MEDIA RELEASE PR36752
SOM Wins Beijing CBD Competition
BEIJING, Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
The Chicago and China offices of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) were named the winner of an
international design competition to expand the Beijing Central Business District (CBD). The competition was
sponsored by the Chaoyang District Government and the Beijing CBD Administration Committee. Seven teams of
the world's leading urban planners, urban designers and architects were invited to participate. Philip Enquist, FAIA,
Partner-in-Charge of Urban Design and Planning for SOM led this effort.
The SOM plan calls for the establishment of three new districts anchored by signature parks and green
boulevards. New modes of public transportation are proposed, including express commuter rail service between
the Beijing Capital International Airport, the CBD, and high speed rail service at Beijing South Station. A new
streetcar system is proposed to conveniently link all areas of the CBD. A network of small, walkable blocks is
proposed to establish a pedestrian-friendly scale for development and every street would be bicycle friendly.
The SOM plan defines new strategies for building municipal infrastructure and high performance buildings.
Implementation of the plan could reduce energy consumption within the district by 50%, reduce water consumption
by 48%, reduce landfill waste by 80%, and result in a 50% reduction in carbon emissions. Reduction in emissions
from office buildings alone would equate to a reduction of 215,000 tons of CO2 per year, which is the equivalent of
planting 14 million adult trees.
SOM's vision for the Beijing CBD provides the framework that will enable China's capital city to grow as a global
center for commerce, yet be a green and ecological setting for healthy life.
ABOUT SOM
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) is one of the leading architecture, urban planning, interior design, and
engineering firms in the world, with a 75-year reputation for design excellence and a portfolio that includes some of
the most important architectural accomplishments of the 20th and 21st centuries. Since its inception, SOM 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 more than 1,300 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. The firm maintains offices in Chicago, New
York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Brussels. For more information,
SOURCE: SOM
CONTACT: Amy Hawkinson of Skidmore,
Owings & Merrill LLP,
+1-312-360-4309,
amy.hawkinson@som.com
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