Workplace – SOM

Architectural Record Spotlights SOM’s Sany iROOTECH Headquarters

F.LopezdeArenosa@som.com — Wed, 06 May 2026 10:27:26 +0000

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SOM Renews Rondo 1 in Warsaw

Ayesha Kapila — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:44:08 +0000

Construction is set to begin this month on the renewal of the lobby at Rondo 1, reimaging the heart of one of Warsaw’s most significant commercial tall buildings. The project marks the next chapter in the evolution of a building that has shaped the city’s skyline for two decades.
Designed by SOM and completed in 2006, Rondo 1 was originally conceived to offer a new work environment adaptable to a wide range of ways of working, contribute to a more liveable urban experience, and represent Warsaw’s place within a global democratic society. Its composition—defined by detached vertical transportation cores, multi-story atria, and a triple-height atrium at ground level—expresses clarity, efficiency, and civic presence. Nearly 20 years later, SOM has been commissioned to renew the building’s 5975-square-meter ground-floor lobby. The design transforms the space into a contemporary “living room” for the building: a flexible, open environment that supports focused work, informal meetings, and social exchange throughout the day.
“It is rewarding to return to the project at this exciting moment as it repositions itself within the Warsaw skyline and commercial market,” said Partner Kent Jackson. “We have renewed the public-facing areas, shaping spaces that support how people work, meet, and connect every day. The upgraded common areas bring in natural light and greenery, prioritizing the wellbeing of all users and visitors—setting a new benchmark for the workplace experience in the city.” The renewal introduces a cohesive sequence of amenity spaces from arrival onward with indoor planting and greenery to enhance occupant wellbeing. A new coffee kiosk introduces activity and vitality, providing a welcoming experience for tenants and visitors alike.
While the tower’s architectural framework and material language remain intact, the lobby interiors are refreshed. Bespoke joinery and finishes are designed for durability, with carefully selected materials and furniture reinforcing the building’s timeless elegance. Overhead, a series of sculptural, backlit ceiling lanterns animate the expansive volume, adding light and visual depth. The renewal also encompasses other shared areas, including Level 37 at the top of the building, the lift sky lobbies, and the ground-floor common spaces of the adjoining retail building. Rondo 1’s Winter Garden is also refreshed, designed as a distinct yet complementary space to the lobby.
Overall, the project reinforces Rondo 1’s legacy as a landmark of Warsaw’s commercial and urban life. By integrating the building’s iconic architecture with contemporary workplace principles—connectivity, adaptability, and wellbeing—the renewal demonstrates SOM’s enduring commitment to shaping environments that enhance both the city and the people who inhabit it.

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JPMorganChase Trading Floors Featured in Dezeen

Julia.Pollak@som.com — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:27:17 +0000

What does the future of trading look like in Midtown Manhattan? Dezeen recently featured SOM’s design for the trading floors at 270 Park Avenue, JPMorganChase’s new global headquarters.
Located just above the tower’s lobby, eight interconnected floors support 4,000 traders across 500,000 square feet. The floors are organized into two-story suites, arranged around double-height atria, forming distinct trading neighborhoods. These spaces blend shared amenities with flexible spaces for focused work, small huddles, and large meetings.
Designed to maximize daylight and views, the floor plates are enhanced by natural materials, circadian lighting, live plants, and custom sit-stand desks. Together, these elements create a healthy, comfortable workplace—one that supports both precision and collaboration and sets a new standard for the modern trading floor.

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JPMorganChase Headquarters Trading Floors

Admin — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:28:58 +0000

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Six Projects and Products Recognized in Best of Year Awards

Julia.Pollak@som.com — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:21:22 +0000

Our approach to interior design draws on the resources of our multidisciplinary firm, taking a holistic approach that anticipates changes in the way we live and work. Spanning scales from a single light fixture to the transformation of an entire hotel, seven of our projects and products—two winners and five finalists—were recognized by Interior Design magazine’s Best of Year Awards, a program that celebrates the most innovative work shaping what’s happening now and next in design.
Alongside collaborators Pierre-Yves Rochon (hotel interiors) and Jean-Louis Denoit (residential interiors), we won best hotel transformation for our preservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse work at the Waldorf Astoria New York (above)—which recaptures its original splendor inside and out, revitalizes its public spaces, and transforms its upper floors into a boutique hotel and luxury residences. Three of our headquarters designs were recognized, including winner WeBank Headquarters, which reimagines the financial workplace as a wellness-driven, highly flexible environment for China’s first digital-only bank, located in Shenzhen, China.
Our work with Gensler on the Robert A. Iger Building—The Walt Disney Company’s New York City Headquarters—was also named a finalist, as was 500 County Center, the new San Mateo County headquarters and the nation’s first net-zero-energy civic building constructed with mass timber, for its environmental impact. Beyond our projects, two of our newest furniture and lighting products were named finalists in the Best of Product Awards. Nebula Urban Lighting and Furniture—created in partnership with Neri—offers a modular collection of benches, stools, tables, planters, wastebaskets, bike racks, and street lighting, reflecting our belief that public furniture should quietly elevate everyday urban experiences.
In collaboration with Artemide, Tetras is a modular fixture that conceives of light as an architectural building block, using a minimalist design for efficiency, comfort, and delight.

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Rocky Mountain Power Headquarters Breaks Ground

Ana.Cuadra@som.com — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:07:46 +0000

The Power District on the west side of Salt Lake City celebrated a major milestone today with the groundbreaking of Rocky Mountain Power’s new 10-story, 300,000-square-foot corporate headquarters, the first building in the district’s 100+ acre mixed-use master plan. Designed by SOM, the all-electric campus draws inspiration from the historic Gadsby Power Plant, translating the district’s industrial past into a modern, efficient, and human-centered workplace. Purpose-built for Rocky Mountain Power, the building features flexible, high-performance workspaces, outdoor terraces, and thoughtfully articulated exterior forms that establish a distinctive presence on the skyline. Its design responds to the company’s culture, workforce, and role in the community, creating a workplace that is both a landmark and a catalyst for The Power District. Once complete, the headquarters will anchor a vibrant new neighborhood, integrating office, housing, retail all connected to riverfront enhancements and an improved Jordan River Trail.

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Rocky Mountain Power Headquarters

Admin — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 17:22:45 +0000

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Fast Company Spotlights WeBank Headquarters’ Climate-Responsive Design

Jade Leslie — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:35:40 +0000

Fast Company recently profiled SOM’s new Shenzhen headquarters for WeBank, highlighting how the 30-story tower challenges the sealed-glass model of most high-rise office buildings. As Nate Berg writes, the project “punches holes right through this convention,” replacing the typical sealed tower with a climate-responsive, wellness-driven alternative.
As China’s first digital-only bank, WeBank wanted a modern workplace centered around flexibility and occupant health. Rather than maximizing height, SOM designed expansive, open floor plates that support adaptable layouts and provide outdoor access on every floor. Multi-story atria serve a dual role as vertical ventilation shafts and communal spaces that foster collaboration and connectivity across teams.
These atria, which Berg compares to “the voids inside a block of Swiss cheese,” are carefully shaped to control how air flows in and out of the building. Design Partner Scott Duncan explains that this design allows for airflow through and across levels, emphasizing the role of the stack effect in refreshing interior air. But it’s not just the meticulously engineered indoor atria that creates an outdoor connection, it’s also the open-air terraces, rooftop gardens, and operable windows. “There aren’t that many buildings out there at this height that have this degree of indoor-outdoor space,” he said.

This natural ventilation provides tangible health and wellness advantages. According to Luke Leung, sustainable engineering lead, the building has up to six air changes every hour. Within 30 minutes, it can remove 95 percent of contaminants from a floor using natural means.
Through integrating fresh air, abundant daylight, and adaptable floor plates, WeBank Headquarters reimagines tall buildings as a breathable and flexible workplace, maintaining comfort while reducing dependence on mechanical cooling.

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Dezeen Spotlights SOM’s London Studio

Jonathan Schifman — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 11:31:15 +0000

Spotlight on SOM: In a recent Q&A, Dezeen Jobs delved into the values, vision, and culture of our practice. The story focuses on our London studio and SOM’s work throughout Europe, from Karlatornet in Gothenburg, Sweden to the Milano Cortina Olympic Village in Milan, Italy, and outlines the qualities SOM seeks in job candidates.
As we told Dezeen, “As a team known for pushing the boundaries of architecture and engineering, we value people who challenge convention, bring fresh perspectives, and contribute to transformative, future-focused solutions. We seek individuals who demonstrate cultural awareness, who understand the power of inclusive design, and who are actively engaged in fostering belonging, both in the workplace and in the communities we serve.”

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LG Headquarters Featured in SPACE Magazine

Megan.Billman@som.com — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 15:16:35 +0000

We recently returned to LG Corporation’s Seoul Headquarters to reimagine this iconic postmodern building for the 21st-century workplace. For the latest issue of Korea’s SPACE magazine, author Jung Yoonchun caught up with SOM Project Manager Dal-Ho Lee and Jeong Woongab of Junglim Architecture for a conversation on how the renovation honors the 1986 design while meeting today’s needs. Upon its completion, these headquarters became one of South Korea’s first large-scale, modern workplaces, setting a precedent for future office development in Seoul. Nearly 40 years later, the renovation transforms the building’s base and plaza to create a more flexible and wellness-focused campus hub.
Our design introduces a greater sense of openness throughout the complex—by simplifying the structural lattice and opening sightlines within the building, we’ve transformed the lower levels into a welcoming, multifunctional space. At its heart is a dramatic new opening and sculptural staircase that links the first and lower floors, while offering inviting spaces for gathering—with integrated seating, landscaping, and warm finishes. The campus refresh also includes new paving, plantings, fountains, and rock gardens outside the main entrance, reshaping the plaza into a vibrant public space. See the article and learn more about the project below.

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