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Member Since: 1977
Member Offices: Chicago, Dubai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, Shanghai, Washington D.C.
Website: http://www.som.com/
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) is one of the leading architecture, interior design, engineering, and urban planning firms in the world. Since its founding more than 80 years ago, SOM has earned a reputation for design excellence with a portfolio that includes some of the most important architectural accomplishments of the 20th and 21st centuries, and has been a leader in the research and development of specialized technologies, new processes and innovative ideas, many of which have had a palpable and lasting impact on the design profession and the physical environment.
The firm’s longstanding leadership in design and building technology has been honored with nearly 2,000 awards for quality, innovation, and management. The American Institute of Architects has recognized SOM twice with its highest honor, the Architecture Firm Award—in 1962 and again in 1996.
Architecture; Civil Engineering; Environmental Engineering; Interior Design; Landscape Architecture; Marketing / Sales; Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing; Structural Engineering; Transportation / Urban Infrastructure; Urban Design
RANK
|
Name
|
Status
Completed Architecturally Topped Out Structurally Topped Out Under Construction On Hold Proposed Vision Never Completed Demolished Competition Entry Canceled Proposed Renovation Under Renovation Renovated Under Demolition |
Height
|
---|---|---|---|
1 | Burj Khalifa | 828 m / 2,717 ft | |
2 | One World Trade Center | 541.3 m / 1,776 ft | |
3 | Tianjin CTF Finance Centre | 530 m / 1,739 ft | |
4 | Zifeng Tower | 450 m / 1,476 ft | |
5 | Willis Tower | 442.1 m / 1,451 ft | |
6 | Trump International Hotel & Tower | 423.2 m / 1,389 ft | |
7 | Jin Mao Tower | 420.5 m / 1,380 ft | |
8 | Al Hamra Tower | 412.6 m / 1,354 ft | |
9 | Greenland Group Suzhou Center | 358 m / 1,175 ft | |
10 | OKO - Residential Tower | 354.2 m / 1,162 ft |
CTBUH Expert Peer Review Committee, 2014 – Present
CTBUH Skybridges Research Project Steering Committee, 2019 – Present
CTBUH Board of Trustees, 2020 – Present
23 May 2022
Two Public Buildings, California: Using Steel & Timber To Achieve Weight Savings
The lightweight benefits of steel timber-hybrids are explored in this presentation through two projects; Billie Jean King Library, Long Beach, reuses existing foundations on-site to...
05 July 2023
We All Love to Get High: Optimizing Observation Deck Design
Height is aspirational, and having the best view from that height has become a driver in contemporary tall building design. Likewise, observation decks are a...
26 September 2023
New Antenna Installed Atop Willis Tower
ABC7 Chicago successfully installed a brand new antenna on the Willis Tower on a Sunday morning. The process was captured by Chopper 7. A helicopter...
RANK
|
Name
|
Completion
|
Height
|
Floors
|
Function
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Burj Khalifa | Dubai | 2010 |
828 m / 2,717 ft |
163 | Office / Residential / Hotel |
2 | One World Trade Center | New York City | 2014 |
541 m / 1,776 ft |
94 | Office |
3 | Tianjin CTF Finance Centre | Tianjin | 2019 |
530 m / 1,739 ft |
97 | Hotel / Serviced Apartments / Office |
4 | Zifeng Tower | Nanjing | 2010 |
450 m / 1,476 ft |
66 | Hotel / Office |
5 | Willis Tower | Chicago | 1974 |
442 m / 1,451 ft |
108 | Office |
6 | Trump International Hotel & Tower | Chicago | 2009 |
423 m / 1,389 ft |
98 | Residential / Hotel |
7 | Jin Mao Tower | Shanghai | 1999 |
421 m / 1,380 ft |
88 | Hotel / Office |
8 | Al Hamra Tower | Kuwait City | 2011 |
413 m / 1,354 ft |
80 | Office |
9 | Greenland Group Suzhou Center | Suzhou | 2024 |
358 m / 1,175 ft |
77 | Hotel / Office |
10 | OKO - Residential Tower | Moscow | 2015 |
354 m / 1,162 ft |
90 | Residential / Serviced Apartments / Hotel |
11 | 875 North Michigan Avenue | Chicago | 1969 |
344 m / 1,128 ft |
100 | Residential / Office |
12 | Tianjin World Financial Center | Tianjin | 2011 |
337 m / 1,105 ft |
75 | Office |
Average Building Age*
20 Years
Most Common Function*
Office (60%)
Most Common Material*
Composite (36%)
* Based on 150 m+ buildings currently in the database
NOTE: Construction start time is not available for all buildings. The average construction time is only displayed if there is three or more buildings with construction start and complete data in that year.
Create your own charts using the Explore Data tool.
CTBUH Skybridges Research Project Steering Committee, 2019 – Present
CTBUH United Kingdom Chapter, 2023 – Present
CTBUH College of Fellows, 2023 – Present
CTBUH College of Fellows, 2023 – Present
CTBUH Regional Hub, Asia Steering Committee, 2024 – Present
CTBUH Awards Façade Engineering Jury, 2024
23 May 2022
The lightweight benefits of steel timber-hybrids are explored in this presentation through two projects; Billie Jean King Library, Long Beach, reuses existing foundations on-site to...
06 November 2020
CTBUH coordinates with Università Iuav di Venezia and Politecnico di Milano for the 10° Convegno Internazionale Tall Buildings (10th International Tall Buildings Conference). With the...
22 October 2018
Since their earliest form, tall buildings have stood as technological marvels, reflecting the latest advancements in materials, methodologies, and tools. These two technologies continue to...
09 July 2018
Carla Swickerath, Partner, Studio Libeskind, sat down with CTBUH to discuss the design approach and urban impact of the World Trade Center complex in New...
31 May 2018
Poly International Plaza is the first structure of its kind – incorporating a four-story, pure-axial load, super-diagrid frame without perimeter columns. Through its technical and...
30 May 2018
Poly International Plaza is an office and trade center development consisting of two towers, each coupled with a low-rise podium that accommodates exhibition and retail...
28 March 2018
Thursday, February 1, 2018. Chicago, United States of America. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) and the Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) held...
31 October 2017
In the building design community, the most common definition of “Net-Zero Building” is a building that generates an amount of energy on-site that is equal...
31 October 2017
Liz Westgarth, Principal, HASSELL, chairs the question and answer session with Alfredo Ramirez, Codes and Advisory Services Manager, Underwriters Laboratories; Luke Leung, Director, Skidmore, Owings...
30 October 2017
Quay Quarter Tower (QQT) will create a stunning new building on the Sydney skyline that sets new benchmarks in office tower design globally and creates...
05 July 2023
Terri Meyer Boake
Height is aspirational, and having the best view from that height has become a driver in contemporary tall building design. Likewise, observation decks are a...
16 May 2023
Jason Barr & Peter A. Weismantle
This paper reviews the development history of record-breaking skyscrapers to better understand their economics. Given how tall they are, the supposed reason for their construction...
22 August 2022
S. Isaac Work & Shawn Ursini, Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat
Tall building design has diversified and adapted to accommodate increased demand for distinctive amenities at a range of heights. Swimming pools are a classic feature...
25 June 2020
Sae Hwang Oh, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Beginning in the late 19th century, construction of skyscrapers spread throughout Chicago, New York City, and then the world as demand of space in buildings...
20 March 2020
CTBUH Research
This research paper undertakes a review of the 2012 report by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, “Tallest 20 in 2020: Entering the...
20 March 2020
CTBUH Research
Providing a global overview of tall building development, design and construction, the CTBUH Awards Program and related Tall + Urban Innovation Conference annually survey projects,...
30 January 2020
Brian Lee, Thomas Kinzl, Inho Rhee & Ronald Johnson, SOM
Completed in 2019, the Tianjin Chow Tai Fook (CTF) Finance Centre is currently the seventh-tallest building in the world, tied with the Guangzhou CTF Finance...
12 December 2019
CTBUH Research
The year 2019 was remarkable for the tall building industry, with 26 supertall buildings (300 meters or taller) completed, the most in any year. This...
26 September 2023
ABC7 Chicago successfully installed a brand new antenna on the Willis Tower on a Sunday morning. The process was captured by Chopper 7. A helicopter...
22 June 2022
Abbott Laboratories is opening a big new office at Willis Tower that could bring as many as 450 jobs downtown, a move meant to provide...
23 April 2021
EQ Office announced the exciting reopening of Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower to the public on 23 April, 2021 after completing an extensive redevelopment. The...
12 January 2021
EQ Office revealed Atmospheric wave wall, a new cultural landmark and the first public art installation in Chicago by globally acclaimed artist Olafur Eliasson. Prominently...
30 July 2020
History does not want for dizzying fantasies of tall buildings. From the Tower of Babel onwards, humanity has dreamed of ever-more wondrous skyscrapers, whether we...
15 April 2019
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has been brought in to deliver Hodder + Partners’ controversial Saint Michael’s tower in Manchester, with the local practice kept...
01 March 2019
The owner of the Chicago Spire site could have another year to begin developing the lakefront site, four months after a downtown alderman rejected a...
21 January 2019
For decades, the New York City skyline was dominated by one building, the 1,250-foot-tall (381-meter) Empire State Building. But 17 “supertall” skyscrapers — defined as...
16 November 2019
Supported by CTBUH, the ETEM Façade Conference is a global forum for the latest façade technologies designed for creative architecture.
25 September 2019
Over 50 attendees enjoyed a networking reception followed by engaging presentations and Q&A with panelists, discussing demolition strategies in New York City.
12 September 2019
Members of the original architecture and engineering team behind Chicago’s John Hancock Center shared the story of the creation of one of the city’s best-known landmarks.
03 May 2019
Final reviews were held for the “Sustainable Vertical Urbanism: Towards Net-Zero Carbon Skyscrapers”, undertaken by the IIT College of Architecture, with assistance from CTBUH and SOM.
21 January 2019
IIT-CTBUH High Rise Studio, led by CTBUH China Office Director and Academic Coordinator, Dr. Peng Du, visited various high-rises throughout Shenzen.
06 November 2018
During the CTBUH 2018 Middle East Conference, awards were conferred in relation to five CTBUH Research and Academic programs that will produce a number of important future outputs.
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