Renewing a waterfront heritage district Adjacent to the new Baietan Central Business District—part of a larger SOM-designed master plan—Julong Bay has a long history as a center for agriculture and industry. The area was known for its flower nurseries dating back to the ninth century, and later became a shipping and manufacturing zone along the … Continued
The workplace is changing: from ambitious start-ups to well-established corporations, offices are evolving from traditional enclosed layouts to support a more “open” culture. Loyola Marymount University (LMU) understood this shift and sought to adapt their workplace while accommodating the growth of two of the University’s most vital administrative departments—University Advancement, which coordinates the school’s fundraising … Continued
Fronting a major traffic circle in Zhujiang New Town, the Agile Corporation Headquarters Tower stands at a significant gateway to Guangzhou’s emerging city center. The design of the elliptical high-rise responds to the site’s subtropical climate, making its environmental performance visible on the building’s skin. The high-performance curtain wall system is layered with horizontal metal … Continued
An upgrade to advance the organization’s mission Having outgrown the downtown Chicago headquarters it has occupied for more than 20 years, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) engaged SOM to lead a new vision for its offices. The new workplace is designed to accommodate ongoing growth in membership and to reflect the organization’s commitment to … Continued
Reclaiming the riverfront The C.H. Robinson Midwest Headquarters at 1515 West Webster Avenue is the first development to be completed near the former site of Chicago’s historic Finkl steel mill, located on the riverfront at the edge of the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Prioritizing sustainability, efficiency, and connectivity, the project is a catalyst for the ongoing … Continued
Three buildings were constructed in Guatemala City for one of the oldest banking institutions in the country. The largest is located in the center of the city’s oldest section, while the others are suburban branch banks. The designs establish architectural continuity through the use of vivid colors, textures, materials, and the manipulation of light and … Continued
A center for climate solutions The New York Climate Exchange is the result of a bold initiative spearheaded by City of New York and The Trust for Governors Island—a vision to reimagine a treasured public space as a local and global hub for climate science. Working with anchor institution Stony Brook University, which will build … Continued
Upon its completion, the Northwest Science Building marked Harvard University’s largest project in recent history. The facility houses neuroscience, bioengineering, computational analysis, and other programs under one roof and has become a model for a new generation of research environments. When SOM set out to design the project, the client had several specific requests. The … Continued
Linking an institution’s past and future Established in 1889, The Christ Hospital ranks among the best medical facilities in the nation. Given its growing needs, the institution tapped SOM to design a 1.4-million-square-foot master plan that included street reconfigurations, a new entrance, and improvements to the central utility plant. SOM also designed the new Joint … Continued
Aiming high This aerodynamic 71-story tower in Guangzhou’s Tianhe District is the result of careful site research that incorporated the latest green technology and engineering advancements in order to harvest wind and solar energy. Awarded the project through a design competition, SOM’s team set out to create one of the world’s most energy-efficient skyscrapers. Powered … Continued