The architectural firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP (SOM) was formed in Chicago in 1936 by Louis Skidmore and Nathaniel Owings ; in 1939 they were joined by John Merrill . They opened their first branch in New York City in 1937. SOM is one of the largest architectural firms in the United States. Their primary expertise is in high-end commercial buildings, as it was SOM which lead the way to the widespread use of the modern "glass box" skyscraper. Their most famous architects were Gordon Bunshaft, Myron Goldsmith , Bruce Graham, Fazlur Khan, and Walter Netsch.

The company claims to have completed 10,000 projects and maintains offices in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong, and Sao Paulo.

Notable SOM buildings

• Lever House, New York, 1952
• U.S. Air Force Academy, 1958
• University of Illinois at Chicago's "Circle Campus", 1965
• Louis Jefferson Long Library at Wells College, 1968
• Bank of America Center, San Francisco, California, 1969
• John Hancock Center, Chicago, Illinois, 1969
• Weyerhaeuser Headquarters, Tacoma, Washington, 1971
• Haj Terminal, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 1972
• Sears Tower, Chicago, Illinois, 1973
• Carlton Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1973
• First Wisconsin Plaza, Madison, Wisconsin, 1974
• Enerplex, North Building, Princeton, New Jersey, 1982
• Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, 1982
• Jin Mao Building, Shanghai, 1998
• Embassy of the United States in Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada, 1999
• 7 South Dearborn , Chicago, 2000

Buildings under construction

• Freedom Tower, New York City
• second 7 World Trade Center, New York City
• Burj Dubai, Dubai
• Ninoy Aquino International Airport's terminal three, Manila

External links

• http://www.som.com/