Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)

When the Waldorf Astoria New York opened its doors on Park Avenue in 1931, it became an instant New York City icon, and—returning it to its heyday—the legendary hotel has been undergoing a comprehensive restoration and transformation. Come spring, the Waldorf will once again shine as one of the city’s finest examples of Art Deco architecture. The sheer size and scale of the former 1,400-room skyscraper hotel remains impressive. Today, it’s being converted into a 375-unit residential building and a 375-key hotel. Visitors will once again be invited to walk through a block-long enfilade of landmarked interior spaces spanning from Park to Lexington Avenues and to convene in the clock lounge with its original maple finishes and newly restored plaster bas-reliefs. SOM’s sensitive renovation improves circulation, while preserving the integrity of its historic interiors. It’s just one of our 2025 projects to watch—learn about it below. MORE → bit.ly/41ft8Ju 📷: © Noë & Associates | Boundary

Commercial office design was forever changed with Lever House’s completion in 1952—and 70+ years later, we returned to our work with the intention of preserving the modernist icon’s original design while updating materials and mechanical systems in alignment with LEED Gold and WELL Platinum standards. Our thoughtful restoration respected the original architecture as we upgraded key infrastructure to improve energy efficiency—efforts that contributed to our AIA New York State Design Award win. The awards program honored 29 projects across 14 categories, with Lever House earning a Citation in the Historic Preservation category. See the winners below. MORE → bit.ly/4bcv0WZ 📷: Lucas Blair Simpson © SOM

Since our founding, we have been designing the future—long before AutoCAD was taught in architecture schools, SOM was inventing it. Fast forward to today, we remain committed to the forefront of design technology and are pleased to introduce Shane Burger as our Chief Design Technology Officer. Trained as an architect, Burger brings to the firm more than two decades of design technology leadership in architecture, along with expertise in digital fabrication, building performance, VR/AR, and more. “Burger’s vision for the future of architecture is one where sustainability, efficiency, and collaboration are at the forefront,” writes Parametric Architecture in a recent interview. "He envisions a field where digital tools and AI are harnessed not just for automation, but for enhancing the quality and performance of buildings.” Learn about his new role below. MORE → bit.ly/4gvH0DR 📷: Lucas Blair Simpson © SOM

SOM has a long history of designing in South Florida—from the Brightline stations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach to the redevelopment of the Bal Harbour Shops—and yesterday, the doors opened at One Flagler, our latest completion in West Palm Beach. Anchoring the site of the historic First Church of Christ, Scientist, One Flagler brings the standards of a Class-A New York office to the city’s growing downtown, along with retail, a restaurant, and an inviting public green. Its development generates crucial funding for the preservation of the Beaux-Arts church, and our design continues the rich legacy of modern architecture in South Florida with a trellis-like frame made of a burnished white concrete. Planted loggias create a green backdrop to the church, and at the apex, a crown of LED lighting announces the building’s presence in the skyline—creating a new landmark in West Palm Beach’s growing downtown. MORE → bit.ly/4hDlhLc 📷: Courtesy Related Companies © Colin Miller 

It was a challenging site—Two Manhattan West’s presence in the sky and at grade is rigorous and clearly defined, yet its most dramatic complexities lie underground. The tower stands above active rail lines and is supported by a central core, only half of which touches solid ground. To solve for the state of the site, SOM aligned sculpted mega-columns at the building’s perimeter with subgrade spaces between the tracks—an integrated solution that opens clear sight lines from street to plaza. Two Manhattan West required a feat of extraordinary coordination among the design, engineering, and planning teams, and for it, was awarded one of 14 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement (OCEA) Honor Awards from the American Society of Civil Engineers. Projects have demonstrated exceptional civil engineering innovation and made significant contributions to society. Learn about the OCEA Honor Award recipients below. MORE → bit.ly/3Ely8Dg 📷: Dave Burk © SOM

Project to watch: Cullinan Harbour. Fronting Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour, a residential oasis is rising on the site of a former airfield, just 15 minutes from the central business district. The crescent-shaped complex encircles an open courtyard featuring a serene pool, lush gardens, and community amenities. With its distinctive rippled, glassy facade, the development comprises eight interconnected buildings that ensure privacy for residents while offering a range of living options for those seeking a bayside lifestyle. It’s just one of the many projects we’re looking forward to this year, all captured in our roundup below. MORE → bit.ly/3EjqRUx © SOM, Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited

Continuing our Projects to Watch in 2025, today we spotlight a series of five distinctive towers, the signature feature of The Avenues – Riyadh, a major new mixed-use destination rising just north of the Saudi Arabian capital. Once complete, the development will redefine Riyadh’s skyline and mark a memorable gateway to the city. The towers will host several luxury hotels and residences, while the larger development—spanning 390,000 square meters—will be home to one of the largest shopping malls in the Middle East. See this and all our Projects to Watch below. MORE → bit.ly/3EjqRUx Images: © ATCHAIN

From D.C. to Dubai, we recently hosted our Winter Shadowship—a week-long program that offers an immersive professional experience with mentorship and guidance to undergraduate and graduate students in architecture, planning, structures, and interiors. Gaining a well-rounded perspective of day-to-day life across our studios, we welcomed students from around the world. The experience included site visits, lectures, events, job shadowing, interview coaching, and portfolio reviews for a five-day immersion that demonstrated SOM’s innovative work and unwavering commitment to excellence. Thanks to all who participated! 📷: Francisco Lopez de Arenosa and Lucas Blair Simpson © SOM

In 2018, Emory Healthcare and Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University announced their intention to create a cancer care center that has “never before been seen or imagined"—and last year that vision was realized. Invited to the Healthcare Interior Design 2.0 podcast to share how we met that challenge, Principal Anthony Treu said, "We invited people into a process where the goal was to explore the challenges and figure out the solutions together. So it wasn't about convincing them why we should do something ambitious or new. It was about working together to find out something that was a very real solution to what they needed." Listen to the episode below to learn more about how the Winship Cancer Institute transcends established practices of hospital design—and how our two-story "care communities," each centered on a specific type of cancer, has tailored healthcare to the journey of each patient. MORE → bit.ly/3WCqyus 📷: Dave Burk © SOM 

Lunar New Year is nearly upon us! Wishing good fortune to all in the year ahead. 🐍