Architizer, a leading website for architects and design enthusiasts, announced today that the SOM-designed Cayan Tower has won a Popular Choice A+ Award in the Residential High-Rise (16+ Floors) category. The helical skyscraper was one of five finalists in a public voting period that ran from March 4 to 21, 2014.
Located in Dubai, the tower is a pure expression of the idea that a building’s form should follow its structural framework. While its 73 floorplates are all identical, each is slightly rotated against the story below it, resulting in a full 90-degree twist over the course of the tower’s 307-meter rise. This unique form results in reduced wind loads and solar heat gain. Additionally, a greater number of tenants are afforded desirable views of the nearby marina and gulf.
The Architizer A+ Awards program, now in its second year, honors projects from around the globe in more than 60 categories. Winners are chosen by the public and by an illustrious jury comprising luminaries both within and outside the design profession. Projects are assessed based on form, function, innovation, intent, and reality. The 2014 winners will be recognized during a gala on May 15 in New York City.