Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
@somdesign.bsky.social
A collective of architects, designers, engineers, and planners building a better future som.com #architecture
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We recently returned to LG Corporation’s Seoul HQ to reimagine this iconic postmodern building for the 21st-century workplace, featured in the latest issue of Korea’s SPACE magazine
MORE → bit.ly/3UoYpph
We are proud to unveil SOM’s transformative design for the redevelopment of N’Djili International Airport—Kinshasa’s primary aviation gateway and a key catalyst for the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s future.
MORE → bit.ly/3IznlHY
Waldorf Astoria New York has opened its doors. For the first time since 2017, the ornate, block-long lobby is open to the public. New York Magazine and The New York Times offer a first look into these spaces—and a preview of what's to come
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Designed by Peter Zumthor in collaboration with SOM, The David Geffen Galleries represent a bold new chapter for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (). Before opening in 2026, they're offering a rare first look.
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#lacma
Our Jackson Square Workplace Renovation has been featured by Workplace Design, a newly launched digital publication covering the modern professional workplace.
MORE → bit.ly/44otbTQ
Standing as Scandinavia’s tallest tower, Karlatornet is more than just a new landmark for Gothenburg—it’s a symbol of the city’s future. And it was recognized as an Award of Excellence winner by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat 2025 Awards
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We've made the list! Our design for the Los Angeles Bus Shelter Program has been named a winner of ’s 2025 World Changing Ideas.
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#FCWorldChangingIdea
For Kuwait City’s largest academic institution, we designed an architectural identity that draws upon Kuwait’s rich architectural heritage, while responding to its harsh desert climate, earning the project two Architizer A+ awards in the facade and theater categories.
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Now Open: WeBank Headquarters, a digital-only bank and fintech pioneer, has just opened in Shenzhen’s Qianhai Business District.
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#architecture
In a recent profile for Green Building and Design magazine, Senior Associate Principal Marzia Sedino shares how sustainability is woven into every SOM project from day one—driven by the work of our in-house Sustainable Engineering Studio #sustainability
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Now in its 10th year, the #NYCxDESIGN award program yielded not one, but three project nods for SOM, including our work at 9 West 57th Street, Lever House, and the Robert A. Iger Building—The Walt Disney Company’s New York City Headquarters. #SavingPlaces #PreservationMonth
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Last week, we celebrated the grand opening of the Ningbo Center—now the tallest building in #Ningbo and across China’s Zhejiang Province. #architecture #china
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Rising above the Fox River in De Pere, Wisconsin, the Mulva Cultural Center is “the new cultural destination of the Midwest,” according to Green Building and Design magazine—bringing together art, education, and community under one roof. Take a deeper dive:
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Construction is underway on Temple University’s Caroline Kimmel Pavilion for Arts and Communication. Scheduled for completion in 2027, the project will bring the Klein College of Media and Communications and the Center for Performing and Cinematic Arts together under one roof.
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Global design platform Archello recently profiled our full-scale transformation of Moscone Center into one of the most efficient and sustainable convention centers in the United States, calling it “an efficient model for green urban hubs engaging communities.”
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In partnership with AKDO, we have debuted a new marble mosaic tile collection, Dyad, at this week’s HD Expo + Conference. A thoughtful reinterpretation of traditional Eastern motifs, Dyad distills centuries of design heritage into clean lines and refined symmetry. #HDExpo2025
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Confronting the legacy of confined disposal facilities, Urban Design Partner Doug Voigt shares insights that draw from SOM’s Great Lakes visioning plan in the latest issue of
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Decades in the making, Manhattan West is one of the largest and most complex developments in New York City’s recent history—a feat that has earned it the Excellence in Urban Open Space award from ULI New York. For more on the project and ULI New York's award winners, read on.
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Setting a new benchmark for sustainable public architecture, San Mateo County Office Building 3 is the first net-zero energy civic building constructed with mass timber in the U.S.—and the efforts led to it being recognized with an Honor Award as part of AIA SF's Design Awards
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We're #hiring! New jobs in healthcare design in our New York and San Francisco studios:
+ Project Lead/Architect - Healthcare → bit.ly/4lROWDi
+ Project Manager, Healthcare and
Science Practice Lead → bit.ly/4lOOSnK
The newly expanded Grimes Engineering Center at the University of California, Berkeley, has opened. The adaptive reuse project is a demonstration of cutting-edge engineering, repurposing the campus’ original Bechtel Engineering building as the foundation for the new center.
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Our new student housing at UC Santa Barbara was approved by the California Coastal Commission. When complete in 2027, San Benito will be the most significant expansion of student housing on campus in a decade.
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How do you design a contemporary building that creates harmony among its historic urban setting while celebrating the beating heart of New York’s media landscape? We designed The Walt Disney Company’s NYC headquarters to achieve a careful balance: standing out while fitting in
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Designed to harmonize with its natural setting on the San Francisco Bay, the new Genesis Marina biotech campus has achieved a significant #sustainability milestone: the world’s first building to earn TRUE Construction Gold Certification.
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#EarthMonth
“What’s so hard about building trains?” That’s the question Michael Kimmelman explores in a recent article from about Brightline Trains—a privately owned rail service we designed in three Florida cities.
The NYT story → bit.ly/3XNOziS
Brightline designs → bit.ly/4iZXAhi
An installation designed by SOM in collaboration with Artemide, the storied manufacturer of high-design lighting, is featured in a special exhibition during Milan Design Week.
Read on for details on how to experience the installation.
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#salonedelmobile
April is #EarthMonth, but at SOM, sustainability is at the core of our work each and every day. Here we recognize MIT's Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing, which recently earned LEED Platinum certification.
MORE → bit.ly/4aXZ1sz
Climate Action Report → bit.ly/4iMZ1PK
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our former Chairman David M. Childs, FAIA, who was instrumental in SOM’s most impactful projects, including the National Mall, Dulles International Airport, and both One and 7 World Trade Centers. Read the tribute → bit.ly/3DXvN1A
Since 2013, SOM has collaborated with Los Angeles World Airports on 11 transformative projects, including the LAX Design Guidelines. This comprehensive vision aims to enhance operations + elevate the passenger experience at one of the busiest international airports in the U.S.
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“Indian airports are some of the most beautiful in the world,” writes The Economist as Principal Derek A. R. Moore shares his insights into our designs for Kempegowda International #Airport in Bengaluru and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai (pictured)
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As the effects of #climate change are increasingly felt we remain committed advocates for our shared environment and are proud to present our 3rd annual Climate Action Report—a survey of our ongoing work to confront the climate crisis through action, innovation + collaboration
MORE → bit.ly/4iMZ1PK
The new HQ for telecom company Hytera is among the most prominent recent developments in the city. The 43-story tower exemplifies the integration of architecture/structural engineering that has long been SOM’s hallmark—one of the many project we're looking forward to this year
MORE → bit.ly/3R7vfZW
How do you plan a new future for an #NYC icon while honoring its 90-yr history? In a story for , Principal Frank Mahan explains how we are bringing the landmark Waldorf Astoria New York back to its former grandeur with the past, present, and future in mind.
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Now open! We’re accepting applications for our coveted Year One Program—a full-time, entry-level job opportunity that serves as a career accelerator for recent graduates, providing resources, mentorship, and support. See open positions below
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#architecturejobs
We’re proud to have taken first place in the International Competition for Planning and Architectural Ideas for the Binh Quoi – Thanh Da peninsula, a prime riverside location in Ho Chi Minh City. Learn about the competition:
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#architecture #vietnam
Sultan Haitham City is conceived as a new model for sustainable development in the Middle East. Featured as one of our projects to watch in 2025, the development will reach several milestones this year, including the transformation of a dry riverbed into a public park
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The City of Appleton, Wisconsin, celebrated a milestone nearly two decades in the making—the grand opening of the newly reimagined Appleton Public Library. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the culmination of 17 years of planning of the 93,675-sq-ft library
MORE → bit.ly/4gLubW7
#Architecture
Office design was forever changed with Lever House’s completion in 1952, and 70+ years later, we returned with a thoughtful restoration respecting the original architecture as we improved energy efficiency—efforts that contributed to our AIA New York State Design Award win
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SOM has a long history of designing in South Florida—from the Brightline stations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach to the redevelopment of the Bal Harbour Shops—and yesterday, the doors opened at One Flagler, our latest completion in #WestPalmBeach
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#architecture
It was a challenging site—the tower stands above active rail lines and is supported by a central core, only half of which touches solid ground. Two Manhattan West required extraordinary coordination and for it won an ASCE Outstanding Civil #Engineering Achievement Honor Award
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Project to watch: Cullinan Harbour. Fronting Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour, a residential oasis is rising on the site of a former airfield, just 15 min from the central business district featuring a serene pool, lush gardens, and community amenities.
MORE → bit.ly/3EjqRUx
#architecture #hongkong
Joseph Regenstein Library, University of Chicago, 1970. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill ()
#Brutalism #Architecture #70s #concrete #UniversityCampus #SpacesForHigherEducation
“In a constantly evolving city, The Skywaters represents more than just an address—it is a legacy of luxury and sophistication to be passed down for generations,” writes about what’s to become Singapore’s tallest building.
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#architecture #singapore
This spring, Temple University will break ground on a new building for the Klein College of Media and Communication + the Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts—a dynamic structure that brings together two schools. It’s all part of our Projects to Watch in 2025
MORE → bit.ly/projectstowatch25
Continuing to spotlight projects to watch in 2025, here we take a look at the Shanghai West Bund Convention Center. Sited along the Huangpu River, the center is planned as the venue for the 2025 West Bund World Artificial Intelligence Conference
MORE → bit.ly/projectstowatch25
#architecture
Is NYC on the cusp of a new era of #timber architecture? Our conceptual design for a major league #soccer stadium weaves timber beams into a self-supporting structure that is as eye-catching as it is efficient. Read the story in
/ Curbed
MORE → bit.ly/3PvDpdX
#architecture #nyc #design
Part of our 2025 Projects to Watch: the newly expanded Engineering Center at the University of California, Berkeley, opening in spring.
More on the Berkeley Project → bit.ly/4gHP19K
All Projects to Watch → bit.ly/projectstowatch25
Celebrating 15 years since the opening of the world’s tallest building, Lead Structural Engineer Bill Baker reflects on the Burj Khalifa's inception and the groundbreaking innovations that defined it in an interview with Khaleej Times
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A university building nears completion in Berkeley, a bold events venue will be inaugurated in Shanghai, and a beloved NY landmark will reopen following a meticulous renovation—just a few highlights from our annual Projects to Watch list below.
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Having fun with facades, Architectural Digest India spotlights “19 spectacular buildings that'll make your head spin,” including two SOM projects: The Cook County Administration Building in Chicago, and in San Francisco, 555 California St—formerly the Bank of America Center
MORE → bit.ly/3CBcVEE
Take a look behind the scenes at Manhattan West, a 7-million-sf, mixed-use development built above active railroad tracks where minimal buildable land existed. We’re excited to share our expertise on it in the upcoming American Institute of Steel Construction's Sustainability Design Guide next year.
This week, local and state representatives celebrated the groundbreaking of The Point Utah, an SOM-master planned project encompassing 600 acres in Utah's emerging Silicon Slopes tech community.
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Spotlighting projects that reflect a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and preserving cultural heritage, ArchDaily released The 25 Most Anticipated Projects of 2025 list, featuring our redevelopment of the 30th St Station in Philadelphia
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“Disney has arrived in Hudson Square in a shocking burst of good taste," Justin Davidson reported for Curbed, sharing a glimpse into our design for the new Robert A. Iger Building — The Walt Disney Company's New York City headquarters. Read the story below
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To reimagine its global campuses, SOM collaborated with Roche on comprehensive planning and design guidelines and for it was recently honored with THE PLAN Award in Urban Planning.
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From higher ed to airports abroad, four of our global projects were honored in 's Best of Design Awards!
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Our inaugural line of urban furniture has debuted! Manufactured by NERI, our Nebula collection is a family of complementary outdoor products, which fill a need for high-design street furniture versatile enough to enhance vibrant main streets + historic urban corridors
MORE → bit.ly/nebula-lighting
Last week, we topped out at 220 N. Ada in Chicago’s Fulton Market District. This multifamily development has reached 314 feet and, once complete, will bring 308 rental apartments to the neighborhood, 62 of which will be affordable units
#architecture #chicago
Sustainability Director Mina Hasman will present SOM’s latest innovations around decarbonization during #COP29Azerbaijan, providing an update on the UK "Standard," which SOM helped steer in response to demand for a clear definition for net zero carbon-aligned assets
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#COP29
How do you design space for research and innovation in the growing field of artificial intelligence? Partners Colin Koop and Carrie Moore explain the design of MIT's Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing for Architectural Record
MORE → bit.ly/3AtyRRk
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