Introduction: The Mystery of 532 Market and SOM’s Modernist Imprint

In the world of postwar Modernist architecture, few names carry the prestige and design legacy of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). Known for their pioneering integration of engineering and architecture, SOM helped shape the skylines of major global cities—from New York and Chicago to London, Sydney, and San Francisco. While a building identified as “532 Market” constructed in 1959 by SOM has yet to be verified in contemporary architectural registries, the mere proposition opens a valuable window into SOM’s enduring influence on Modernist residential architecture.

This article examines the historical role of SOM in mid-century design along San Francisco’s Market Street corridor, the principles underpinning their approach to residential Modernism, and technical elements they employed during that era. By understanding the design vocabulary and innovations SOM popularized, architects, builders, and informed homeowners alike can draw inspiration for both restoration and new construction, even when exact historical precedents like “532 Market” may remain unconfirmed.

Historical Context: SOM and Postwar Modernism in San Francisco

At the close of World War II, American cities experienced a dramatic transformation. San Francisco, with its dynamic urban center and seismic vulnerabilities, became a laboratory for testing the limits of modern engineering and aesthetic clarity. SOM, embracing the International Style, brought a distinctly forward-thinking vision to its projects.

The firm’s work along the Market Street corridor—exemplified by the adaptive reuse of The Strand Theater and office towers like the Alcoa Building (1968)—reflects their command of material honesty, structural innovation, and community-centered urbanism. Whether commercial or civic, their buildings embodied rationalism, daylight optimization, and urban integration, setting the stage for residential experimentation.

Core Design Principles of SOM Mid-Century Residential Architecture

While San Francisco historically limited high-rise residential construction near Market Street, across North America SOM used the following tenets in dozens of now-classic residential projects:

• Structural Clarity: Exposed steel frames and reinforced concrete skeletons articulate the building’s system, revealing structure as an aesthetic expression.
• Minimal Ornamentation: Exterior surfaces emphasized rhythm, proportion, and the honest use of standardized materials—especially glass, aluminum, and concrete panels.
• Fenestration and Daylight: Ribbon windows or floor-to-ceiling glazing—hallmarks of SOM designs—ensured natural light could penetrate deep into living spaces.
• Column-Free Interiors: Structural innovation allowed for open-plan apartments adaptable to a wide variety of lifestyles and spatial needs.
• Built-In Living: Modernist residences often featured integrated cabinetry, sliding walls, and flexible programmatic zones designed for utility and elegance.

Technical Strategies: Building for Resilience and Comfort

During the postwar decades, SOM worked at the intersection of engineering realism and domestic aspiration. Their residential buildings incorporated:

• Seismic Considerations: Particularly in earthquake-prone contexts like California and Japan, SOM introduced shear wall cores and sophisticated load transfer designs to exceed the era’s safety codes.
• Curtain Wall Systems: Technologies borrowed from commercial towers (e.g., unitized aluminum-glass modules) were adapted for luxury apartments and condominiums, creating sleek, thermally efficient skins.
• Cross-Ventilation Solutions: Operable windows and thoughtful unit orientation ensured natural ventilation—a critical feature long before passive design re-emerged as a green imperative.
• Prefabricated Components: Many kitchen and bathroom elements were modular, reflecting the era’s push for repeatable quality and efficient labor.

Case Study 1: 1000 Lake Shore Plaza – Chicago, 1954

One of SOM’s most famous early residential towers, 1000 Lake Shore Plaza in Chicago, demonstrates the firm’s high-rise residential approach. The 1954 structure is notable for:

• Steel Frame Construction: Allowing column-free interiors that set a precedent for apartment living.
• Curated Interiors: Designed in collaboration with furniture designers, creating cohesive and livable Modernist environments.
• Efficient Planning: Units incorporated logical layouts with defined public and private spatial zones—key for long-term livability.

Although Chicago differs climatically and culturally from San Francisco, many technical and aesthetic strategies are transferable to the West Coast context.

Case Study 2: The Strand, San Francisco – Adaptive Reuse by SOM

While not residential in function, SOM’s renovation of The Strand Theater exemplifies their commitment to urban revitalization through Modernist strategies. Originally built in 1917, it was reimagined in 2015 as a performance space for the American Conservatory Theater. Key architectural moves included:

• Reinforcement of Historic Superstructure: Original masonry walls were stabilized and re-clad internally to accommodate modern use.
• New Shear Walls and Bracing: Essential for meeting contemporary seismic codes without compromising the original aesthetic.
• Light-Filled Interiors: Central atrium and transparent skin elements opened the formerly enclosed space to the urban streetfront.

Although the project is civic, it signals how historic structures—even hypothetical ones like “532 Market”—can be renewed through SOM’s twin priorities of performance and beauty.

Comparative SOM Residential Projects (Global Influence)

Here are key residential projects worldwide where SOM extended its Modernist legacy:

Practical Takeaways for Architects and Homeowners

Whether you’re restoring a mid-century home or designing a new residence inspired by the Modernist canon, SOM’s design methodology provides guiding principles:

• Daylighting is fundamental: Prioritize window placement, façade permeability, and site orientation to support natural illumination.
• Structure should speak: Don’t hide the engineering. Use exposed beams, expressed joints, and honest materials wherever possible.
• Design for adaptability: Think about how your space may serve multiple residential functions across decades—from growing families to aging-in-place strategies.
• Urban integration adds value: Consider how your architecture interfaces with the neighborhood context. Transparency, rhythm, and scale matter as much outside as inside.

Conclusion: Reframing 532 Market and Remembering the SOM Legacy

Though a definitive 1959 residential SOM project at 532 Market Street remains unverified, its conceptual value still resonates. It stands not as a lost gem, but as a lens through which to understand what SOM accomplished—and continues to accomplish—in residential architecture. Their principles of openness, resilience, and expressive minimalism offer architects and homeowners today a toolkit to build thoughtful, enduring homes.

In an era increasingly shaped by technology, sustainability, and density, revisiting the lessons of SOM’s Modernist tradition can inform design that’s not only efficient but emotionally and structurally profound.