Earlier this month, SOM hosted a final review for students from Northwestern University’s Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering as a part of an integrated design studio led by members of the firm’s Chicago-based team. Taught by SOM Design Director Eric Keune, Associate Director Arathi Gowda, and Technical Designer Christian Hartz, the studio focused on sacred religious spaces. It challenged students to design a series of meaningful and practical structures to accommodate different uses and congregation sizes. The jury was led by members of SOM’s leadership, including Design Partner Brian Lee, and Structural and Civil Engineering Partner William F. Baker.
Throughout the semester-long course, Gowda, a leader of SOM’s sustainable engineering practice, and Hartz, a senior technical designer, taught in concert with Keune to demonstrate SOM’s integrated design approach. Leading the course, Keune provided insight into his role as a designer for the Cathedral of Christ the Light, an SOM project in Oakland, California.