The Terrace Plaza was the first hotel designed by SOM and one of the first modern hotels in the United States. Its lobby, located on the eighth floor, was reached by express elevators from the street entrance. Two department stores originally occupied the first seven floors. The top floor, home to a small gourmet restaurant, … Continued
A venue designed for the digital age As part of the new King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh, the Conference Center makes a distinct impression with its faceted geometry, evoking the landforms of the desert terrain. The master plan for the larger civic, financial, commercial, and residential development features a sunken outdoor pedestrian path … 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
In 2014, the University of Connecticut embarked on a process to envision the ongoing transformation of its campus over the next two decades. The new Campus Master Plan, developed in collaboration with university stakeholders and the Town of Mansfield, supports UConn’s growing research enterprise and interdisciplinary initiatives, fostering collaboration and innovation within the rural setting … Continued
Sited prominently on the National Mall, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is housed in a 1964 McKim, Mead & White building — the final project by that storied firm. Over the decades, the museum deteriorated and exhibits became disorganized, prompting the Smithsonian to undertake an ambitious renewal program. SOM devised a plan that … Continued
SOM’s renovation and expansion of Terminal E represented a signature component of a $1 billion improvement project at Logan International Airport. For the aging terminal, SOM added 410,000 square feet and conceived an experiential sequence that uses light to guide visitors. The sequence begins at the arrivals level, where travelers pass through three-story glass vestibules … Continued
The general plan for Chengdu Tianfu International Airport City represents a comprehensive, 21st-century vision for sustainable urban growth. It transforms former agricultural land into a vibrant development that prioritizes the environment, urban livability, and economic opportunity. Located southeast of the city center of Chengdu, China, the 66,800-hectare project is designed to eventually accommodate two million … Continued
The Ben Gurion Airport dates to the 1930s, but even with expansions and renovations over the years, the facility was showing its age by the 1990s. With travel to Israel rapidly increasing, the airport authority set out to build a world-class terminal with a capacity of 16 million passengers a year. SOM designed landside and … Continued
In 2017, SOM completed a new office space to accommodate the growth of its Los Angeles studio. Located downtown, at the Wells Fargo Center—a complex designed by SOM and completed in 1983—the office provides a flexible workspace with room for expansion. The 16,000-square-foot office includes four conference rooms, two pantries, an architectural materials library, a … Continued
Edificio Portico is a significant addition to Madrid’s most dynamic and modern business district, the Campo de las Naciones, which has seen extraordinary growth since the 1980s. The building provides efficient, flexible, and environmentally friendly office space while serving as an architectural landmark. Located 10 kilometers from the city center, the building is conceived as … Continued