Architects in Chicago have dug enough foundations to know their way around the city’s famously swampy soil. But in many cities geotechnical engineers are still searching for solid footing. “For cities that are established, it’s more a question of refinement,” says Bill Baker, a structural engineering partner at architecture firm Skidmore Owings & Merrill. “There … Continued
A social and educational initiative, Built by Women (BxW) is spearheaded by the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation (BWAF) and celebrates the substantial role women have played in shaping our built environment. The project launched last fall with a public call for nominations of women-built projects that reflect strong design, have historical or cultural significance, or … Continued
Twisting from a cylinder into an ellipse that fits comfortably in hand, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill’s (SOM’s) 2008 H 359 is part of Italian hardware brand Valli&Valli’s architect-designed Fusital collection. The design team used aerodynamics technology from the auto industry to achieve the piece’s ergonomic form. The reflections and shading afforded by its materiality—polished and … Continued
The library is in a constant state of evolution, not only in what it offers to patrons but also in its physical presence. Eight winners of the 2014 International Interior Design Association/American Library Association Interior Design Award, which honors excellence in library interior design, spoke with American Libraries about the future of library design and … Continued
Aybars Asci, SOM Director, will speak at a symposium focused on building facades on March 4, 2015. Hosted by the University at Buffalo’s School of Architecture and Planning, the event will examine the building envelope as a “cultural object with public and pervasive presence and as an embodiment of culture and collective identity in the … Continued
Four SOM projects will be featured at the Built by Women NYC exhibition at the Center for Architecture in New York City. The show, which opens on March 2, 2015, will spotlight 98 sites designed, engineered, or constructed by women throughout the city. The projects were selected following a public competition organized by the Beverly … Continued
When guests enter the tenth floor of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill’s Chicago office on South Michigan Avenue, they’re greeted by a skyscraper hall of fame. Scale models of some of the world’s most famous multi-story buildings, such as the Burj Khalifa, as well as a building map of Chicago’s Loop, showcase the reach of the … Continued
The helix shaped tower in the prestigious location of Dubai Marina is the finest symbol of sophisticated 21st century architectural design and elegance. Developed by Cayan Group- Real Estate Investment and Development, Cayan Tower, the 73-story residential building spirals in a smooth curve by an astonishing 90 degrees to give every apartment a stunning view … Continued
In March, the legendary French brand Baccarat will open its first hotel and residential space in New York—in an impressive 50-story tower designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. And if you’re the type of person who thinks it’s perfectly reasonable to check out with a hotel towel or shampoo bottle in your bag, imagine how … Continued
Train stations around the world are receiving significant face lifts, giving them a contemporary atmosphere and putting a new emphasis on retail and restaurants In the United States, the Beaux-Arts 112-room Crawford Hotel opened last July inside the 120-year-old historic Denver Union Station, which also underwent a recent restoration.