The SCAPE chip is a practical implementation of a VLSI associative string processor; integrating a string of 256 identical processing elements, each comprising 37 bits of content-addressable memory, a 1-bit adder and logic for communication with other processing elements. Packing 143K transistors on a 73 mm2silicon die, with 2.5 μm p-well (two-layer metal) CMOS design rules, the SCAPE chip is packaged in a 68-pin chip carrier and, operating at 10 MHz, dissipates less than 900 mW. The paper describes the SCAPE chip architecture and floor plan in structural detail. Testability considerations, design verification and SCAPE software are discussed, and the results from recent performance simulation studies are also reported. The SCAPE chip is scheduled for fabrication, by Plessey (Caswell), in the second quarter of 1986.