U.S. architecture firm SOM has released new images of the proposed Moynihan Train Hall expansion at New York’s Pennsylvania Station, which would turn an old post office into a grand waiting room for Amtrak… The long-stalled project was recently revived by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, as a part of the larger renovation of Pennsylvania Station … Continued
The world’s largest 3D-printed structure, designed by SOM and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, will be presented to the public for the first time at the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas this January. The building is part of the Additive Manufacturing Integrated Energy (AMIE) demonstration project—an effort that brought together leaders from government and industry … Continued
Since the London 2012 Summer Olympics wrapped, the megacity’s east end has transformed into “Olympicopolis,” spurred on by new development and some enticing future residents, including the Smithsonian Institution’s first museum outside the U.S. The newest address to reach completion, in 2016, will be this 42-story tower by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill that combines a 150-room hotel with … Continued
Recently revised plans for the 30th Street Station and surrounding neighborhoods call for capping 70 acres of Amtrak and SEPTA-owned land, trading the underutilized space for a mixed-use neighborhood, parkland, and three pedestrian bridges across the Schuylkill River, linking University City with Logan Square and Center City. SOM partnered with Parsons Brinckerhoff, OLIN, and HR&A … Continued
There are many reasons to celebrate architecture and design in the coming months as these venerable institutions, iconic products, and key texts mark an anniversary this year… Brothers-in-law Louis Skidmore and Nathaniel Owings first worked together on the Century of Progress exposition plan in Chicago in 1933, but then went their separate ways. But a … Continued
The Hudson Yards Culture Shed, a yet-to-be-built arts and performance space at 10 Hudson Yards, just might wind up being the Batmobile of buildings. Dormant, it’s a glassy fortress. Animated, it will be able to extend its wings so-to-speak by sliding out a retractable exterior as a canopy. The design is a window into the … Continued
The New York City landmarks law was signed 50 years ago this year. So, what better time to talk about some of its successes? Plenty of great structures, such as the Empire State Building, completed in 1931 as a multi-tenant office building, are easy to keep relevant and functioning. Others, however, become obsolete and can … Continued
This has been an important year for virtual reality (VR). When InsiteVR first started approaching customers in March of 2015, the VR ecosystem was just taking off… For the remaining weeks of 2015, we will be highlighting some of our customers who play an integral role in pioneering VR adoption in the enterprise and who … Continued
SOM’s San Francisco office has transformed an abandoned cinema into a multipurpose performance and community venue for the American Conservatory Theater, a prominent arts organisation in the Bay Area. The firm renovated the 20,000-square-foot (6,000 square metres) movie house to create a flexible theatre with two auditoriums, along with with a three-storey lobby and cafe.
The Hajj Terminal at the King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, is no ordinary airport terminal. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill as part of the master plan for the broader airport and air force base facility, the Hajj Terminal, officially inaugurated in 1981, was purpose-built for the influx of religious pilgrims that stream into Saudi … Continued