SOM Achieves Sustainability Objectives through Innovative Design
Applicable Industries
- Buildings
- Cement
Applicable Functions
- Product Research & Development
Use Cases
- Building Automation & Control
- Structural Health Monitoring
Services
- System Integration
About The Customer
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) is a globally recognized architectural, urban planning, and engineering firm. Known for designing some of the world’s most technically and environmentally advanced buildings, SOM applies creativity and emerging technologies to design buildings for the future. The firm has won more design awards than any other architectural practice and is known for iconic buildings such as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the Willis Tower in Chicago. With a strong commitment to sustainability, SOM is at the forefront of creating innovative and sustainable architectural designs.
The Challenge
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), a globally recognized architectural, urban planning, and engineering firm, was tasked with designing the New United States Courthouse in Downtown Los Angeles. The challenge was to create an open and transparent public space that complied with the General Services Administration’s (GSA) 2020 sustainability objectives. The building had to incorporate numerous sustainable design features, and SOM’s structural engineering team had to devise a creative structural system that would suspend the building's perimeter above the civic plaza while maintaining the required setbacks from the street. The challenge was not only to meet these stringent requirements but also to do so in a timely manner.
The Solution
SOM's solution was to incorporate Altair OptiStruct™ into their design workflow. This software allowed the team to consider the materials used in the project and aim for designs that used fewer materials, thus reducing cost and environmental footprint. Starting from scratch, SOM improved the roof’s structural design using advanced optimization techniques in a two-phase approach. The team first used OptiStruct Topology Optimization to create design options by applying loads and constraints, generating an initial organic-like optimal load path. In the second stage, they used beam optimization to identify the best type of steel sections. This combination of OptiStruct technology and SOM’s expertise allowed the team to create the best iteration for the final design.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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