about us: <br>founded in 1936, skidmore, owings & merrill llp (som) is one of the world’s leading architecture, urban design, engineering, and interior architecture firms. work ranges from the architectural design and engineering of individual buildings to the master planning and design of entire communities. the firm has conceived, designed, and built projects that include corporate offices; banking and financial institutions; government buildings; public and private institutions; health care facilities; religious buildings; airports; recreational and sports facilities; university buildings; and residential developments.<br><br>som shanghai was established as a wofe (wholly owned foreign enterprise) in 2003 and serves as the liaison office of 25 staff supporting projects of the principal design offices in the united states. in 2004, this presence strengthened significantly with the opening of a som studio in shanghai which assists us-based offices with smaller scale planning and conceptual design assignments. this office allows closer contact with local clients.