An emblem of contemporary Shenzhen Shenzhen’s Houhai Downtown District has undergone tremendous growth, emerging as a hub for technology startups and corporations. The new headquarters for global telecommunications company Hytera is among the neighborhood’s most prominent recent developments. Facing two major municipal parks, the 43-story tower enhances the public realm with an elevated podium featuring … Continued
In 1961, SOM’s One Chase Manhattan Plaza revitalized the urban landscape of Lower Manhattan with the introduction of the first International Style building in the area. In The New York Times, architecture critic Ada Louise Huxtable wrote that “it carries the double promise of corporate efficiency and a more enduring value: significant civic beauty.” Fifty … Continued
A new neighborhood anchor Among the first in a new wave of buildings that are transforming West Palm Beach into a major urban center—with an international airport and the SOM-designed Brightline station just a short drive away—One Flagler brings the standards of a high-end New York office building to this growing downtown. It sits prominently … Continued
A collaboration begins In 2008, Valli, the renowned manufacturer of door handles, engaged SOM to design a new collection for its Fusital line of architect-designed hardware. Using aerodynamics software from the auto industry for visualization and early forms of 3D printing to build models for ergonomic testing, the team created a collection of simple yet … Continued
Inspiration in nature Rising at the heart of a rapidly developing neighborhood, Ningbo Center Tower marks a new place in the skyline of Zhejiang’s coastal city. The 80-story tower, designed and engineered by SOM, draws inspiration from the form of a lotus flower, a symbol of elegance and purity in ancient Chinese poetry, with a … Continued
As the Chinese city of Nanchang continues to grow as an important center of commerce and culture, the Nanchang Greenland Exhibition Center builds on this momentum. It provides the capital of Jiangxi Province with a world-class facility for events, fairs, and exhibitions that will further strengthen the region’s economy and expand cultural offerings. The expansive, … Continued
Technological advancements are spurring new ways of learning in medical schools. The UCSD Telemedicine Building responds to these changes while also meeting an anticipated growth in enrollment. Situated at the intersection of two major pedestrian routes, the facility serves as a welcoming doorway to the university’s School of Medicine. A dramatic glass sunscreen hangs from … Continued
Building on a progressive legacy For more than a century, The New School has been at the forefront of progressive education, with design and social research driving approaches to studying contemporary issues. In recent decades, the school has built on this legacy to grow into a major degree-granting university with 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. … Continued
A landmark inspired by its locale On a narrow and steeply sloped site in downtown Los Angeles, the Gas Company Tower stands as an example of imaginative design that responds to context. Resolving a 60-foot elevation change, the 52-story office building pairs unique architectural character with a thoughtful connection to its environment. Southern California Gas … Continued
A historic building gets a bright, airy renovation Located in San Francisco’s historic Jackson Square District, this new workplace for a financial firm brings light and warmth to an 1887 masonry building. Originally constructed as a livery stable and carriage house, the Kentucky Stables Building was converted to office space in the 1970s. A series … Continued