In 1968, as workers hoisted steel beams more than 1,100 feet above Chicago’s lakeshore, the John Hancock Center (now 875 N Michigan Avenue) reached its full height. The achievement would forever change not only Chicago’s skyline, but the entire field of tall building design and engineering. Hancock’s “braced tube” structural system—devised by SOM engineer Fazlur … Continued
National Hispanic American Heritage Month provides an opportunity to explore and celebrate the rich and extensive impact and cultures of our Hispanic/Latinx colleagues worldwide—and throughout the extensive history of our firm. This recognition, celebrated annually September 15 to October 15, is a critical opportunity to amplify the Hispanic influence on firm culture and work. At … Continued
AAPI Heritage Month marks an important moment to celebrate the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans. Since 2020, the SOM Asian Alliance—a group that works to foster community and promote cross-cultural awareness among Asians within our firm and in the industry—has organized a series of events, discussions, and celebrations across SOM offices worldwide. … Continued
Women have played a pivotal role in leading SOM’s projects and practice for several generations, starting in the 1950s. Their contributions are all the more notable in a profession that has continued to struggle with gender equity. Much progress has been made since our firm rose to prominence in the mid-century era, when design leaders … Continued
Ahead of the new year, we are excited to showcase a selection of our work in progress—including several projects unveiled here for the first time. While this work ranges widely in location and scale, it reflects a design approach that is firmly rooted in a sense of place. From a residential tower on Mexico’s Pacific … Continued
Bio-Block™ Spiral has opened to the public at 167 Green Street for the fifth edition of the Chicago Architecture Biennial. Constructed out of Bio-Blocks—an algae-based concrete alternative developed in partnership with Prometheus Materials—the installation offers a model for carbon-neutral construction. Reflecting on the Biennial theme, This is a Rehearsal, Bio-Block Spiral demonstrates a change-making collaboration … Continued
Established by SOM in 1979 to support emerging designers, the SOM Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization that has provided more than $3 million in fellowships to design students and faculty, as well as mentorship and networking opportunities. Today, the foundation administers five annual awards, which support rigorous interdisciplinary research across the globe. With the … Continued
Converging digital technologies and manual crafts Designed for the garden of the Palazzo Mora in Venice, this doubly-curved vault was constructed without temporary support or guide work, using a novel mixed-reality construction approach. Referring to a digital model accessible via twenty quick response (QR) codes placed around the site, a data-driven augmented reality (AR) interface … Continued
It’s a story nearly half a century in the making: A connection to Dulles International Airport via Metro dates back to the public transportation system’s inception, during the LBJ administration, but planning of the line wouldn’t begin in earnest until the turn of the millennium. Now, some two decades later, that dream has finally become … Continued
New York City’s aging office buildings from the 1950s and 60s pose a conundrum. Falling short of today’s sustainability standards and in dire need of renovations, many of these buildings have seen increasing vacancy rates in the wake of the pandemic, to the point of becoming financially unviable for building owners. In stark contrast, the … Continued