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Special Strengths and Characteristics

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill's variety of
qualifications includes:

* an acknowledged role of leadership in the design
profession. SOM's imagination and innovation in
designing attractive and award-winning architecture is
as varied as the needs and uses of each client.

* completely integrated in-house skills in
architecture, planning, structural engineering and
systems engineering which allow a total coordination
of building components for the best functional,
economic and aesthetic results.

* expertise in the development of architectural
technology through several decades of changing client
and construction requirements. In many instances,
SOM and the constrution industry have created
technical solutions which have become construction
standards.

* extensive experience in the design of high-, mid-,
and lowrise buildings as illustrated by the
approximately 40 million square feet of office space
currently in design and construction phases
nationally.

* worldwide experience in design and engineering
solutions in response to specific cultural,
climatological and geographic demands.

* substantial experience in the analysis and
coordination of building systems for both internal and
external environments as related to energy
conservation and system efficiency.

* access to the most sophisticated computer hardware
and software currently available. SOM has been a
pioneer in the use of computer aided design techniques
to augment every phase of its architectural /
engineering practice. Applications include
architectual design, structural and mechanical
engineering, planning, contract document preparation,
interior design and graphics, scheduling, energy
analysis, and internal management functions.

* background in the economics of construction
systems and in the evaluation of construction
alternatives based on our work in both public and
private construction.

* a comprehensive and unique insurance program.
SOM has a thorough liability insurance portfolio.