Architects: Skylab Architecture
Area: 1,000,000 ft²
Year: 2022
Photographs: Jeremy Bittermann, Stephen A. Miller
Manufacturers: Arcadia Inc., Custom Metal Contracting, Haworth, Linea Ceilings, Wall Systems
Design Director: Jeff Kovel
Project Manager: Brent Grubb
Project Directors: Robin Wilcox, Susan Barnes
Interior Architecture Lead: Nita Posada
Project Designer: Louise Foster
Architecture and Interior Design: Skylab Architecture
Signage/Wayfinding: Ambrosini Design
Specifications Consultant: M. Thrailkill
City: Beaverton
Country: United States
The Serena Williams Building at Nike World Headquarters, designed by Skylab Architecture in 2022, spans 1,000,000 ft² and accommodates 2,750 occupants. This landmark project combines regenerative site design with innovative workspace strategies to support product development from concept to completion under one roof. Its cascading green roof terraces, photovoltaic arrays, and stormwater systems integrate sustainability while fostering collaboration. The design honors Nike’s heritage, Serena Williams’ legacy, and a commitment to environmental stewardship.
The Serena Williams Building, designed by Skylab Architecture, is a landmark addition to Nike’s World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. Completed in 2022, this 1,000,000 ft² workspace is the campus’s largest structure, accommodating 2,750 occupants. The project addresses three key objectives: fostering collaboration on a grand scale, implementing regenerative design that respects the site’s natural ecosystem, and reflecting Nike’s sporting heritage and Serena Williams’ legacy in its architecture.
The building comprises four components: an underground parking garage and loading dock, a merchandising center for prototype retail spaces, integrated design studios for Nike’s product categories, and a 12-story tower with shared campus amenities. The central design concept of “flow” enables unplanned interactions among teams and seamless integration of the product development cycle from sketch to prototype to retail-ready designs within a single building.
Before its transformation, the site was a parking lot and access road adjacent to an underutilized wetland. The new design reconnects the building to nature by burying access roads and parking to reduce visual impact and employing cascading green roof terraces that overlook the wetland. A 260 kW photovoltaic array screens rooftop mechanical units, and stormwater systems channel collected water back into the wetland, enhancing ecological balance.
Outdoor spaces, including courtyards, gardens, plazas, and a sunken tennis court, foster informal interactions and recreation. Natural light permeates the interior through extensive glazing and skylights, while exposed concrete surfaces offer a raw yet functional aesthetic, emphasizing the building’s structural form. Sustainable systems, such as displacement ventilation and radiant sails, further reduce environmental impact.
The Serena Williams Building exemplifies how architecture can unite sustainability, innovation, and functionality. It sets a benchmark for workplace design by reflecting Nike’s ethos and Serena Williams’ inspirational legacy while honoring its natural surroundings.
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Project Location
Address: 15350 SW Koll Parkway, Beaverton, Oregon, 97006, United States
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
