The Wild Mile Framework Plan received the 2019 Strategic Plan Award from the Chicago chapter of the American Planning Association (APA IL). The annual APA IL program recognizes outstanding planning projects across Illinois that exemplify the practice of urban design and planning. SOM worked with the City of Chicago, Urban Rivers, Near North Community Partners, … Continued
HOW DID YOU FIRST LEARN ABOUT ARCHITECTURE AND WHEN DID YOU DECIDE THAT IT WAS AN AREA OF INTEREST FOR YOU? When I was in elementary school, I was placed in a gifted arts program. Every year the students in this program produced art for a holiday fundraiser to sell at their art show. The … Continued
On Tuesday, October 8th, Associate Roger Weber will speak at the 2019 Biennial Conference of the Maryland chapter of the American Planning Association (APA). The conference will focus on the theme of “Negotiating Change: Balancing Development, Climate Change, and Preservation in Maryland.” In a session titled “Smart Planning Maryland’s First Smart City: Lessons in Planning … Continued
Renovations and additions currently outpace new construction. The increasing size and scale of convention centers reflect their importance as economic engines for their communities. Even before its expansion, Moscone Center generated 20% of San Francisco’s 16.9 million annual visitors . . . “These buildings are real drivers of local and regional economies,” says SOM’s [Mark] … Continued
For what will be the eighth-tallest building in the world when finished in Tianjin, China, later this year, SOM didn’t want to do a paint-by-the-numbers glass facade. Which is good, because the designers couldn’t have even if they wanted to—the Tianjin CTF Finance Centre’s convex and concave surfaces, along with its tapered shape, meant to … Continued
For the Chicago Architecture Biennial opening on September 19, SOM debuted a concrete pavilion called Stereoform Slab to showcase the latest in material and manufacturing technology. . . . The fluid form of Stereoform Slab, designed as a full-scale abstraction of the single-story concrete bays you might find in a highrise, was built in partnership … Continued
Nex Tower has been selected as a Best Green Development award winner in the 2019 MIPIM Asia Awards. The program recognizes excellence in architecture and real estate in the Asia Pacific region each year. The Best Green Development award honors projects that achieve high levels of sustainability. The tower, which is certified LEED Platinum, was … Continued
… For the past year, Grabazs, who grew up in Belchertown, Mass., has been working on a building at Wellesley College, about an hour and a half east of her hometown. She led the design for renovation of Wellesley Science Center, which is an interconnected complex originally constructed in the 1920s and then expanded in … Continued
Three designers from the Chicago office participated in the 2019 Chicago Build Expo. Architectural Associate Director Kevin Rodenkirch spoke on the panel, “Affordable Housing in Chicago.” Rodenkirch worked on the recently opened Taylor Street Apartments and Little Italy Branch Library. One of the city’s first co-located Chicago Housing Authority and Public Library branches, the development includes a … Continued
Before the John Hancock Center, now called 875 N. Michigan, was built 50 years ago, the tallest buildings in Chicago were the Daley Center and Lake Point Tower. The Hancock is nearly twice as tall, topping off at an architectural height of 1,128 feet. Designed by the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill team of architect Bruce … Continued