Architectural Record has featured 500 County Center, San Mateo County’s new headquarters, as a model for sustainable civic design. Designed by SOM, 500 County Center is the first civic building in the U.S. to combine mass timber construction with a net-zero-energy design. The five-story structure brings multiple county departments under one roof, setting a new … Continued
Interior Design Magazine spotlights SOM’s work on the Los Angeles Bus Shelter Program, an ambitious civic project reimagining everyday infrastructure as a tool for equity, resilience, and design excellence. The feature highlights the shelters’ modular design, climate-responsive features, and minimalist form inspired by California Modernism. Led by SOM, the multidisciplinary team has completed the first … Continued
First 150 of 3,000 new modular bus shelters recognized for bringing much-needed shade and shelter to the City of Los Angeles In just one year, 150 newly designed bus shelters have been installed across Los Angeles—delivering thousands of square feet of essential shade, safer and more dignified waiting areas, and smart infrastructure to some of … Continued
Physicist and mathematician James Clerk Maxwell (1831–1879) is regarded as one of giants of scientific thought. While his groundbreaking contributions to electromagnetism and statistical physics are well known, his significant insights into the theory of structures are appreciated less widely. A new publication edited by SOM Consulting Partner Bill Baker, together with Allan McRobie, Professor … Continued
In Guangzhou’s Pazhou district, two construction sites reveal how new developments are shaping not only the skyline, but also the ground level—demonstrating how tall buildings can better engage the public realm. At the new Sany IROOTECH Headquarters, an elevated podium bridges a pair of towers to create a large public plaza. The space is surrounded … Continued
Writing for DomusAir’s 14th issue, Associate Principal Jordan Pierce tells the story behind SOM’s design for Kansas City International Airport’s new terminal. The largest single infrastructure project in the city’s history, the 1.1-million-square-foot building significantly increases passenger capacity and reimagines the travel experience. “SOM’s team of architects, planners, and structural engineers fanned out across six … Continued
SOM has unveiled its design for the development and expansion of N’Djili International Airport in Kinshasa, reimagining the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)’s primary aviation gateway. The masterplan includes a full replacement of existing terminal operations, along with new infrastructure and facilities—including a new runway—to support both international and domestic growth. As the country’s … Continued
The transformation of Waldorf Astoria in New York is nearly a decade in the making, and after eight years of construction, our revival of this Art Deco icon is nearly complete. For the first time since 2017, the doors to the Waldorf Astoria’s ornate, block-long lobby is open to the public. New York Magazine and … Continued
For the second year in a row, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill tops the Architizer list of ”100 Best Architecture and Design Firms in the United States.” Naming us No. 1, Architizer writes, “…SOM’s designs anticipate change in the way we live, work, and communicate and have brought lasting value to communities around the world. The … Continued
Mayor appoints Mahan to preservation agency responsible for overseeing more than 38,000 landmark properties in New York City Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) celebrates the appointment of Design Principal Frank Mahan, AIA, to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), the largest municipal preservation agency in the United States. Appointed by Mayor Eric Adams, … Continued