SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merill) is an American architecture studio that originated in Chicago. In 1936 Louis Skidnare and Nathaniel A. Owing joined forces, and later John Merill integrated into the studio. The firm has been awarded over 800 prizes in its 65 years of existence; it achieved success through its pioneering crystal skyscrapers. SOM’s modern approach, its focus on sustainability, and its continued effort to stay up to date on technological advances have maintained the firm SOM on track in the industry. To analyse the urban style of the firm there is no better reference than the vision of the Museum Campus in Chicago Illinois.
Visitors are meant to receive a sense of arrival regardless of the method by which they access the Campus. The project includes improved pedestrian access through the railroad tracks and improved connections through McCmich Centre to improve the communications westward, and the expansion of McCormick Place Busway, water taxis and Metra increases access to the north and south. SOM’s project revolves around two main mobility hubs to convey the sense of arrival and the new bridges make Northerly Island more accessible and reduce pedestrian traffic on Campus¨. It is demonstrated that in urban schemes where the project provides a sense of identity, users tend to respect it more, and take better care of it, they start treating it as if it’s theirs, even though it has always been theirs to begin with. This is why, making the goal of this project to create a sense of destination and arrival, is a very successful approach to its design. The use of signs, statues, murals, artwork or any kind of memorable element, helps contribute to this goal. SOMS’s understanding of this proves their innate ability to comprehend locals and their interaction with the urban environment.
Amenities are planned to accommodate people of different ages, these include kid-friendly amenities like creative playgrounds to engage with younger visitors and as a form of integrating users who are parents. Furthermore, the amenities would include seating areas, covered rest stops, and potentially air-conditioned or heated spaces to provide respite from extreme heat and cold¨ this is meant to benefit everyone but especially visitors with physical limitations and the elderly. SOM shows initiative of true inclusivity, demonstrating a commitment to make the amenities fully accessible for everyone.
SOM’s Museum Campus project proposes the incorporation of exhibitions in the outdoors of the campus, aiming to educate not only the campus users but also its visitors and to do so on the matter of climate change. This type of initiative not only improves the Campus’s relationship with its environment but it fosters progress in the ongoing struggle to involve citizens in the fight against climate change. The act of bringing a diverse group of people together is a signal of social progress which is why inclusivity is a necessary ingredient for long-term sustainability.
What is the root of SOM’s successful approach to sustainability?
With this kind of focus it is understandable how SOM manages to successfully improve its urban scheme, the essence of their projects involves understanding sub-communities that require specific needs. The ability to listen to people and to be able to understand their needs is a driving factor for successful urban schemes. SOM has understood that they design public spaces that affect people’s quality of life, producing projects through the lens of inclusivity, connection, and nature as a recipe for ground-breaking urban strategies.
Chicago.gov. Where Worlds Connect A New Vision for the Museum Campus. [online]. Available at: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/museum-campus-working-group/home.html [Accessed: 17 October 2024].
SOM.com. (2024) Museum Campus Vision. [online]. Available at: https://www.som.com/projects/museum-campus-vision/ [Accessed: 17 October 2024].
Museum Campus Working Group. (2022). Where Worlds Connect: A vision for a reimagined Museum Campus. Chicago.gov. [online]. Available at:
https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/sites/museum-campus/pdfs/Museum-Campus-Report.pdf [Accessed: 17 October 2024].
SOM. (2024). Diversity Equity Inclusion Report. [online]. Available at: https://www.som.com/news/read-our-2023-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-report/ [Accessed: 17 October 2024].
Álvaro is a Spanish architect with a keen focus on architectural journalism, he aims to inspire architects and architecture students through his writing to work towards a better future for everyone.
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