SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill) is a collective of architects, designers, engineers, and planners that provides architectural, urban planning, and engineering services. SOM has been named the self-described No. 1 firm in the United States by Architizer.

Known for creating some of the world’s most technically and environmentally-advanced designs, we are leveraging our collective expertise to build a better future for people, cities, and the planet. 

Under the leadership of Carrie Byles, Laura Ettelman, and Xuan Fu, we became a carbon neutral business in 2022 and were named an #Equality100 company by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index as well as a Woman-forward Workplace finalist by Crain's New York Business in 2023. 

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)

From Hangzhou’s tallest tower to a riverfront restoration, four SOM projects in China have been selected as CREDAWARD winners in what marks the 10th anniversary of this influential and rigorous international awards program. 

Our latest work in Hangzhou—Wangchao Center (pictured) and Greenland Hangzhou Century Center—won Gold Awards in the Comprehensive Commercial Projects category. In Shanghai, Jingyuan Road Riverfront District won a Gold Award in the Future Project category and Shanghai Lingang Financial Bay Phase 2 Urban Design took home a Silver Award for Planning Design.

Originally named the “Chinese Real Estate Design Award,” CREDAWARD’s strict selection process, transparency, and rigorous standards have made it known as one of the industry’s most credible award programs. Read on for more about the projects and to see all winners.

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📷 : Qingyan Zhu

We are pleased to have joined Article 25’s More Than a Building network. Article 25 is a UK-based architectural NGO, known for designing and delivering high-quality hospitals, schools, and homes in the global south. “At SOM, we believe that building greater equity is a collective effort,” said Design Partner Kent Jackson. Learn more about our involvement below.

Introducing Shanghai Zhenru China Overseas Center, a new mixed-use project complete with two office towers, the Huanyu Max shopping mall, a theater, and cultural amenities.  

With a focus on wellness in the workplace, the towers feature ample green space, terraces, and operable windows where the facade modules overlap. Its design also touts column-free interiors, which can flex to accommodate a wide range of office layouts. 

With generous shading, landscaping, and permeable paving, the master plan put a special emphasis on ecology, livability, and cultural heritage. The former village has been transformed into a contemporary business district, yet a 500-year-old gingko tree remains for what has become the centerpiece of the project and a nod to its past. 

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📷: Songkai Liu © TraceImage

We're thrilled to announce that Lincoln Common has been honored as part of the 2024 Urban Land Institute (ULI) Americas Awards for Excellence!

Located in the heart of Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, Lincoln Common has transformed the former site of Children’s Memorial Hospital into a vibrant, 1.1 million-square-foot, mixed-use community. This LEED Silver master-planned development blends new construction with adaptive reuse across a six-acre site, introducing new high-rise density to an otherwise low-rise neighborhood.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our partners, co-developers McCaffery and Hines, our design collaborators Antunovich Associates, and W.E. O'Neil Construction.

Our San Francisco project 49 South Van Ness & 1550 Mission also gained recognition in the ULI Americas Awards program—it was named as a finalist. Learn about the winning projects below.

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📷: Dave Burk © SOM

This weekend, Chicago's Millennium Park celebrates its 20th anniversary!

The transformation of the 17-acre park was a multiyear effort made possible by the City of Chicago and the talents of collaborators worldwide. As its master planners and engineers, we’re proud to have contributed to the conversion of a once-blighted site into a dynamic public realm for the entire city to enjoy.

In 2004, the park marked the completion of Daniel Burnham’s 100-year vision for the site, referencing Beaux-Arts-style public spaces with its central promenade, great lawn, and monumental limestone peristyle. These historic elements within the master plan were paired with contemporary additions from renowned artists and architects, including Frank Gehry’s stainless-steel bandshell, Jaume Plensa’s Crown Fountain, and Anish Kapoor’s captivating Cloud Gate sculpture. Join us in recognizing one of Chicago’s most cherished public spaces—more on the celebration below.

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📷 : Dave Burk © SOM

Fast Company said it best: “Bengaluru’s new airport is so nice you’ll want to hang out there even if you’re not flying.” 

As part of its annual Innovation by Design Awards, Fast Co identifies the top projects and ideas that shape the world we live in for the better. And we made the list. 

Elissaveta Brandon writes about our Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru — Terminal 2 design, “A typical airport exists to serve one very specific purpose: usher you to your gate in the most efficient way possible. But for one airport in Bengaluru, India, efficiency is the bare minimum… The architects have made sure that on top of getting to your gate efficiently, you can also relish moments of calm and delight.”

The new Terminal, which radically reimagines the airport experience by connecting passengers to nature, joins a robust list of Fast Company’s recognized projects and ideas that showcase a spark of ingenuity, including our High Line – Moynihan Connector project, which earned an honorable mention for urban design. Read the full story below.

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