Silas Chiow has served as director of SOM's China office since 2003. In this capacity, he is responsible for steering the firm’s overall strategic objectives and growth of regional offices in close coordination with U.S.-based managing and design partners.

Having joined SOM in 1987, Chiow draws on more than 20 years of experience as an architect, urban planner, and project manager. He has helped clients successfully define their goals and requirements for a range of complex projects including large-scale master plans, mixed-use developments, and high-performance buildings in commercial, office, hospitality, cultural, education, and other market sectors.

Chiow continues to be a strong proponent of sustainable urban design principles, particularly as a catalyst for innovative problem solving that can address the unique challenges of China’s 21st century cities. His extensive collaboration with local government and regulatory bodies has been instrumental to these efforts, and to the development of strategies aimed at maximizing the inherent qualities of each project site and environment.

As the firm’s chief representative in China, Chiow serves a vital role in facilitating meaningful client relationships between SOM and leading private and state-owned developers in the greater region. He also speaks regularly at university and industry events on subjects critical to the advancement of China’s design culture and business practice.