SOM Women’s Initiative Joins Discussion on Leadership in the Building Industry

On November 11, 2015, representatives from the SOM Women’s Initiative (SOMWI) participated in a panel discussion in New York City organized by the Women Builders Council. The event, titled “Inspiring the Next Generation of Women Builders,” brought together women from across the building industry to discuss how their respective organizations support advancement and provide professional … Continued

Samsung Research America’s Silicon Valley Campus Interior Design Receives LEED® Gold Certification

San Francisco: Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), the interiors of Samsung Research America’s new campus in Mountain View, California, was awarded LEED® Gold certification. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is an internationally recognized mark of excellence that provides building owners and … Continued

Decking Out the Desmond: New Life for a 99-Year-Old Building

The 1916 Desmond Building once served as the Downtown hub of the Willys-Overland Car Company. For the past two decades, however, it stood mostly empty, a defunct space as glossy new housing complexes rose on surrounding blocks. Now, after two years of renovations, the Desmond is seeing new life. Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) is consolidating … Continued

Four SOM Projects Win AIA Middle East 2015 Design Awards

The Middle East chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) honored four SOM projects in its 2015 Design Awards, marking the second consecutive year that SOM has earned more awards in this program than any other firm. Winners in the built projects category include Al Hamra Tower and Cayan Tower, which earned the Design Award … Continued

Artwork for San Francisco’s 350 Mission to Be Unveiled

A new parametric data sculpture by media artist Refik Anadol, titled Virtual Depictions: San Francisco, will christen 350 Mission’s 2,800-square-foot digital media wall at a private unveiling on Monday, November 16, 2015. This is the first work to be revealed by Kilroy Realty’s world class, ambitious public art initiative for 350 Mission. The immersive public art installation … Continued

Wind Tunnel Helps Chicago Architectural Firm Test Designs

“Today’s designs are tested in wind tunnels, but only one architectural firm in the world has its own — and it is located in a historic building across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago. The Skidmore, Owings & Merrill wind tunnel is 30 feet long, 40 inches wide and 55 inches tall, tucked … Continued

New York City Opens SOM-Designed Net Zero School

This fall, the Kathleen Grimm School for Leadership and Sustainability at Sandy Ground was opened and dedicated on Staten Island, N.Y. It is the city’s first net-zero energy school. Designed by SOM and built by the Leon D. DeMatteis Construction Corporation, the 68,000-sf primary school will produce as much energy as it uses on an … Continued

American Concrete Institute Names Top Concrete Projects of 2015

Concrete pulls serious weight in the built environment, yet often that contribution is hidden away in building cores, floor plates, and foundations. These five projects, named by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) this week for their innovative application of the common building material, bring concrete into the spotlight with latticed veils, sculptural flare walls, and … Continued

In 2015 Spark Awards, SOM Takes Top Honors for Architecture, Graphic Design

The 2015 Spark Awards recognized four SOM projects, including The Strand, American Conservatory Theater – Environmental Graphics and the New United States Courthouse – Los Angeles, which took top honors in their respective categories. The international awards program, now in its ninth year, reflects Spark’s mission to encourage, support, and publicize innovative, transformative designs that … Continued

Two SOM Projects Receive 2015 AIA Chicago Design Excellence Awards

The Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) honored SOM with two Design Excellence Awards on October 23, 2015, at this year’s Designight event. UI Labs Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute and China Merchants Tower & Woods Park Master Plan both earned the Distinguished Building Award Citation of Merit. The annual awards program recognizes … Continued