Enhancing the city’s public health response The New York City Public Health Laboratory (PHL) has been a critical tool to respond to public health crises in New York for more than a century. Established in 1892 to address the diphtheria outbreak, PHL was the first municipal bacteriological laboratory in the world. More recently, it was … Continued
Demonstrating civic leadership through design When San Mateo County leaders approached SOM to design a new county headquarters, they had ambitious sustainability goals. Climate leadership is needed now more than ever, and this county on the San Francisco Peninsula is particularly vulnerable to the perils of climate change, including wildfire, drought, and sea-level rise. County … Continued
A compact, connected, and climate-responsive district Located within Manila’s central ring of business districts, the Bonifacio East master plan envisions a next-generation mixed-use community. Informed by a careful study of the local urban and natural context, the master plan connects with surrounding open spaces and optimizes development to create an inclusive, walkable, and green streetscape, … Continued
The Ledge at Willis Tower, formerly Sears Tower, was created to enhance a classic SOM building with an innovative addition that is in the spirit of the original design. The minimal five-sided glass balconies allow for views in all directions and provide an experience that approximates being suspended in the air. The ledges are approximately … Continued
In the 1960s, SOM helped conceive a master plan for the urban redevelopment and revitalization of Columbus, Indiana. The Republic Newspaper Office and Printing Plant was the first project realized from that plan. The building, designed by Myron Goldsmith, consists of an aluminum frame enclosed by glass walls. To maximize efficiency, the offices and plant … Continued
The SFVA project, located on the edge of the San Francisco peninsula, is a seismic upgrade to its Medical Campus to include outpatient clinical, and mental health facilities, office and administrative spaces, and laboratories. The buildings will be retrofitted to meet the current life safety and seismic standards. Newly implemented efficient building systems will reconfigure … Continued
As a key part of London’s Ludgate development, this distinctive building provides a visual transition between the contemporary 1 Fleet Place and the historic 100 Ludgate Hill, all designed by SOM. Bridging the Thameslink rail line below, 10 Fleet Place is the largest building on the site. City planning officials required stone cladding to ensure … Continued
Designing a center for Islamic culture In 1987, a group of representatives from Islamic member states of the United Nations (UN) commissioned SOM to design New York’s first ground-up mosque. The member states, led by Kuwait, sought to provide the city and UN delegates with a religious and cultural center that reflected its Manhattan location … Continued
The Kunming Junfa Dongfeng Square project showcases site-specific MEP solutions that integrate SOM’s architectural, structural, and sustainable design services. Located in the highly seismic Yunnan province in southwest China, this 456-meter tower requires a robust structural system. To increase resilience, mega-columns in each corner must be separated, creating a void. SOM’s early interdisciplinary collaboration enabled … Continued
Nestled on the banks of the Nanming River, in the heart of Guizhou province, Guiyang is a vibrant metropolis poised to play a significant role in the rapid development of inland China. The Nanming Riverfront Culture Central Business District Master Plan leverages this potential and provides a path forward for Guiyang based on renewal of … Continued