Ryan Gann, AIA

Ryan Gann, AIA

As a student at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Gann discovered a passion for the partnership between design and service, leading to his role on the national board of the American Institute of Architecture Students. His experiences there introduced him to opportunities to combat complacency and indifference. His thesis, which envisioned a contemporary Great Lakes transit system and explored how architecture could be much more than buildings, earned him the 2014 Schiff Fellowship from the Art Institute of Chicago and the document resides in its permanent collection.

After graduation, Gann worked at Ross Barney Architects, where he collaborated with Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, on some of the studio’s most notable projects, including two groundbreaking flagship restaurants for McDonald's. As the design lead, he delivered a LEED Platinum-certified building that was the first commercial building in Chicago to use cross-laminated timber and carbon-capturing concrete. The success in Chicago led McDonald’s to explore the possibility of achieving net zero, which Gann helped them do with a second flagship location at Disney World.

Focusing on larger areas of inquiry, Gann’s projects range in scale from business plans to master plans, vision statements to visionary buildings. As a critical member of interdisciplinary teams, he has worked with a wide array of clients, from municipalities to private corporations.

As Gann’s career has grown, so, too, has his commitment to service. He has established himself as a leading voice in equity-centered conversations surrounding the profession, and he establishes on-ramps for his colleagues to engage with AIA at all phases of their careers. He was the chair of AIA’s Equity and the Future of Architecture Committee for three years, where he worked closely with AIA staff and volunteers to build out member resources, including supplemental additions to the Guides for Equitable Practice. In 2020, Gann became the youngest member elected to AIA’s board as an at-large director.

Through his potent blend of insatiable curiosity, action, and influence, Gann is leading the profession to a new, more inclusive future. But, most importantly, he recognizes that he is not alone in this journey and welcomes all voices in this shared vision.