Serena Williams Building at Nike World Headquarters
The Serena Williams Building is the largest structure at Nike World Headquarters at more than 1 million square feet. The building establishes new links to the existing campus through restored wetlands, public plazas, and view corridors.
The architecture was inspired by Nike’s heritage while providing innovative workspaces enabling designers to continue to imagine and deliver the future of sport. Anchored by a ten-story tower, the building marks the epicenter of campus for this visionary company.
Sustainable design features of this LEED platinum building include energy efficient mechanical systems, photovoltaic panels on the roofs, a rainwater capture and reuse system, regional and recycled materials, FSC certified wood products, and individual building occupant controls of their environments.
Serena Williams, the ultimate phenom/warrior/muse, is personified in the building’s narrative via the samurai armor-inspired exterior and abstracted wing of the goddess Nike evident in the tripartite massing.
Fun fact: The three wings of the building connected by the main tower are named Phenom, Warrior and Muse!
The building consists of four programmatic components:
An underground parking garage and loading dock;
A merchandising center for prototype retail spaces;
Integrated design studios for multiple product categories;
A 12-story tower with shared amenities for the whole campus.
Ongoing additions, art/branding installations, and concepts are part of design intent; future creative iterations are supported through original interior design. The tower combines two intertwined volumes, a nod to the company-forming handshake between the two founders of Nike (Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight).
Schedule
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM - Networking and Appetizers
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM - Presentation with Questions to follow
Speaker: Susan Barnes, Principal, Skylab Architecture
Susan joined the firm in 2012 and is the Director of Architecture. She brings her prior experience working on museums and integrated lab design to Skylab’s portfolio of custom residential, multi-family, snow-country hospitality, and creative office clients. She was the Project Director of Skylab's Nike World Headquarters’ Serena Williams Building, ensuring that each key stakeholder is heard and respected while finding solutions to maintain a refined, detailed design concept. As the Director of Architecture, she is passionate about timeless yet inspired architecture and detailing, sustainable use of quality materials, and making activated accessible spaces. Susan graduated from the University of Michigan with a Master of Architecture degree.
Photo Credit:
Jeremy Bittermann, bittermannphotography.com (Instagram: jeremybittermann)
Stephen Miller, stephenmillerphoto.com (Instagram: studio13pdx)