SOM (company)

SOM (company). Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) is a global architecture, urban planning, and engineering firm renowned for its pioneering work in modern design and high-rise construction. Founded in Chicago in 1936, the firm has been instrumental in defining the International Style and shaping the skylines of major cities worldwide. With a multidisciplinary approach integrating architecture, engineering, and interior design, SOM has produced many of the world's most iconic buildings and has received hundreds of awards for design excellence.

History

The firm was established in 1936 by architects Louis Skidmore and Nathaniel Owings, later joined by engineer John O. Merrill. Its early significant commissions included work for the 1939 New York World's Fair and master planning for the city of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as part of the Manhattan Project. The post-World War II economic boom propelled SOM to prominence, with landmark projects like Lever House in New York City (1952) becoming a definitive example of the corporate glass curtain wall. Under the leadership of design partners such as Gordon Bunshaft and Bruce Graham, the firm dominated American corporate architecture throughout the mid-20th century, designing headquarters for major corporations like the Inland Steel Building in Chicago and the John Hancock Center. The completion of the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) in Chicago in 1973 cemented its reputation as a leader in supertall building engineering.

Notable projects

SOM's portfolio includes many of the world's most recognizable structures. Its pioneering skyscrapers include the John Hancock Center and the Willis Tower in Chicago, and the One World Trade Center in New York City, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. The firm is also known for significant international work, such as the Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai, the Burj Khalifa (in collaboration with Adrian Smith), and the Al Hamra Tower in Kuwait City. Beyond towers, notable projects encompass the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel in Colorado Springs, the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum in Austin, Texas, and large-scale urban plans like Canary Wharf in London and the Yongsan International Business District in Seoul.

Design philosophy

The firm's philosophy is rooted in the principles of the Modernist movement, emphasizing clarity, structural expression, and technological innovation. SOM advocates for an integrated design process where architects, engineers, and technical specialists collaborate from a project's inception. This approach prioritizes efficiency, sustainability, and the creation of timeless forms that serve their function and context. In recent decades, this ethos has evolved to strongly emphasize sustainable design and resilience, as seen in projects targeting LEED Platinum certification and research into high-performance building envelopes. The firm often views large-scale buildings and urban plans as opportunities to advance the field of environmental design.

Leadership and organization

SOM operates as a partnership with offices in major cities including Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., London, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Key figures in its history include design partners Gordon Bunshaft, a recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, and Bruce Graham, who led the design of the John Hancock Center and Willis Tower. Contemporary leadership includes partners like David Childs, known for One World Trade Center, and Ross Wimer, a leader in technical innovation. The firm is structured into interdisciplinary studios, fostering collaboration between its architecture, structural engineering, MEP engineering, and urban design practices.

Awards and recognition

SOM has received extensive acclaim, including over 200 American Institute of Architects (AIA) awards and numerous international honors. The firm was the first architecture practice to receive the Firm Award from the AIA in 1962. Individual partners have also been highly decorated; Gordon Bunshaft was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1988, and the firm's engineers have received awards from the American Society of Civil Engineers. Projects like the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel have been designated as National Historic Landmarks, and many of its buildings are consistently featured in surveys of the most important works of 20th-century architecture.

Legacy and influence

SOM's legacy is profoundly embedded in the history of modern architecture and urbanism. The firm played a central role in popularizing the glass-and-steel skyscraper as the global symbol of corporate power and urban modernity. Its integrated design methodology, combining architecture and engineering, became a model for large-scale professional practice worldwide. Through its extensive body of work and the influence of its leaders as jurors and educators, SOM has shaped architectural education and professional standards. The firm continues to influence contemporary discourse through its ongoing research into seismic design, sustainable architecture, and urban resilience, ensuring its impact extends well beyond its iconic built forms. Category:Architectural firms based in Chicago Category:American architectural firms Category:Companies established in 1936