Jon Cicconi to Speak at Getting to Zero National Forum

On Wednesday, April 18th, SOM Associate Director Jon Cicconi will speak at the Getting to Zero National Forum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He will join a session titled “Inefficiency is Old School! Lessons of Designing Zero Energy School Buildings?.” In his presentation—titled “P.S. 62: Using Net Zero Energy to Create a ‘Sustainability Lab’ for the Future of NYC’s Public Schools”—Cicconi … Continued

SOM Participates in Facades+ Conference in New York

Six representatives from SOM will speak at the Facades+ Conference in New York City. The conference, which takes place Thursday, April 19th and Friday, April 20th, brings experts together to explore facade design and construction. The first day will include symposia and exhibits, and the second day will comprise a series of workshops led by … Continued

Brian Bessenaire to Discuss Virtual Reality at Architecture Practice Talks Series

On Saturday, April 21st, Senior Architectural Professional Brian Bessenaire will speak at an event hosted by the Chicago chapter of Architecture Practice Talks.  The event, titled “We are VR: Let’s Look Into the Future Through VR Lens,” centers on three perspectives on the role of virtual reality in design practice: potential, conceptual, and applied. Darren Rizza of SmartVizX and Andrew LeTourneau of … Continued

Two SOM Projects Awarded at 2018 Architectural Engineering Institute Forum

Two SOM projects were honored with Awards of Merit at the 2018 Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI) Forum, which took place from April 5-6 in Omaha, Nebraska. Created by the American Society of Civil Engineers to publicly acknowledge outstanding achievement in design and construction, the AEI Professional Project Awards (PPA) program educates students and professionals on … Continued

Aaron May to Speak at 2018 National Planning Conference in New Orleans

On Saturday, April 21st, SOM Associate Director Aaron May will lead a panel discussion on transportation and the autonomous vehicle during the American Planning Association’s 2018 National Planning Conference in New Orleans. The panel, titled “What Color is Your Horse?” will focus on questions raised by the emergence of autonomous vehicles and their impact on … Continued

William F. Baker to Speak at Princeton University

On Thursday, April 19th, SOM Structural Engineering Partner William F. Baker will speak at Princeton University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The talk, titled “Architecture and Structures in the Computational Age,” will highlight challenges surrounding building design in light of advances made in computer-aided design and manufacturing. Baker will address a paradox that has … Continued

Keith Boswell to Speak at Value of Design Symposium in the Netherlands

On Wednesday, May 2nd, SOM Technical Partner Keith Boswell will speak at the Value of Design Symposium in the Netherlands. His lecture, “Balanced Design – Equal Parts Composition and Performance,” will showcase Poly International Plaza and highlight other SOM projects that illustrate the integration of architecture, engineering, innovation, craft, and performance. The biannual symposium aims to bring architects … Continued

SOM Designs a Bright Space for Children of Families Facing Homelessness

From October 2017 through March 2018, staff from SOM’s offices in Washington, D.C. and New York partnered with the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children and the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center (VWFRC) in Washington, D.C. to design a special project: a “Bright Space” for children. Bright Spaces are warm, enriching places in shelters and community … Continued

How BART’s Extension Into San Jose Will Transform the South Bay

With BART’s plans for its four-station extension into San Jose and Santa Clara expected to be approved later this month, all eyes are turning to how the extension will catalyze development. … Diridon Station offers the biggest opportunity for redevelopment. The modest train depot serving Amtrak, Altamont Corridor Express and Caltrain, along with VTA buses, … Continued

SOM Fashions Former Chicago Firehouse Into Bespoke Men’s Hat Atelier

Chicago is renowned for myriad phenomena. Jazz and the blues. Politics. Pizza. And, of course, architecture. But hats? Yes, according to Graham Thompson, founder of Optimo, a men’s hat company based in the city’s South Side. Steady growth over its 25-year existence has called for expansion—and a new space. It comes courtesy of Skidmore, Owings … Continued