680 Folsom in San Francisco has been recognized by the American Institute of Architects California Council (AIACC). The building, dramatically renovated by SOM, received a 2014 Merit Award for Architecture through the AIACC’s Design Awards Program, which honors excellence in architecture and design.
For 680 Folsom, SOM’s project team utilized creative solutions and careful design to reinvent an aging commercial complex in the heart of San Francisco. Often, the trend in large-scale urban development is to demolish existing buildings and start anew, but 680 Folsom was transformed from the inside out. Defined by simple, finely proportioned massing, the building is clad in a high-performance unitized glass curtain wall. The glazing enables daylight to reach deep into the interior while also providing sweeping views and a connection to the surrounding neighborhood.