Industrial News

During the past decade Kirchmann has built a highly specialized boutique studio within the New York office of SOM that has gained an international reputation for excellence in design in a variety of project types including hotels, office buildings, civic and cultural facilities, master planning, and housing.

Creating and reinforcing client identity is a strong theme in Kirchmann's work. His international portfolio reflects an ability to understand and shape client identity in diverse high-end markets, from the cities of Europe to the growing business and resort districts found throughout Asia and the Middle East.

Kirchmann conceived and developed SOM Eurolab, a unique international design service based in New York that brings European developers, local architects, engineers, and real estate professionals together in a network that, with SOM, identifies and pursues opportunities in the region. In the Middle East, a recent focus for Kirchmann, is a group of multi-faceted design projects in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Dubai.

Kirchmann's work in Europe and the Middle East has been featured in A+U and other publications and has won awards and recognition from peers including the American Institute of Architects, Architectural Review and others. He has served on design juries in London and New York and travels regularly throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the United States. A native of South Africa, Kirchmann has lived in New York since 1997.

Recently, Mr. Kirchmann also brought his design leadership to SOM’s architecture projects for the Arcapita Headquarters, Gate Tower, Water Residences, District Residential Towers, North Tower Residences, Marina Townhouses, South Boutique Hotel, Bahrain Bay Yacht Club, and the District Retail Center, all in Manama. Elsewhere in the Middle East, Mr. Kirchmann continues to design the new Four Seasons Hotel. Other important commissions in the region include Kuwait Superblock, Hilton Mangaf Resort & Hotel, and KSB Retail Center in Kuwait; and Dubai Sun Tower and Jebel Ali Lighthouse Marina in the UAE.

Mr. Kirchmann’s work in Europe and the Middle East is attracting growing recognition in the design community. In 2006 Defense Plaza won the “Building of the Year” Award in Paris, France. In 2005, both the Dubai Sun Tower and Kuwait Superblock won American Architecture Awards from the Chicago Athenaeum. The July 2005 “Tall Buildings” issue of A + U featured Dubai Sun Tower, Kuwait Super Block, Jebel Ali Lighthouse Marina, and Site 81 Tower in Kuwait. In 2004, Dubai Sun Tower was commended for Mixed Use Design by Architectural Review. At the 2004 MIPIM in Cannes, France, the Jebel Ali Lighthouse Marina was commended in the Retail & Leisure Category.

More information about Michael D. Kirchmann can be found at his website http://www.MichaelKirchmann.com, http://NewYorkModernArchitect.com/ and http://HighRiseArchitect.com/

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