On Friday, July 14th, the SOM Women’s Initiative (SOMWI) hosted a reception for SOM employees and interns at the SOM-designed Alcoa Building in downtown San Francisco. Originally completed in 1967, the Alcoa Building is now known as One Maritime Plaza.
The reception, co-hosted by Allsteel, offered new staff and interns the opportunity to learn about the work of SOMWI and to hear from company leadership. SOM’s Jennifer Ward, Aaron Baumbach, and Saki Mizuguchi presented a welcome address and an overview of SOMWI. Partners Carrie Byles and Leo Chow updated the group about current and upcoming SOM projects, and goals for the future of the firm.
The SOM Women’s Initiative was established in 2011 to cultivate and promote the continued development and success of women at SOM and within the design discipline. SOMWI aims to encourage a sense of community and professional support within the firm through various mentoring programs, workshops, events, and internal networks.