The Skyscraper Museum, in Manhattan’s Battery Park City, occupies a small storefront space that aspires to the large scale of its subject — the history and development of the skyscraper. The mirror-polished stainless steel floor and ceiling create the impression of an infinitely vertical space, with reflections of vitrines appearing as soaring volumes within a … Continued
Anchor for a revitalized district Chongqing, a port city, sought to breathe new life into its commercial district, Jiangbei. As part of a redevelopment master plan, the city commissioned the design of a central park and plaza that would be anchored by the Jianianhua Center. The building is a visible symbol of the revitalization goals: … Continued
The 31-story Chicago Civic Center (also known as the Daley Center) houses over 120 court and hearing rooms, a law library, and office space inside an award-winning glass and steel structure. In collaboration with local firms C.F. Murphy + Associates and Loebl, Schlossman + Bennett, SOM designed flexible rooms that anticipated the need for future … Continued
This urban grocery store is located in City Creek, a sustainably designed, walkable mixed-use community encompassing three blocks in the core of downtown Salt Lake City. The new development provides an additional 800 residential units, 500,000 square feet of retail, and approximately 2.1 million square feet of commercial space. Harmons is a vital part of … Continued
The 12-story United Gulf Bank building is one of the region’s most iconic corporate edifices in the Middle East. SOM’s oft-imitated design drew inspiration from local culture and context, while pioneering the use of energy-saving strategies for high-rise office buildings in the region. Located near the coast, SOM’s design draws on the rounded form of … Continued
Modernism on the Mall By the mid-1960s the internationally acclaimed modern art collection of Joseph H. Hirshhorn had earned a permanent place on the National Mall, and an architectural statement to support it. Washington, D.C., won out in a competition to land the privately amassed collection thanks to the efforts of U.S. President Lyndon Johnson, … Continued
SOM Graphics provided a comprehensive graphics program for this interactive children’s museum located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. The scope included reinvention of the logo, establishment of graphic standards, and implementation of a signage program, which consisted of site markers, wayfinding, and donor recognition. Major features include freestanding directional signs and donor … Continued
A new gateway to Singapore With an increasing number of passengers moving through Changi International Airport in the mid-2000s, SOM designed a third terminal to significantly expand the airport’s capacity. Terminal 3 is a steel-and-glass structure, with four above-ground levels and a 9-hectare roof that spans above the ticketing, departure, and arrival areas. In plan, … Continued
Responding to the rapid development of three-dimensional modeling software, Autodesk sought to create a customer briefing center to introduce their products to a diverse group of clients. SOM’s design articulates their brand identity and core messages and creates a system to showcase the versatility of their products within a flexible, multimedia environment. The 4,000-square-foot center … Continued