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SOM rebuilds its digital presence to match its legacy
Code and Theory built SOM an adaptable content framework connecting projects, people, and research.
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Scalable
design
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Improved
publishing workflows
Client ProfileA legendary firm’s website didn’t match its legacy
- Client Site
- som.com (opens in a new tab)
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), a longtime architecture and engineering firm behind iconic skyline projects like the Sears Tower, had an outdated online presence that didn’t align with its reputation for design.
Agency ProfileDigital-first creative agency
Code and Theory, a WP Engine Agency Partner, built an adaptable content framework that links projects to people, research, and insights within a single CMS.
The site received a Webby Nomination in the Architecture, Art & Design category.
- Agency Site
- codeandtheory.com (opens in a new tab)
- Agency Partner
- Strategic Partner
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The ChallengeA portfolio reduced to a bare catalog
SOM’s legacy website was inflexible and difficult to manage, reducing a multifaceted, research-driven design practice to a bare project catalog and requiring a shift to a faster, more contemporary platform.
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The SolutionA framework linking projects to people
Code and Theory built a flexible content structure that better connects SOM’s real-world projects with the people, research, and insights they are born from. Using WP Engine, Code and Theory engineered an experience that handles a massive library of high-resolution architectural imagery while maintaining seamless performance.
A responsive, multi-language design ensures SOM’s vision of innovation is accessible across all devices and borders. Editorial teams now use the block editor for a simple publishing interface when highlighting the firm’s creative process, from initial research to final structure.
ResultsArtistic approach to architecture
The new site has a clean, scalable content structure that improves publishing workflows for easy long-term maintainability. Its timeless design delivers high-resolution images for a smoother browsing experience, encouraging viewers to explore the firm’s projects, research, and exhibitions.
The redefined digital presence earned a Webby Award nomination for its sophisticated blend of form and function.
In practice, website development often forces a tradeoff: a powerful backend paired with a mediocre-looking frontend, or a beautiful frontend sitting on a simplistic backend. With this project, we got both: a truly robust backend and a beautiful, elegant frontend.
Principal Engineer, Code and Theory
