The Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC) recognized two SOM projects in the 2017 Excellence in Engineering Awards, presented on Tuesday, May 2nd. The Desmond, an adaptive reuse project in downtown Los Angeles, received an Award of Excellence in the Retrofit/Alteration category. Originally designed as an automobile showroom in 1916, the five-story brick building has been transformed into a modern, loft-style commercial office.
Poly International Plaza, a complex located in a new business district in Beijing, received a Landmark Structures Award of Excellence from SEAONC. Inspired by Chinese paper lanterns, the design of the main tower’s exterior is formed by a continuous diagrid pattern, with a jewel-like faceting that shimmers as it reflects the sky. The exoskeleton structural system forms an outer thermal envelope around the office spaces, which are enclosed within a second glazed interior envelope.