This spring, One Flagler, a waterfront office building with retail space and a public green, opened in West Palm Beach, Fla.
With design by SOM, the 25-story, 285,000-sf building’s base complements the nearby historic Beaux-Arts structure of the First Church of Christ, Scientist. The white, trellis-like frame draws inspiration from Florida’s tropical modernism.
Made of burnished, white concrete, the frame comprises a series of intersecting, staggered volumes, creating terraces at three levels. With ocean views, the three landscaped terraces include a 19,000-sf terrace atop the podium alongside a fitness center and conference area. Façade details, such as gaps between the frame’s horizontal and vertical elements and a dark metal trim around deep-set windows, create textural definition…