Archinect - News

Skanska and BIG complete curving terracotta-colored tower in Houston

2024-02-21T11:43:00-05:00

A team led by Skanska and Bjarke Ingels Group has completed a major new office tower in Houston, Texas. Named 1550 on the Green, the 28-story tower is part of a three-block master plan by Skanska, designed by BIG, with interiors by Michael Hsu.

Image credit: Skanska USA Commercial Development, Inc.

The 375,000-square-foot tower is primarily devoted to office accommodation, with ground floor space dedicated to hospitality. Other amenities in the scheme, per the project’s official website, include a 7,000-square-foot fitness center and a 9,400-square-foot tenant-exclusive rooftop event space.

Image credit: Skanska USA Commercial Development, Inc.

Externally, the tower adopts a multi-tiered, curved structure overlooking Discovery Green park. “Vines that will eventually creep along the terracotta-colored tower are meant to help the building blend into the surrounding park,” the Houston Chronicle writes about the tower. “The building's curve allows even tenants on lower levels to view Disc...

Five terracotta and stone facades by BKSK: Your Next Employer?

2023-02-21T08:48:00-05:00

Following last week’s visit to New York City-based Andrew Franz, we are keeping our Meet Your Next Employer series in New York City this week to explore the work of BKSK Architects who are currently hiring for a Project Architect.

Founded in 1985, and directed by six partners, BKSK describes their work as “socially, contextually, and ecologically engaged.” Based in New York City, the 45+ person firm has amassed a portfolio of over 200 projects across cultural, civic, educational, institutional, and residential sectors. The firm is also responsible for the design of the Queens Botanical Garden Visitor Center, the first New York City civic building to be awarded LEED Platinum certification.

Over on Archinect Jobs, the firm is currently hiring for a Project Architect to join their office located in New York City’s Garment District. For candidates interested in applying for the position, or those interested in learning more about the firm’s work, we have rounded up five distinctive New ...

SOM reveals design for Singapore’s tallest building

2022-11-08T13:16:00-05:00

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has unveiled the design for 8 Shenton Way, set to be the tallest building in Singapore. Designed in collaboration with local firm DCA Architects, the 1,000-foot-tall, 63-story mixed-use tower is described as an “indoor-outdoor vertical community with public spaces, offices, retail, a hotel, and luxury residences.”

The building’s predominately glazed façade is clad with a blend of terracotta and bamboo, while the building form is fragmented by setbacks holding roof terraces and curving bay windows on most floors. Seven terraces are included in the scheme, with one serving a hotel and three serving residential floors.

Inside, the tower’s “live, work, and play” offering includes offices, retail, a hotel, and luxury residential units. At ground level, the project addresses the street through retail units and a public performance and events space, while on the second floor, an open-air green space accommodates r...