SOM has a long history of tackling tall buildings; the firm was founded in 1930s America and rose to prominence with its sleek take on the classic glass-walled office tower. Today, SOM is one of the world’s pre-eminent architectural practices, a pillar of the design establishment. SOM Thinkers is a new publishing venture, exploring – … Continued
Dan O’Riley, SOM Associate Director, will co-chair the Facades+ conference, presented by The Architect’s Newspaper, on November 5th and 6th in Chicago. The conference will feature panels and workshops on high-performance building enclosures, including a number of events presented by experts from SOM. November 5, 2015 Creating Complex Facades with Parametric ControlModerated by Neil Katz, … Continued
The SOM Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2015 SOM Foundation fellowships, which since 1981 have been conferred annually to graduating students of architecture, design, urban design, and structural engineering. Funded through an endowment established by the partners of SOM, the awards are internationally recognized for their mission to nurture future leaders in design. … Continued
Located opposite the Museum of Modern Art, Baccarat’s debut hotel occupies a newly built Skidmore, Owings & Merill-designed, 50-storey glass faceted tower. The 114-room hotel has been outfitted by Paris design duo Patrick Gilles and Dorothée Boissier, and features handsome oversized desks, wooden four poster beds dressed with plush Italian Mascioni linen, heavy drapes and … Continued
SOM has floated a glass cube above a large stepped civic plaza, negotiating a sloped site in downtown Los Angeles for their United States Courthouse project. The building’s pleated glass envelope contains 1,672 energy efficient panels that uniquely respond to its location. The facade is comprised of a unitized 6′ wide by 20′ tall panel, … Continued
As part of its inaugural Community Alliance Awards, the San Francisco Chapter of the American Institute of Architects has recognized American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) for its contributions to the advancement and enrichment of the quality of life in the Bay Area through their commitment to design excellence. The 50-year-old nonprofit arts organization was specifically honored … Continued
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) is pleased to announce that, effective November 1st, Kristopher Takács, AIA, will lead the firm’s Washington, D.C. practice. In this role, Takács will oversee a reorganization and expansion of the office to deliver architecture, planning, interiors, and engineering services in the District and mid-Atlantic region. “I’m thrilled to be … Continued
SOM Associate Director Kristopher Takács spoke at two recent conferences on transit-oriented development, highlighting SOM’s leadership in planning and designing urban infrastructure for the next century. On Wednesday, October 21, 2015, Takács gave a presentation at the Transit Oriented Development Institute in Washington, D.C, focusing on national trends in transit-oriented development through the lens of … Continued
Back at the office, there’s an ongoing, pervasive, vigorous, conversation about my team’s role. In a broad sense, it’s about how design technologists can best contribute in a design firm. Expectedly and reasonably, we often end up talking about how billable my team members are. I am far from alone. Just about everyone I know … Continued
Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña joined students, families, staff and local officials today to dedicate the city’s new “net-zero” energy school to the late Kathleen Grimm, a former Deputy Chancellor at the DOE whose vision and dedication helped make the school a reality. The Kathleen Grimm School of Leadership and Sustainability at Sandy Ground, or PS … Continued