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A Look Inside the Serena Williams Building at Nike World Headquarters

07.25.22 | By
A Look Inside the Serena Williams Building at Nike World Headquarters

Serena Williams is the G.O.A.T. in the tennis world and now her legacy will live on at the Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. Spanning over 1 million square feet, the Serena Williams Building is the largest structure on Nike’s campus. Portland-based Skylab captured the spirit of Serena and combined it with Nike’s heritage to create a design-led workspace for 2,750 employees.

Large office interior with high ceilings on Nike campus in Serena Williams building

Photo: Jeremy Bittermann

The building comprises four sections: an underground parking garage and loading dock; a merchandising center for prototype retails sites; design studios for multiple product categories; and a 12-story tower that houses amenities for the campus.

Large office interior with mostly white surfaces and row of skylights

Photo: Jeremy Bittermann

multi story tall atrium in Serena Williams building at Nike headquarters with giant Nike swoosh on wall

Photo: Jeremy Bittermann

Designers for each of the brands live on a single level with services stacking vertically between the different levels. The building design concept allows Nike products to go from sketch to prototype to final design to retail all under the same roof.

interior office view with wood floors and dark ceilings and slanted beams with various types of seating

Photo: Jeremy Bittermann

modern office interior with booth seating and Serena Williams murals painted on walls

Photo: Jeremy Bittermann

Throughout, Skylab created various gathering sites to accommodate any situation.

interior view of office staircase with tennis netting hanging holding tennis balls

Photo: Jeremy Bittermann

From portraits of the tennis star down to hanging nets with tennis balls, the design reminds you of Serena’s presence and talent.

large modern office space with seating and faceted ceiling

Photo: Jeremy Bittermann

modern office interior at Nike headquarters with open staircase and orange walls and art

Photo: Stephen Miller

modern office interior with man overlooking multi story atrium at Nike headquarters

Photo: Stephen Miller

dramatic open multi story staircase in Nike headquarters in Serena Williams building

Photo: Jeremy Bittermann

looking up at faceted metallic ceiling in serena williams building at nike

Photo: Stephen Miller

looking up at office ceiling with celestial star imagery with Serena Williams embedded

Photo: Stephen Miller

outdoor seating area of Serena Williams building at Nike with a few people sitting in modern chairs

Photo: Stephen Miller

The campus backs up to a wetland leading designers to work with nature to create a respectful design. Parking, loading areas, and the access road to the building are buried in order to reduce sights of cars and trucks. Green roof terraces bring nature up close for employees to benefit from biophilic design.

outdoor view of Serena Williams building at Nike with seating and rainbow in background

Photo: Jeremy Bittermann

outdoor view of wooden bridge structure on Serena Williams campus at Nike headquarters

Photo: Stephen Miller

Outdoor view of the front of the modern Serena Williams building at Nike

Photo: Jeremy Bittermann

outdoor courtyard with green plants and walkway between two buildings at Serena Williams campus at Nike

Photo: Jeremy Bittermann

exterior view of overall Serena Williams building at Nike campus with lush green gardens and tennis court

Photo: Jeremy Bittermann

exterior side view of Serena Williams building at Nike campus

Photo: Jeremy Bittermann

exterior view of Nike campus' Serena Williams building

Photo: Jeremy Bittermann

night time view of exterior of Serena Williams building at Nike headquaraters

Photo: Jeremy Bittermann

Photos by Jeremy Bittermann and Stephen Miller.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.