Established in 1990, Tian’An Cyber Park is the biggest industrial real estate investment company in China, providing flexible and affordable office space that allows hundreds of entrepreneurs to grow and thrive. The strategically placed park in Longgang is a multi-functional development with retail and office space, an I-MAX cinema, and headquarters for multiple corporations. SOM brought a unique architectural approach to the Longgang parcel, which is a modern 21st-century village with narrow streets defined by triangulated building mass.
The landscape is a vibrant response to urban blight, establishing a new urban destination with its amphitheater, unique kaleidoscope plaza, and pub row, while at the same time serving as a soothing harbor for the people who work there. A green core library serves the needs of high-tech industry while providing a tranquil retreat. Elaborate paving pattern reflects the buildings’ crisp geometry while blurring distinctions between the indoor and outdoor experience. The Incubator plaza hints at Tian’An’s lifelong partnership with startup entrepreneurs, serving to catalyze urban land value while stimulating the economy.
Avenida Houston
For many visitors, the George R. Brown Convention Center serves as Downtown Houston’s gateway. Ahead of hosting the Super Bowl, city officials sought to transform the convention center’s uninspiring eight-lane drop-off into a pedestrian plaza for civic enrichment, art, and leisure. SWA took on this ambitious 140,000-square-foot redesign, converting five city b...
Roche Diagnostics
As the first manufacturing facility in Asia, Roche Diagnostics hopes to set a model for future projects in the region. Located in Suzhou, a city with a strong tradition of gardening, this flagship factory will not only meet Roche’s global standard, but will be infused with the spirit of the city’s gardens, distinguishing it from a stereotypical factory. A clea...
Williams Square
For decades, Williams Square has been the walkable “living room” for Irving, Texas’s Las Colinas community. The plaza’s iconic bronze mustang sculptures, designed by artist Robert Glen, are among the state’s most iconic landscape features, speaking to the state’s identity and history.
SWA’s engagement with the plaza is longstanding, dating back to the 1...
Monet Avenue 2.0 at Victoria Gardens
A decade after completing Victoria Gardens, the owner looked to refresh the project to maintain its relevancy. SWA redesigned a three-block streetscape and plaza along Monet Avenue. The focus is on the next generation of users, with a shopping environment that highlights the social landscape and blurs the lines between retail and recreation. The design scope i...