SOM Foundation Archive Opens

Organized chronologically and spanning almost five decades, the archive's core materials relate to work of SOM Foundation fellows, including correspondence, final reports, and publications. The archive also includes information about particular moments of the SOM Foundation, including the Charnley House and the Chicago Institute for Architecture and Urbanism under the leadership of John Whiteman and Janet Abrams, as well as a series of publication produced during that time and distributed by MIT Press.

An ongoing effort, the physical archive complements and expands the information presented digitally through the SOM Foundation website.

Complementing the work of the SOM Foundation fellows, the SOM Foundation Archive also presents a series of rotating exhibitions centered on key initiatives of the foundation. The inaugural exhibition focuses on Miró’s Chicago (also known as Miss Chicago and Moon, sun and one star), a 36-foot-tall sculpture located in Chicago’s Loop by Spanish artist Joan Miró. The sculpture was supported in part by a donation from the SOM Foundation.

“Over the last few years, the SOM Foundation has made an effort to make all the work supported since 1979 available to the public, whether digitally through its website or through public programming,” said Iker Gil, Executive Director of the SOM Foundation. “While still in its initial phase, the physical archive is a great step to continue this effort and make it available to researchers, scholars, and students.”

Visits to the SOM Foundation Archive for research purposes can be made by appointment. To arrange a visit, please contact Karen Widi: karen.widi@som.com.