Steven Louie, vice president and design director of Gensler Tokyo, is not only warm, open and charming; he's also sensitive, patient, and very very kind. This was illustrated by his treatment of the 16-year-old student from the U.K. (on a work experience program) who accompanied me, listening attentively to her questions and treating her on equal terms. He didn't have to do that, which I believe proves the point.

"You want to know what we do here?" he began. "Follow me." And he led the way to a window at the side of the building in Nagata-cho where Gensler is located. "Basically, the opposite of that!" And he pointed across the way to the floor of a government office, with a view of gray monotony -- cramped desks, piles of dusty papers and boxes. "Just look at the furniture -- basically unchanged in design since the 1950s. And in the U.S., neon like that's illegal. It strains eyes, causes headaches -- the worst possible light to work by."

Gensler's working environment could not be more different. Any lights that came with the building are diffused with Austrian fittings that cut down glare. The main area is open but with sleek low partitions that cleverly combine a sense of liberty with privacy. The smaller meeting room is cozy in feel, the larger -- an intelligent flexible space -- totally cool. A series of large cubicles along one long wall serve as executive offices and a self-service kitchen. "You'll find no 'OLs' ('office ladies') serving tea here. Our staff (average age 30) are all highly qualified professionals in their own field."