Founded in 1936 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) is one of the world’s most influential architecture and structural engineering firms with 1900+ professionals. SOM has designed some of the world’s tallest and most structurally innovative buildings including the Burj Khalifa, Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), and One World Trade Center. The firm’s structural engineering practice is globally recognized for pioneering tubular structural systems, diagrid structures, outrigger systems, and integrated facade-structure designs that redefine what is architecturally achievable. SOM’s structural engineering expertise spans commercial towers, cultural institutions, airports, and large-scale mixed-use developments.