Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)

Yesterday, the City of Los Angeles celebrated its new bus shelter program with city leaders and community members at one of the newly installed stops. Inspired by California Modernism, SOM designed the architecture of the shelters as a kit of parts that can be configured and customized to represent the respective neighborhoods. Led by StreetsLA, the Sidewalk and Transit Amenities Program (STAP) initiative will install or upgrade 3,000 bus shelters and 450 shade structures at transit stops throughout Los Angeles over the next decade. The program will be rolled out in areas of need, starting in Koreatown, Hollywood, and communities across the San Fernando Valley. The shelters integrate a suite of amenities, including real-time bus tracking, public alert systems, a digital art program, and smart lighting technology. Learn more about the project below. MORE → bit.ly/3ziydVT 📷: James Michael Juarez © SOM Los Angeles Metro, Tranzito, Tranzito-Vector, Fehr & Peers, Designworks, A BMW Group Company, studio one eleven, HLB Lighting Design, Tolar Manufacturing Company, Inc,

Airflow and customization are essential to creating a comfortable home, especially in the world's warmest climates. For Carmichael Residences in Mumbai, we designed a lush oasis—an open, shaded, and flexible high-rise that follows the Vastu tradition of architecture and carries the verdancy of the neighborhood up its 21 stories. Clad in high-performance, fully operable glazing—with sliding wooden screens that open each unit's terrace to views and breezes—the project takes a passive design approach to effortlessly cool all 28 units through cross ventilation. Deep overhangs, known as chhajjas, shield each unit from the sun and monsoon rain, maintaining extraordinary views of the Arabian Sea through all weather conditions. Inside, the Vastu layouts emphasize symmetry and a connection to nature and offer the versatility for units to be combined into larger spaces as residential needs change. Read the recent article in ACE Update → bit.ly/45GdRC0 More about the project on our website → bit.ly/3VZfHec 📷: Ar. Ekansh Goel © Studio Recall #Mumbai #ResidentialDesign #CarmichaelResidences #PassiveDesign

Bridges—our favorite way of traversing towns. From city centers to campuses, airports, and overpasses, we design structures that elevate the pedestrian experience, keep streets safe, and bring new connections to communities worldwide. 📸 Images: 1. BP Pedestrian Bridge, Dave Burk © SOM 2. High Line - Moynihan Connector, Dave Burk © SOM 3. Crystal City BID - Feasibility Study 4. Shen Ye Upper Hills Mixed-Use Development, Seth Powers Photography 5. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport - International Arrivals Facility, Dave Burk © SOM 6. Moscone Center Expansion, © Tim Griffith 7. Winship Cancer Institute at Emory Midtown, Dave Burk © SOM 8. Dublin Airport - Pier D & Connector, © Gerry O'Leary Photography 9. Ruck-A-Chucky Bridge See more of our bridge projects below. MORE → bit.ly/sombridge

We are excited to announce that the Glencoe Public Library in Glencoe, Illinois, has selected SOM as the master space planner. This collaboration will develop a comprehensive master space plan to address the library's current issues and lay the groundwork for potential renovations of its interior spaces, grounds, and infrastructure. Having worked on prominent libraries across the country, including Chicago’s Chinatown Public Library, the Billie Jean King Main Library in Long Beach, and Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, we are honored to be part of this exciting transformation of one of Glencoe's most cherished public facilities. "At a time when spaces for learning and gathering are rapidly evolving, libraries are more important than ever, and the vibrancy of the Glencoe Public Library demonstrates this perfectly," says SOM Partner and Glencoe resident Adam Semel. "We are proud and honored to partner with Glencoe in charting its future through this master plan." Learn more about our upcoming work with the Glencoe community below. MORE → bit.ly/3VsmZ8w

June is Pride Month, and at SOM, we've been celebrating and learning. This month, LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies have been connecting through programming coordinated around our theme of “No Pride Without Progress—No Progress Without Pride.” From Los Angeles to London, we’re hosting happy hours, trivia, lectures with queer artists Rafa Esparza and Peter Roberts, and our annual “Queer Backyards” tours, featuring little-known LGBTQ+ histories from our peers’ hometowns, including the murals pictured. Learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion below. MORE → bit.ly/3zcyLMW

In 2018, SOM led the initial masterplan to transform the Charenton-Bercy district in Paris into a highly connected urban area that will better link Central Paris and its suburbs. Now, we are delighted to share that the city has granted permission of the first phase, marking a major step in the realization of this ambitious project. Congratulations to our client, Bouygues Immobilier, and to our partners and collaborators. Stay tuned for more soon.

Join Keith Boswell and Sara Doran for a panel discussion Thursday hosted by AIA San Francisco, kicking off its new Knowledge Community on project delivery. This first of three salon events will explore how an architect sees the production, how a contractor interprets and dissects the architect's drawings and specifications, and the experience and expectations of the owner in this process. Register below for "Project Delivery Salon No. 1: From Concept to Construction." MORE → bit.ly/45sW1T5

“Our world is only getting windier, and it impacts almost every decision in a building’s design,” says educator Stewart Hicks, who tests our wind tunnel and discusses design with Scott Duncan, Ryan Culligan, AIA, and Brad Young. According to Hicks—associate dean, professor, and host/producer of “Stewart Hicks Takes on Buildings and Cities” YouTube channel—a whopping 20 percent of a skyscraper’s overall cost goes to combating wind forces. So what goes into adapting designs? To demonstrate, the team delved into our project with Related Midwest, 400 Lake Shore. Situated where the Chicago River meets Lake Michigan, Culligan explains how the two buildings taper to mitigate wind loads, especially critical at a site with concentrated forces. Says Duncan (pictured), “We like to think there’s poetry in highly functional considerations if they’re done right.” In the video below, you can take a peek at SOM’s wind tunnel, which helps identify wind-induced structural loads. “Tools like wind tunnels coupled with nuanced strategies for how buildings can work with nature instead of against it will allow us to conceive and create towers that are more resilient in the end,” says Hicks, whose episode is worth a watch. WATCH NOW → bit.ly/4elvMSm 📷: Francisco Lopez de Arenosa and TMRW

We're hiring in #London! There are several opportunities to join our newly renovated studio in Broadgate Tower above the Liverpool Street Station. At SOM, you’ll find the opportunity to contribute to some of the most significant architecture and urban design projects in the world—among of some of the best and brightest in the industry. Named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, our work goes beyond the studio as active educators, volunteers, mentors, and leaders in our communities. Be part of our inclusive culture and throw your hat in the ring for one of our architecture openings below: Designer → bit.ly/4eepwvX Senior Designer → bit.ly/3VkAxmv Associate - Design Architect → bit.ly/3VF1WkF All careers → bit.ly/4cawGQ4

From river restoration to tall buildings and terminals, the latest issue of Green Building and Design (gb&d) magazine delves into not one, but three SOM projects. On the Chicago River, a collaborative effort among Urban Rivers, SOM, and others has transformed the industrial riverfront into the Wild Mile (pictured)—a vibrant natural habitat. Featuring floating gardens, public walkways, and kayak docks, the project underscores the importance of nature-based solutions. Says SOM Partner Doug Voigt, “The Wild Mile showcases the creativity and innovation happening in Chicago, leading the way in water innovation and inspiring cities worldwide.” Where the river meets Lake Michigan comes 400 Lake Shore. Our project with Related Midwest, also featured in gb&d, epitomizes adaptability and efficiency. SOM Partner Scott Duncan explains, “Every step in the design serves a purpose, optimizing both structure and cost to achieve a dynamic form.” And in India, at Kempegowda International Airport, SOM has turned Terminal 2 into a "terminal in a garden," drawing inspiration from Bengaluru's garden city legacy. With hanging gardens, tranquil water features, and outdoor pathways, the design offers passengers a serene respite amidst the airport bustle. Design Principal Peter Lefkovits says, "We aimed to create a calming oasis within the airport chaos." Utilizing locally sourced materials and advanced sustainability strategies, the terminal not only enhances the passenger experience, but also aligns with ambitious sustainability goals and future adaptability needs. Explore the complete issue of gb&d magazine below. MORE → bit.ly/4b1qTey 📷: Dave Burk © SOM