This morning it was announced that Snøhetta has won a bid to design the new Banque Libano Francaise in Beirut—the firm’s first-ever commission in Lebanon. Snøhetta’s proposed skyscraper, which beat out 30 others, features a checkerboard-pattern façade. The acclaimed architecture firm, with offices in New York, San Francisco, and Oslo, is known for creating works that have a presence that resonate with their surroundings. As such, the new building will focus on both public and private inclusivity. The building’s base will be partially cut away, creating a seamless transition from street to lobby, making it easier for the structure to host public events.

Higher up in the building will be BLF’s private offices. Among the largest banks in Lebanon, BLF has just under 1,200 employees, and communication is paramount to the firm. Which is why Snøhetta carved plant-covered terraces into the roof and walls of the skyscraper. Not only will the outdoor spaces serve as a social hub for employees, but they will also be a symbol of sustainability—a prominent emblem high in the sky for all to see how stunning design can coexist with responsible building.

A plant-filled terrace.

Back in 1989, on another city by the Mediterranean Sea, Snøhetta kick-started its practice by winning a competition for the new library of Alexandria, Egypt. Since that time, the architecture firm has won several prestigious international awards, including the Mies van der Rohe European Prize for Architecture, the Aga Khan Prize, and the World Architecture Award for Best Cultural Building.