Urban Design + Planning – SOM

Wilson District Master Plan

Admin — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:24:18 +0000

The post Wilson District Master Plan appeared first on SOM.

SPARC Kips Bay Master Plan

Admin — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:58:55 +0000

The post SPARC Kips Bay Master Plan appeared first on SOM.

Good Samaritan Hospital Master Plan

Admin — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:29:48 +0000

The post Good Samaritan Hospital Master Plan appeared first on SOM.

Phu Quoc Convention Center, Arena, and Strategic Vision Plan

Admin — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 20:27:08 +0000

The post Phu Quoc Convention Center, Arena, and Strategic Vision Plan appeared first on SOM.

Head-Royce School

Admin — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:54:30 +0000

The post Head-Royce School appeared first on SOM.

Anantara Hotel Announced for SOM-Masterplanned Burswood Point

F.LopezdeArenosa@som.com — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 19:40:54 +0000

Perth’s Swan River waterfront is set to welcome Australia’s first Anantara Hotel at Burswood Point, a 38-hectare mixed-use development led by Golden Sedayu and guided by a master plan from SOM.
Minor Hotels recently announced that its Anantara Hotels & Resorts brand will open its first Australian property within the waterfront precinct, marking an important step forward for the evolving district. The hotel will anchor the development, which is located along the Swan River approximately 3.5 kilometers from Perth’s central business district.
The urban redevelopment project will transform the riverfront into a connected, walkable neighborhood integrating residential, retail, hospitality, and public spaces. The master plan includes 15 buildings, approximately 4,500 homes, and a pedestrian-focused retail boulevard designed to create an active day-to-night destination along the water.
Our master plan, with landscape design by Grant Associates, reimagines the city’s urban river edge. Drawing inspiration from the historic estuarine landscape of the Swan River—known as Derbarl Yerrigan in the Noongar language—the plan introduces rehabilitated foreshore landscapes, sculpted landforms, and wetlands that reconnect people directly with the water. These landscapes are supported by a comprehensive water-sensitive urban design strategy that promotes biodiversity and improves water quality before runoff reaches the river.
“The vision for Burswood Point is to create a connected, walkable and enduring urban neighborhood that reconnects Perth with its iconic riverfront,” said SOM Senior Associate Principal Michael Powell. “By integrating new homes with high-quality retail and hospitality, we are establishing a sophisticated mixed-use destination designed for long-term vibrancy. The introduction of a globally recognized brand like Anantara validates our design intent to create a premier destination that balances international appeal with a unique sense of place.”

The post Anantara Hotel Announced for SOM-Masterplanned Burswood Point appeared first on SOM.

SOM Reveals Landmark Towers for Kazakhstan’s Alatau City

Ayesha Kapila — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 19:57:24 +0000

The Alatau Iconic Complex and Gateway District is designed to support long-term growth and opportunity in the Almaty region through a resilient, site-specific, and transit-oriented approach.
Positioned within the new city of Alatau—a flagship project for Kazakhstan set to become a Central Asian international hub—the SOM-designed Iconic Complex and Gateway District will serve as the city’s economic and administrative nucleus.
Located along the Almaty-Qonaev highway, a key section of the Western Europe-Western China transport corridor, Alatau is planned to span 88,000 hectares across four districts. Strategically positioned to enhance regional connectivity, economic development, and innovation, the new city will link Almaty with Central Asia and beyond.
At the centre of this vision, SOM’s Iconic Complex forms a 276,800-square-meter vertical district defined by a pair of gateway towers. Integrating office, residential, hospitality, retail, and cultural programmes, the development establishes a dense, mixed-use urban core for the emerging city. Inspired by the surrounding Trans-Ili Alatau—a 350-kilometre range of valleys, glaciers, and stratified terrain—the design translates these local natural formations into architecture, creating a unique identity rooted in the Kazakh landscape.
Rising 272 meters, the primary tower will accommodate office space and premium residences, becoming the tallest structure in the Almaty region and southern Kazakhstan upon completion. An adjacent 80-metre tower with a luxury hotel and branded residences reinforces the district’s mixed-use intensity. Both buildings feature high-performance façades and integrated shading strategies to reduce solar gain, while central atria draw natural light deep into the floorplates and frame panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
At the base, a three-level podium of 58,000 square meters anchors the complex. Echoing the local foothills of the Alatau, it terraces toward the public realm, accommodating retail, cultural venues, and event spaces while fostering active pedestrian engagement.
The project draws on SOM’s global expertise in designing landmark tall buildings—including the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, One World Trade Center in New York, and Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai— towers that redefine skylines while advancing structural and environmental innovation. This experience informs both the design and engineering of the Iconic Complex, ensuring it becomes a defining symbol of Alatau City.
The region’s high seismic conditions drive the project’s integrated architectural and structural design. Structural resilience is embedded in the architecture, with seismically resilient framing and damping systems—proven in high-seismic regions such as Japan and Taiwan—that dissipate earthquake energy and ensure long-term safety and post-disaster functionality.
The surrounding Gateway District leverages SOM’s international planning expertise, prioritizing walkability, density, and multimodal transportation. Planned express rail and Light Rail Transit (LRT) corridors position the district as a regional transit hub, while green boulevards, shaded streets, and public plazas foster a human-scaled urban experience. The project also integrates advanced micromobility infrastructure, including provisions for Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, alongside pedestrian and transit networks, to ensure the city is connected at every scale.
The project is led by the Alatau City Development Group LLP alongside long-term investors and government partners supporting Alatau as a strategic national initiative. Once complete, the Iconic Complex and Gateway District will form a vertically integrated, mobility-oriented, and culturally attuned urban heart of Alatau, setting a new benchmark for city-making in Kazakhstan and across Central Asia.
About Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) is a global practice of architects, designers, engineers, and planners, responsible for some of the world’s most technically and environmentally advanced buildings and significant public spaces. The firm’s approach is highly collaborative, and its interdisciplinary team is engaged in a wide range of international projects, with creative studios based across the globe. The firm’s portfolio includes numerous innovative landmark towers, including the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, One World Trade Center in New York, and Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai, as well as large-scale urban planning initiatives that integrate density, mobility, and sustainability—including the award-winning Sultan Haitham City in Muscat, Oman, and the recently unveiled masterplan for Bradfield City, Australia’s first new city in more than a century.

The post SOM Reveals Landmark Towers for Kazakhstan’s Alatau City appeared first on SOM.

The Gateway – Dubai Creek Harbour Metro Station

Admin — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:24:55 +0000

The post The Gateway – Dubai Creek Harbour Metro Station appeared first on SOM.

SOM and Hassell Unveil Vision for Australia’s First New City in 100+ Years

Jade Leslie — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:13:52 +0000

The post SOM and Hassell Unveil Vision for Australia’s First New City in 100+ Years appeared first on SOM.

Dennis Ho

Admin — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:33:08 +0000

Dennis Ho drives strategic business development in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, cultivating client relationships and promoting SOM’s expertise in design, engineering, sustainability, and planning. His project work encompasses a wide range of scales and sectors, from urban master plans, transit-oriented developments, and research campuses to hotels, commercial buildings, and residential projects. Throughout his career, he has brought this comprehensive expertise to countries across APAC including Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam—developing extensive knowledge of the diverse cultures that comprise the region.
An adjunct professor of architecture and urban design at the City University of Hong Kong, Dennis teaches students how human-centric and regenerative design can create a positive impact culturally, socially, economically, and environmentally. This mindset guides his approach to his work, as well as his leadership as Chair of the Royal Institute of British Architects’ Hong Kong Chapter, where he prioritizes education and collaboration among more than 1,000 members.

The post Dennis Ho appeared first on SOM.