouTube videos of many of our fxpodcast episodes and this one is available in video form as well. Returning to the world of Black Mirror’s iconic “USS Callister,” the latest Season 7 installment pushes visual storytelling into new territory. With over 215 shots, 50 of which are fully CGI. Union VFX stepped in to bring the pixel-perfect dystopia to life. The episode features some of the studio’s most ambitious work to date, blending nostalgic retro-futurism with cutting-edge CG in a cinematic-scale production that feels more like a feature film than episodic television. Referencing the Original While Evolving the Visual Language One of the standout aspects of Union VFX’s approach was the conscious effort to bridge the look and feel of the original Season 4 Callister episode while modernising its visual language. “We were always referencing back,” said Hayen. “Even small things like lens flares had to match. The original had a slightly vintage aesthetic; this one leaned more into a stylised video game feel.” With Framestore having crafted the original ship assets, Union VFX inherited and upgraded these elements. “We reused the Calister’s CG model and textures from Framestore,” Schneider explained. “But a big chunk of our work was new, especially around the ‘Heart of Infinity,’ which didn’t exist before and needed to evolve into something iconic.” Building the Heart of Infinity and Space Combat At the narrative (and logical) core of the episode is the Heart of Infinity, a massive, ominous space structure concealing a digital ghost. Union VFX collaborated closely with director Toby Haynes and Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker on its concept. The final asset, which is a gyroscopic megastructure secretly built from computer parts, underwent several iterations. “You only really notice it’s made of CPUs and circuit boards when you get close,” said Schneider. “We had three levels of detail, from wide establishing shots down to intense dogfighting sequences, where you see ships weaving through CPU rings.” Previsualization played a key role but the sequences still remained fluid. “Charlie and Toby are very iterative,” Schneider noted. “Some previs translated straight to screen. Other scenes evolved considerably, especially once the action choreography changed.” LED Walls, Cockpits, and Interactive Light Set lighting was another carefully managed component, especially for cockpit shots. “The bridge had a large LED wall behind the viewport,” Hayen said. Union VFX contributed pre-rendered loops of space backdrops, hyperspace tunnels, and planets, offering real-time interactivity for both lighting and actor eyelines. “Those LED plates ended up as final pixels in many shots,” Schneider added. “But where designs weren’t finalized, we reverted to green screens and post-comp.” To sell realism, cockpit sets were built practically with motion rigs and rotating light arms. “You really see the lighting interact with the cast’s faces,” said Hayen. “That kind of contact lighting sells it far better than trying to fake everything in post.” Controlling the LED wall with an iPAD Stylized Teleportation and Video Game Visuals The entire show leans heavily into video game aesthetics, not just in narrative but also in design. “The teleporting effect was intentionally layered,” said Schneider. “We started with chunky voxel blocks building up, refining into wireframe, then finally resolving into the real actor’s plate.” That low-to-high-res visual progression mimics game asset loading and nods to gaming history, a detail the team enjoyed threading through. In space battles, color-coded neon strips on ships offered a “Tron-meets-retro” visual shorthand. “You always knew which character was flying which ship,” said Hayen. “It really helped storytelling.” Tools of the Trade Union’s 3D pipeline ran on Arnold, with compositing handled in Nuke. “We leaned heavily on Optical Flares for all the over-the-top lensing,” said Hayen. “It’s a compositor’s dream.” While The Foundry’s CopyCat machine learning tool is gaining traction for rotoscoping and cleanup, it was used minimally here. “We’ve used it on other shows,” said Schneider. “But USS Callister needed more bespoke solutions.” High Expectations, Met With Precision Following the acclaimed first Black Mirror episode, Union VFX was keenly aware of the scrutiny this sequel would attract. “Framestore’s work was brilliant,” said Schneider. “We had to meet, if not exceed, the visual standard they set—especially with tech evolving in the years since.” Fortunately, the combination of intricate design, strong creative collaboration, and technical precision delivered an episode that both honours its predecessor and pushes the story forward. “It was a real joy to work on,” said Hayen. “And yes, a bit of a dream job too.”

Empowering engineering teams with more tools for building AI factories, NVIDIA today announced a significant expansion of the NVIDIA Omniverse Blueprint for AI factory digital twins, now available as a preview. The blueprint features new integrations across the AI factory power, cooling and networking ecosystems with industry leaders Delta Electronics, Jacobs and Siemens, joining existing partners Cadence, Schneider Electric with ETAP and Vertiv. This growing ecosystem unifies the design and simulation of billions of components required to build digital twins of AI factories. The expanded blueprint will equip engineering teams to design, simulate and optimize entire AI factories in physically accurate virtual environments, enabling early issue detection and the development of smarter, more reliable facilities. Built on reference architectures for NVIDIA GB200 NVL72-powered AI factories, the blueprint taps into Universal Scene Description (OpenUSD) asset libraries. This allows developers to aggregate detailed 3D and simulation data representing all aspects of the data center into a single, unified model, enabling them to design and simulate advanced AI infrastructure optimized for efficiency, throughput and resiliency. The Omniverse Blueprint for AI factory digital twins unifies AI factory power, cooling and networking components in one simulation. AI Factory Ecosystem Teams With NVIDIA The Omniverse Blueprint for AI factory digital twins brings together diverse partners and tools to optimize the design, simulation, deployment and operations of AI factories. Today, NVIDIA announced that new partners are contributing to the framework. Siemens is building 3D models according to the blueprint and engaging with the simulation-ready, or SimReady, standardization effort, while Delta Electronics is adding models of its equipment. Because these are built with OpenUSD, users get accurate simulations of their facility equipment. Jacobs is helping test and optimize the end-to-end blueprint workflow. They join leaders in data center power and cooling solutions like Schneider Electric with ETAP and Vertiv, which contribute SimReady assets to populate the digital twin of the AI factory with 3D models of power, cooling and mechanical systems. “As AI factories continue to scale at an unprecedented pace, the energy demands they generate are reshaping the entire digital infrastructure landscape,” says Tanuj Khandelwal, CEO of ETAP. “Using the Omniverse Blueprint and SimReady assets, customers can test and optimize energy efficiency for the complexity and intensity of their AI workloads before even breaking ground.” Connections to the Cadence Reality Digital Twin Platform and ETAP provide thermal and power simulation, enabling engineering teams to test and optimize power, cooling and networking long before construction begins. These contributions help NVIDIA and its partners reshape how AI infrastructure is built to achieve smarter designs, avoid downtime and get the most out of AI factories. “Digital twins are fundamental to meet the escalating global demand for AI factories,” said Ben Gu, corporate vice president of R&D for multiphysics system analysis at Cadence. “The integration of the Cadence Reality Digital Twin Platform with the NVIDIA Omniverse Blueprint transforms the entire engineering process to design AI factories more efficiently and operate them more effectively than ever before. We are excited to continue our full-stack collaboration with NVIDIA.” Building SimReady Assets for AI Factories The OpenUSD-based models within the blueprint are inherently SimReady, designed from the ground up to be physics-based. This is especially valuable for developing and testing physical AI and agentic AI within these AI factories, enabling rapid and large-scale industrial AI simulations of power and cooling systems, building automation and overall IT operations. SimReady standardization workflow enables developers to view standardized simulations of thermal airflow within a digital twin environment. A key enhancement to this blueprint is the SimReady standardization workflow. Originally developed as a SimReady standardization proposal to streamline NVIDIA’s internal creation of OpenUSD assets, this now publicly available, industry-agnostic resource offers standardized requirements and processes for developing SimReady capabilities. It empowers data center developers and owners to efficiently establish, optimize and rigorously test their own digital twins of critical infrastructure, particularly for electrical and thermal management within AI factories. A Smarter Road to AI Infrastructure The expansion of the NVIDIA Omniverse Blueprint for AI factory digital twins marks a significant leap forward in how engineers design, simulate and build the sophisticated infrastructure required for industrial AI. By providing a unified and physically accurate digital twin, built on the robust foundation of OpenUSD and guided by SimReady standardization, this blueprint enables the industry to de-risk development, optimize performance and accelerate the deployment of next-generation AI factories. Learn more about NVIDIA Omniverse and preview the Omniverse Blueprint for AI factory digital twins. Watch the COMPUTEX keynote from NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang, as well as NVIDIA GTC Taipei 2025 sessions. See notice regarding software product information. Featured image courtesy of Cadence, ETAP, Schneider Electric, and Vertiv.

For many creatives, there are few times in life that are more thrilling and filled with possibilities than the summer you graduate. At the same time, there's usually a fair bit of anxiety, and in 2025, there are good reasons for that. If you're a creative graduate preparing to enter the workforce, you face a rapidly changing landscape shaped by technological advancements, shifting work paradigms and unprecedented challenges. In short, you'll be navigating uncharted waters as you transition from structured academic environments to the professional world. To help bridge this gap, we've gathered industry-leading advice from established leaders across various disciplines. These veterans have weathered economic shifts, tech revolutions, and cultural transformations throughout their careers. As such, their collective wisdom offers a compass for any graduate at a time of extraordinary opportunity and complexity. 1. Be kind to yourself First things first. You'll want to get into decent-paid work straight away, but in the current job market, that might not happen. That completely sucks, of course, but the important thing is that you don't beat yourself up over it. Creative director Charlie Bowden acknowledges the challenges of getting your foot in the door, even with a degree. "Converting an internship into a job is hard and may take longer than you'd like," he cautions. "So be kind to yourself. The best work comes when you're happy." Adrian Carroll, creative director at D8, agrees. "Don't be too hard on yourself if you don't land a role straight away," he stresses. "It's an incredibly tough market for graduates at the moment. Fewer people are setting up agencies, and more people are opting to freelance, which is tough if you don't have much experience." 2. Build your personal brand In a crowded jobs market, you need to stand out. That can be challenging for many creatives, especially if you're shy or introverted. But the important thing to understand, according to Simon Manchipp, founding partner at SomeOne, is this: "YOU ARE A BRAND. Like it or not." With that in mind, he recommends you: "Get your story straight. Make it stick. Website. Insta. LinkedIn. Behance. They should sing the same song—and it should sound like you. SHOW WORK. NOT PROMISES. Don't tell us what you want to do; show us what you did. Projects are better than platitudes. Side hustles count. So do failed ones. Especially failed ones." 3. Craft a portfolio with cut-through When it comes to your portfolio, Alex Rexworthy, co-founder and design director at Outlaw, advises showcasing development alongside final work. "Show your process, not just a flashy render," he urges. "Take the reader on a journey through each project in your portfolio. Start with the brief, share your initial ideas, and explain how you arrived at the final result." Above all, encourages Cat How, founder and ECD at How Studio, make an impact. "Go big, or go home," she says. "This is your time to shine, so you owe it to yourself to be OUTRAGEOUS." 4. Stay true to your vision When you're struggling to get work, it's natural to want to apply for everything and maybe even pretend to be someone you're not. But Paul Leon, creative director at U037, reckons you'll ultimately be more successful if you focus on your authentic creative path. "Focus on what you really want to do and head for that," he advises. "If you feel something's not right for you, don't be afraid to speak up, and don't be afraid to say no. Value yourself: the journey is where all the good stuff happens. Detours, etc, are fine." When applying for a job at an agency, you obviously need to do your research. But Charlie notes that you need to look beyond an agency's portfolio. "Consider the culture, not just the work," he explains. "Certain agencies make great work, but their culture may not be right for you. Internships are a great way of getting a gauge of this, but so is asking to come in for coffee and a crit, so you can see what the agency is like first-hand." 5. Embrace the beginner's mindset You need confidence to succeed in life, but that confidence shouldn't spill over into overconfidence or the idea that you already know it all; you don't. With that in mind, Kiser Barnes, partner and chief creative officer at Red Antler, stresses the importance of humility paired with curiosity. "Be humble and stay wildly curious," he says. "Finishing school feels like reaching the peak… until you realise you're right back at the bottom of a new hill again. That's okay. The people who thrive in this industry are the ones most open to learning, evolving and collaborating." Barrington Reeves, creative director at Too Gallus, offers similar advice. "Be ready to learn," he urges. "The change from education to commercial can sometimes be daunting. But although you've just been through a full course of education, the real learning begins now. " Part of that means adapting to commercial timeframes. "Don't be discouraged by the pace of change and iteration," he stresses. "While university might teach you to nurture and grow an idea over a prolonged period of time, in the commercial market, it is an incredible skill to be able to think—and fail—fast." 6. Develop leadership skills early Being humble doesn't mean you can't have one eye on the future and start developing your leadership skills. With that in mind, Ashleigh Hansberger, co-founder and COO at Motto, suggests you: "Start studying business and leadership now. Leadership isn't about title; it's about behaviour. That means building discipline, making clear decisions, being accountable, and taking responsibility for your actions and impact. "Practise your own leadership development early," she adds. "Read about it. Reflect on it. Try it. Accumulate experience and wisdom through the unglamorous work of getting 1% better every day. That's how you grow into someone people want to follow." 7. Master your craft while embracing technology Emerging technologies might be disrupting everything right now, with negative consequences for employment. But Kiser encourages graduates to engage with them all the same. "Don't be afraid of AI—tinker with it, play with it, understand it," he says. "Use your fresh perspective to imagine better ways of working. The world doesn't need more copies of what already exists. It needs people who can push the whole system forward." Matthew Schneider, director of product marketing at LucidLink, takes a similar line. "Know your craft, but don't be afraid of new tech," he advises. "When I started, a single video editing system cost well over $100k; now, a subscription to professional editing software might cost as little as $20 monthly." And the moral of this story? "Now people have access to great tools, what sets you apart is how you use them and the story you ultimately tell with them," Matthew explains. "Growing up an aspiring filmmaker myself, my mother would always tell me, 'It's not the story; it's the storytelling'. She's right!" Tom Munckton, ECD at Fold7Design, similarly notes the accelerating pace of industry evolution right now. "The industry used to shift annually; now it feels more like monthly—with processes and project delivery being challenged by AI and other democratising factors," he says. Ultimately, though, he recommends focusing on creative direction over specific tools. "Regardless of the tool or method you use right now or in the future, confidence will come from being clear about the type of work you want to make and making constant steps towards that," he reasons. 8. Embrace discomfort as growth Finding all this stressful and frightening? Many creative people feel like they don't "belong" in normal society, but the good news is that agencies are generally pretty friendly places and are probably filled with other people who've felt like outsiders themselves. Take Claire Parker, group creative partner at The Chase. "I never fitted in at school—couldn't do maths, couldn't spell—but I could create," she recalls. "The world needs curious minds like yours. Creativity isn't about having all the answers; it's about asking better questions. "Stay interested, stay committed, and back yourself even when you feel out of your depth," she adds. "In fact, especially then, as David Bowie said, 'Always go a little further into the water'. That's where the magic happens. Be more Bowie."

Anita Hofschneider & Ayurella Horn-Muller, Grist Published May 18, 2025 | Comments (0) | Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost arrives on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica for the first time. © ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images On a sweltering January day in 2018, Pope Francis addressed 100,000 of the faithful in Puerto Maldonado, Peru, not far from where gold mining had ravaged an expanse of Amazon rainforest about the size of Colorado. “The native Amazonian peoples have probably never been so threatened on their own lands as they are at present,” he told the crowd. He simultaneously condemned extractive industries and conservation efforts that “under the guise of preserving the forest, hoard great expanses of woodland and negotiate with them, leading to situations of oppression for the native peoples.” Francis denounced the insatiable consumerism that drives the destruction of the Amazon, supported those who say Indigenous peoples’ guardianship of their own territories should be respected, and urged everyone to defend isolated tribes. “Their cosmic vision and their wisdom have much to teach those of us who are not part of their culture,” he said. To Julio Cusurichi Palacios, an Indigenous leader who was in the stadium that day, the words from the head of the Catholic Church — which claims 1.4 billion members and has a long, sordid history of violence against Indigenous peoples worldwide — were welcome and momentous. “Few world leaders have spoken about our issues, and the pope said publicly the rights of Indigenous peoples were historically violated,” he said after Pope Francis died last month. “Let us hope that the new pope is a person who can continue implementing the position the pope who passed away has been talking about.” During his 12 years as pontiff, Francis radically reshaped how the world’s most powerful religious institution approached the moral and ethical call to protect the planet. Beyond his invocations for Indigenous rights, Francis acknowledged the Church’s role in colonization, and considered climate change a moral issue born of rampant consumption and materialism. As the Trump administration dismantles climate action and cuts funding to Indigenous peoples around the world — and far-right politics continues to rise globally — experts see the conclave’s selection of Robert Francis Prevost, or Pope Leo XIV as he is now known, as a clear beacon that the faith-based climate justice movement his predecessor led isn’t going anywhere. In 2015, Pope Francis released his historic papal letter, or encyclical, titled Laudato si’. In the roughly 180-page document, he unequivocally identified planet-heating pollution as a pressing global issue disproportionately impacting the world’s poor, and condemned the outsize role wealthy countries like the U.S. have in contributing to the climate crisis. With it, Francis did what no pope had done before: He spoke with great clarity and urgency about human degradation of the environment being not just an environmental issue, but a social and moral one. Laudato si’ established the definitive connection between faith, climate change, and social justice, and made it a tenet of Catholic doctrine. The lasting influence of Francis’ encyclical would be buoyed by his other writings, homilies, and his direct appeals to world leaders. He was, for example, credited with helping rally nearly 200 countries to sign the 2015 Paris Agreement, regularly urged cooperation at international climate summits, and released a follow-up to his pioneering encyclical in 2023 that sounded the alarm in the face of the climate crisis. “Pope Francis routinely said that we have a throwaway society. We throw away people, we throw away nature … and that we really need a culture that’s much more based in care,” said Christopher Cox, executive director of the Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investment and a former priest. “That means care for people, especially the most poor, the most vulnerable, the most marginalized. And we also need much greater care for creation. We’ve been given a beautiful earth and we’re consuming it at a rate that goes far beyond what will be able to sustain life for the long term.” The first Latin American pope, Francis was unique in implicitly embracing some elements of liberation theology, a Catholic social justice movement that calls for the liberation of marginalized peoples from oppression. Although Francis was occasionally critical of the doctrine’s Marxist elements and never fully supportive of it, many observers see his statements regarding poor and Indigenous peoples as reflective of the doctrine’s central values. “Right from the beginning of his papacy, that outreach, that recognition of Indigenous ways of being Catholic and Indigenous language in Catholicism, heralded — up to that point — the most expansive official recognition of Indigenous contributions to Catholicism thus far,” said Eben Levey, an assistant professor of history at Alfred University who has studied the relationship between Catholic Church and Indigenous peoples in Latin America. In the centuries since conquistadores arrived in the Americas and forced Indigenous peoples to accept their religion, many Indigenous communities have made Catholicism their own, and a growing number of church leaders have embraced the idea that there are multiple ways of being Catholic and that Catholicism and Indigenous cultures can coexist. A year after becoming pope, Francis approved the use of two Mayan languages, Tzotzil and Tzeltal, in mass and sacraments like baptism and confession. In 2015 he expanded that list to include the Aztec language Nahuatl, and in 2016, during a visit to Mexico, he celebrated mass in Tzeltal, Tzotzil and Chol. In 2022, Francis officially apologized to Canada for the residential schools that ripped Indigenous children from their families, leading to the deaths of many who were later buried in unmarked graves. The following year, he rejected the Doctrine of Discovery, a religious concept that colonizers used to justify the illegal seizure of land from Indigenous peoples and became part of an 1823 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that described Native Americans as “savages.” “The Doctrine of Discovery is not part of the teaching of the Catholic Church,” Pope Francis said, adding that he strongly supports the global implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. He also drew a clear connection between those rights and climate action: In 2023, he made clear that Indigenous peoples are critical to fighting climate change when he said, “Ignoring the original communities in the safeguarding of the Earth is a serious mistake, not to say a great injustice.” But Pope Francis’ progressivism had its limits. In 2019, he called for a meeting of church leaders, known as the Synod of Bishops, for the Pan-Amazon region to address issues affecting the Amazon Basin. Indigenous Catholics who attended brought up illegal logging and violence against land defenders and proposed reforms. “The ancestral wisdom of the aboriginal peoples affirms that mother earth has a feminine face,” reads the document that emerged from the gathering and urged the church to give women more leadership roles and allow married deacons to be ordained as priests. In his response, Francis condemned corporations that destroy the Amazon as committing “injustice and crime,” yet refused to embrace the proposals to make church leadership more inclusive of women and married men. Francis’ climate activism was also riddled in constraint. He transformed how religious institutions viewed the climate crisis, framing a failure to act on it as a brutal injustice toward the most vulnerable, but could have implemented “more direct institutional action,” said Nadia Ahmad, a Barry University School of Law associate professor who has studied faith-based environmental action. Though the former pontiff publicly supported renewable energy adoption, called for fossil fuel disinvestment, and prompted churches across the world to go solar, he did not mandate what he deemed a “radical energy transition” across dioceses, schools, and hospitals. The work he accomplished “could have been amplified a bit more and had more accountability,” said Ahmad. But that limitation, she noted, likely stemmed from contradictory politics playing out within the church — many traditional, conservative Catholics, particularly in the United States, resisted Francis’ progressive teachings. A 2021 study found that over a period of five years, most U.S. bishops were “nearly silent and sometimes even misleading,” in their official messaging to parishioners about climate change and the pope’s famed encyclical. Though Pope Leo XIV has been lauded for his advocacy in defense of immigrants and worker rights — his namesake, Leo XIII, who reigned from 1878 until 1903 is known as a historical Catholic champion of social justice and equality — the new pope’s track record on engaging directly with climate change is sparse. Still, Mary Evelyn Tucker, co-director of the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology, sees comments the new pope made last year on the need to move “from words to action” as a promising sign that he will continue Francis’ commitment to communicating the urgency of a warming world. The timing of the conclave’s unprecedented decision to select the first pontiff from the United States, coming amid the Trump administration’s sweeping dismissal of climate action, elimination of environmental protections, and attacks on Indigenous rights, isn’t lost on her. “It may be a signal to say ‘America, come back into the world community, come back into a planetary future where we collectively have been working to create a future worthy of our children and our children’s children,’” she said. Leo grew up in Chicago and is a citizen of both the U.S. and Peru, where he spent decades serving as a missionary and bishop before Francis made him a cardinal in 2023. He speaks five languages fluently and some Quechua, an Indigenous Incan language. While he was working in Peru in the 1990s, Leo was critical of the government’s human rights abuses — though he refrained from explicitly taking sides in the political fight between Maoist rebels and the government of then-dictator Alberto Fujimori, according to Matthew Casey, a historian and clinical associate professor at Arizona State University based in Lima. Still, his reaction to the country’s authoritarianism could provide a glimpse of what stances he might take as pope, Casey said. “It doesn’t matter who was abusing human rights, he was on the side of the people,” he said. In 2016, the would-be pontiff spoke at a conference in Brazil where attendees talked about threats to the Amazon rainforest and Indigenous peoples who lived there. He praised Francis’ encyclical, describing the document as “very important,” and representing “something new in terms of this explicit expression of the church’s concern for all of creation.” To Casey, that suggests Pope Leo XIV, like his predecessor, has an awareness of the issues affecting Indigenous peoples, such as the rampant degradation of the environment. “Both Francis and Prevost are attuned to Indigeneity in ways that they couldn’t have been if they worked in Europe or the United States, because the politics of Indigeneity in Latin America are just so different,” Casey said. More than a week after the conclave that named him pope, communities across Peru are still celebrating the selection of Pope Leo XIV. Francis and Leo’s shared experiences working with marginalized communities harmed by colonialism and climate change, and their commitment to the social justice aspects of the church’s mission, are particularly meaningful in this political moment, said Levey, the Alfred University historian. “We are seeing a resurgence of ultra right wing politics globally, and the Catholic Church next to the United Nations is one of the few multilateral organizations perhaps capable of responding in some form or fashion to the questions of our modern age or contemporary moment,” he said. This article originally appeared in Grist at https://grist.org/international/pope-leo-climate-catholic-indigenous-francis/. Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Learn more at Grist.org. Daily Newsletter You May Also Like By Matt Novak Published February 18, 2025

Colorful Grid Painting by Piet Mondrian Fetches $47.6 Million at Auction While it went for well below the auction house’s estimate, “Composition With Large Red Plane, Bluish Gray, Yellow, Black and Blue” is now the Dutch artist’s third highest-selling work Lillian Ali - Staff Contributor May 16, 2025 2:23 p.m. Composition With Large Red Plane, Bluish Gray, Yellow, Black and Blue, Piet Mondrian, 1922 Christie's A 1922 painting by Piet Mondrian fetched $47.6 million at auction, becoming the Dutch artist’s third highest-selling work. Titled Composition With Large Red Plane, Bluish Gray, Yellow, Black and Blue, the artwork features Mondrian’s signature grid-like patterns and bright colors, including a large red square. Experts at Christie’s had expected it to sell for around $50 million. “Red always helps, simple as it is, because it’s a color people like,” Alex Rotter, Christie’s president, tells the Wall Street Journal’s Kelly Crow. If it had sparked a bidding war, it could have broken the artist’s auction record of $51 million, set by Composition No. II Composition No. II, Piet Mondrian, 1930 Alexi Rosenfeld / Getty Images However, the May 12 auction attracted only one bidder, who purchased the piece for $41 million (or $47.6 million with fees). “It’s a fantastic picture,” Hugo Nathan of the art advisory Beaumont Nathan tells Artnet’s Katya Kazakina. “But the market at those very high levels is quite tricky.” Born in the Netherlands in 1872, Mondrian began his artistic career by painting landscapes and Cubist works. However, he’s famous for the style he developed in the 1920s, when he was in his 40s and 50s. His best-known pieces feature clean lines, eye-popping colors and abstract canvases filled with geometric shapes. “While prevailing artistic trends in post-war Europe favored a return to figuration and classical ideals, Mondrian pursued his own unique form of pure abstraction—a groundbreaking and thoroughly modern approach to painting in service of the creation of a universal visual language,” Vanessa Fusco, head of Impressionist and modern art at Christie’s, says in a statement. Composition With Large Red Plane, Bluish Gray, Yellow, Black and Blue had belonged to Louise Riggio, the wife of Barnes & Noble founder Leonard Riggio. Christie’s secured the collection by offering the Riggio estate an undisclosed guarantee, promising a minimum price regardless of the auction’s success. To offset its own risk, Christie’s arranged for outside buyers to place pre-sale bids on certain lots. For that reason, many lots didn’t have “a bounce,” or more bidding following a first bid, Rotter tells Artnet. “We had to manage our risk portfolio,” Rotter says. “This is the art market in the real world.” One of those one-bid lots was the Mondrian composition, which appears to have been purchased by its guarantor. In total, the Riggio collection made $272 million, including fees. Without fees, though, the sale fell short of Christie’s $252 million estimate, according to the New York Times’ Zachary Small and Tim F. Schneider. Many of the guarantees placed lots below their estimated values. For example, Pablo Picasso’s Mère et Enfant (1922) sold for $6 million, though it was expected to fetch at least $9 million. Speaking to Artnet, art adviser Ralph DeLuca describes these “low-margin” third-party guarantees as “blood sport.” However, some experts think the Mondrian’s price tag was inflated to begin with. “Overpricing at the start was a deterrent with many collectors, despite the quality and rarity of the work,” art dealer Brett Gorvy tells the Times. Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.