Skidmore, Owings & Merrill has designed Bio-Block Spiral, a carbon-sequestered material.

Today, most buildings worldwide are constructed from concrete, which accounts for up to "8% of the world's annual CO2 emissions," said Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

Prometheus Materials and SOM have partnered to develop a carbon-sequestering Bio-Block – a substitute for the carbon-intensive Concrete Masonry Units (CMUs) ubiquitous in modern construction.

For the first time, the public is invited to experience and interact with Bio-Block during the Chicago Architecture Biennial.

Combining nature and science, the Bio-Block addresses the climate crisis, offering new possibilities for carbon-neutral construction.

This project has been longlisted in the material innovation category of Dezeen Awards 2024.

Studio: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Project: Bio-Block Spiral
Credits: Prometheus Materials, 167 Green St, Clayco, International Masonry Institute (IMI), J&E Duff, Sherwin Williams, Cushing Co, Spec Mix, Focus Development and Walton Capital