Comments on: US Census Bureau Headquarters / SOM

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:32:41 +0000

I first drove by the building 3 weeks ago and I enjoyed the architecture. However, as I now drive by it everyday I realize that this building turned its back to the neighborhood. So many workers are there everyday it could have easily brought more development to the area and money. I was taught that a good design has a relationship to its surroundings or can at least help improve them. This was a HUGH wasted opportunity in taking a step in transforming a neighborhood. Anyone would understand this if the took photographs of the entire site. FAIL.

By: Zied

Zied — Tue, 03 May 2011 12:52:43 +0000

Right, the facade is cool and well designed, but you really look at the provided typical floor plan…..Wow, how can people work in such conditions, those cubicles in such arrangment are devastating, coz the deal is park your brain outside dude as tom peters says.

By: Erica Riva

Erica Riva — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 15:45:32 +0000

US Census Bureau Headquarters / SOM _ http://t.co/PLimfzY #architecture #photography

By: A57 - Arq. Colombia

A57 - Arq. Colombia — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:29:58 +0000

Arquizapping Maryland – Bogotá http://www.archdaily.com/35349/us-census-bureau-headquarters-som/

By: ARQmilo

ARQmilo — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:00:30 +0000

I can´t imagine how will be the facade´s elements maintenance.

By: max

max — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:41:04 +0000

Hate the wood cladding. I’m sure the people in the offices do too. Looking out at those? Come on…

By: Joel Linn

Joel Linn — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:00:01 +0000

RT @archdaily: US Census Bureau Headquarters / SOM http://bit.ly/CkNJz

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:08:55 +0000

I like the natural light resources used here.

By: SecondRate

SecondRate — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:46:16 +0000

Tom in London,
My friend worked in this building shortly after it’s completion and she said the same thing…only it was because she was working for the F*&^ing cencus bureau. Sticks or no sticks, it’s still much nicer than the box she was in prior to this and even though I’m not real excited about this project, it sure beats every other american suburban office building owned by Uncle Sam.
-SecondRate

By: budi rawakopi

budi rawakopi — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:31:26 +0000

good shading solutions

By: Tom in London

Tom in London — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:27:48 +0000

Imagine going to work here every day. I’d rather be dead.

By: robert

robert — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:46:22 +0000

how do you clean those windows?

By: tk

tk — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:38:52 +0000

standard american office park architecture. the money would have been better spent on employee health insurance.

By: Archandy

Archandy — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:18:19 +0000

“its wood-clad offices and ivy-draped parking structures, the Census Bureau blurs the distinction between the building and landscape by camouflaging both the structures and their scales”

From one or two specific viewing points outside, maybe this works, but from inside it just looks like bent jail bars. Not great symbolism for office workers.

By: Shropshire Architect

Shropshire Architect — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:07:15 +0000

I like the organic nature of the exterior, which is linked with the floor and some wall finishes.

By: Tuf-Pak

Tuf-Pak — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:28:51 +0000

Haha, That sure is a lot of sun not being shaded.

I’m stunned by how projects in the US (particularly big bureaucratic projects, both governmental and corporate) get the spirit just pounded out of them. Even when, as this project seem to project, there’s a real interest in something new.

I can imagine that the conceptual work for this project was strong…and the idea is meritorious. But the result is sort of soulless like any other “High Design” U.S. project: it’s just one with less “tech-y” aluminum and more “kicky” wood.

I’m saddened that often when architecture is discussed you have to tag on “…pretty good for an American project”.

By: oscar falcón lara

oscar falcón lara — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:43:30 +0000

I think it reflects a very corporate, governmental ideal of a work space, other than that I like the facade finish, it’s unique but I think it is a very standard 70′s big box building. If that is what they were going for than well done, if not, maybe having so many people work on a project like this is not such a good idea. I know they are a high standing respectable firm, nothing against them, it’s just that they have designed many buildings better than this one IMHO.

By: victor a.

victor a. — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:25:55 +0000

I do not remember well but i have seen this facade before in archdaily, i guess some project in Spain maybe. I thought that SOM was going to be more creative and innovative. So boring facade, too repetitive ……..

By: cm_scirocco

cm_scirocco — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:40:12 +0000

“Their size and frequency is determined by the scale of the human body; occupants can view the exterior clearly while being shielded from the sun.”

Notice how the picture below this line pretty clearly disagrees with what their saying… Never believe the hype.

By: Emerson Gámez B.

Emerson Gámez B. — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:50:16 +0000

I like.