Two schools under one roof At Temple University, long-established programs in media, communications, film, and the performing arts have continued to see increasing student interest. To meet this growth and support a new generation of emerging industry leaders, the Klein College of Media and Communications and the Center for Performing and Cinematic Arts (CPCA) needed … Continued
SOM and Copenhagen architects Entasis were awarded the Karlatornet project (formerly Polestar Tower) in Gothenburg, Sweden, following an international competition. At 245 meters, this inspirational new tower will be Sweden’s tallest building and marks a shift from traditional development patterns in the country. The design is highly efficient, both in terms of floor space and … Continued
Bridging Paris and Charenton for a connected district Located on the eastern edge of Paris, the Charenton-Bercy district is one of the key sites that make up the Grand Paris development plan for the wider metropolis. In 2018, SOM led the initial master plan competition to transform Charenton-Bercy into a highly connected urban district. The … Continued
Restoring a landmark Montgomery County’s neoclassical courthouse, originally built in 1856, is a landmark in the center of Norristown—a symbol of government in Pennsylvania’s third most populous county. The project, a comprehensive renovation and expansion, is restoring its historic features, modernizing its interiors, and making its copper dome the focal point of the Justice Center … Continued
Repositioning a modernist office complex for the future Defining an entire urban block, the Corso Italia complex comprises three distinct buildings that each relate to the scale and materials of the surrounding historic architecture. Originally designed in the 1960s by the studio Ponti Fornaroli Rosselli with Piero Portaluppi, it represents a unique collaboration among some … Continued
A mixed-use development rooted in neighborhood context Positioned a block from the iconic Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco’s Financial District, 530 Sansome is a mixed-use tower featuring a 200-key hotel, a restaurant, meeting rooms, and premium office space. The project also provided the opportunity to replace and upgrade an existing fire station with a new, … Continued
Establishing a waterfront gateway The Greater Bay Area—a collection of nine coastal cities in China and the administrative regions of Macau and Hong Kong—is one of the world’s leading hubs for technological innovation and industry. That economic growth is spurring large-scale development, and Jiuzhou Bay brings a new community to the waterfront in Zhuhai, China. … Continued
Enriching education with engaging design UC Law SF, formerly UC Hastings, has historically operated across multiple, disconnected buildings in San Francisco’s Civic Center neighborhood, with some facilities separated by busy streets. The university’s Long Range Campus Plan 3.0 calls for a phased approach to developing an improved, more cohesive campus. The first completed building in … Continued
Creating an icon of modernism Commercial office design was forever changed with Lever House’s completion in 1952. The building’s influence would be felt throughout New York and virtually every major American city. Few had seen anything like it: in a city characterized by masonry and brick, the blue-green glass and stainless steel facade completely reimagined … Continued
The making of a New York icon In 1971, the Solow Development Corporation tasked SOM with designing an office tower that defied all conventions of a skyscraper. The building had to maximize interior capacity, attract pedestrian attention, and satisfy New York City zoning rules, which mandated that sufficient space remain between buildings to allow sunlight … Continued