Wallenberg Hall exemplifies a true marriage of new and old. The sandstone building was constructed in 1900 and is recognized by the National Historic Register of Places. The interior spaces had been gutted in the 1940s, and by the ‘90s the building had fallen into disrepair. In addition to seismically retrofitting and refurbishing the building … 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
A new destination located just north of Shenzhen’s main central business district, this mixed-use development features two landmark towers, a ballroom pavilion, and a large elevated pedestrian park that connects the hills of the city’s two major parks: Lotus Hill Park to the southwest and Beacon Hill Park to the northeast. An enlivened podium provides … Continued
A struggle to accommodate explosive growth has characterized Shanghai’s transformation into a post-industrial city. Whereas most new developments have sprung up along the linear corridors of major streets and lack a sense of scale and place, this master plan offers an alternative: a compact and walkable district that bridges the old and new. Situated between … Continued
Located in the south of Pudong’s Lujiazui, this new five-star JW Marriott Marquis hotel and conference center will be the first of its kind in China, and will establish a new landmark for the city of Shanghai. The design responds to the project’s constraints and the owner’s vision for a unique destination, leveraging its relationship … Continued
This high-profile project in downtown San Francisco, in the revered Civic Center Plaza, entailed the renovation of the California State Supreme Court building and the addition of an adjoining 14-story office tower. Preserving the classical, Beaux Arts-style courthouse while accommodating the contemporary needs of 11 government agencies were primary concerns. SOM tucked the addition behind … Continued
The Mortimer B. Zuckerman Research Building provides an inspiring and efficient environment for cancer research, and a distinguished civic identity for Memorial Sloan-Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center. Located on a dense urban site, the building offers MSK’s researchers state-of-the-art laboratory spaces while responding to stringent urban design, zoning, and phasing constraints. At 420 feet tall, it … Continued
Clear structural composition and carefully designed details characterized this pristine modernist building when it opened in 1954. Surrounded by skyscrapers, this branch for the Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company bank had only four stories, although city zoning regulations would have permitted the erection of a tall structure with rentable upper floors. Instead, the design concept was … Continued
Glowing like an American Stonehenge, this giant, upside-down concrete “V” looks like a tribute to the Sun God, which in a sense it is. Designed in 1958-1959 by an SOM team led by Myron Goldsmith, the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope on Arizona’s Kitt Peak was the world’s largest instrument dedicated to viewing the sun at the … Continued
Developed by Extell, 55 West 46th Street is New York City’s only 21st-century commercial condominium specifically created for the gem and jewelry trade. Located in the Diamond District, the 34-story tower is wrapped in a three-dimensional, folded glass facade that creates a dynamic, ever-changing surface condition through the interplay of glass and light. The facade … Continued