Nike inaugurated the Serena Williams Building

In the year in which Nike celebrates 50 years since its foundation, a few days ago it inaugurated the Serena Williams Building, the largest building ever created by the brand. A huge hub, as big as 140 tennis courts, where sport will merge with sustainability, research and innovation. Built by Portland-based architecture firm Skylab in collaboration with Mark Parker, the Serena Williams building follows the LeBron James building unveiled last autumn. A major redevelopment project for Nike, which has transformed a place that was previously almost abandoned, an old car park that few people used, into the tallest structure in Beaverton, where athletes can grow and improve their performance, but not only that, the famous tennis player has defined it more as a place to dream. 

"The whole building is breathtaking. Every element, wherever you go, is an opportunity to be inspired. I hope this building encourages people to bring out the best in themselves and dream bigger than they thought possible," says Serena Williams.

In fact, every single room has been designed with creativity in mind to encourage the entire Nike team to collaborate and think beyond, finding new ideas and new ways forward. "There's nothing quite as compelling as a little design challenge to get you going," said Chuck Eichten, Workplace and Connectivity Design Director at Nike, during the building tour. A tour that you can actually do from home, just go here to see the huge 13,000 square metre showroom, the library of materials used for trainers and more, the colour lab and finally the Olympia Theatre, a beautiful 140-seat theatre named after the tennis player's daughter.