TVA Architects

...the staggering complexity of literally designing a city from the ground up. Robert Thompson, Principal, TVA Architects

Nike | World Headquarters slideshow image

Nike | World Headquarters

Following a national competition in 1987, TVA Architects was selected by Nike to design the growing footwear and sports apparel company’s World Headquarters.

Gaining international recognition as a model for corporate campus design, the master plan incorporated athletic fields and winding trails in between traditional office buildings. The original program called for nine buildings which could flex to speculative office space if the startup company floundered. But instead, Nike has continued to innovate and expand. Outgrowing the original campus in 1995, Nike again turned to TVA to plan and design their North Campus which focused on new ways of working and integrating sports culture throughout all aspects of their workplace environments. Incremental development of buildings and land has remained constant for more than a decade with TVA providing master planning and building design for the entire campus. Spread across 286 acres and 22 buildings, the campus is surrounded by a land berm that was formed from the earth removed to create Lake Nike, a man-made lake that sits at the center of the site.

Building programs include research and development, administration, conferencing and showrooms, and athletic venues including Olympic-size pools, rock walls, indoor and outdoor sport courts, and workout facilities, all with branded touches that embrace the history of the athlete and their sport. The design of the campus responds to the natural strengths of the site, and supports Nike in their quest to inspire human movement and competition.

Client Nike, Inc.
Location Beaverton, Oregon
Date 1991 South Campus | 2000 North Campus
Size 2.2 Million sq ft | 22 Buildings
: Robert Thompson, Pam Saftler, Richard Rapp, Susan Hargrave, Eric Li
: 1989 Nike South Campus: AIA Merit Design Award, Unbuilt Category 1990 Nike South Campus: AIA People’s Choice Award 1990 Nike South Campus: AIA Craftsmanship Award 1990 Nike South Campus: AIA Merit Design Award of Excellence 1991 Nike South Campus: Interior Magazine Corporate America Design Award 1991 Nike South Campus: Northwest Chapter AIA Regional Honor Award 1991 Nike South Campus: AIA People’s Choice Award 1991 Nike South Campus: AIA Craftsmanship Award 1991 Nike South Campus: AIA Merit Design Award of Excellence 1993 BOMA International Corporate Campus of the Year 1997 Walker Entry Guardhouse: AIA Design Award of Excellence, Unbuilt Category 2000 Mia Hamm Design Center: Portland AIA Design Award of Excellence 2000 Mia Hamm Design Center: IIDA Honor Award for Design Excellence 2000 Mia Hamm Design Center: IIDA Merit Award for Design Excellence 2000 Nike North Campus: AIA Design Award of Excellence 2000 Nike North Campus: ASID Design Award 2000 Nike North Campus: ASID Interior Honor Award 2003 Nike North Campus: AIA Northwest & Pacific Region Honor Award for Design Excellence 2008 Number 8 of America's Top 100 Sports Venues, ESPN.com

Number 8 of America's Top 100 Sports Venues, ESPN.com image

A Campus Dedicated to Sport

Far more than a collection of buildings, the Nike World Headquarters campus provides all the programmatic spaces necessary to sustain the company, from product development through sales and marketing. The buildings include work environments; conference and meeting rooms; auditoriums for public and sales staff presentations; a campus union with a cafeteria, employee store, and deli; fully-equipped athletic centers; child development centers; and conference centers.

The campus architecture seamlessly integrates with the company’s brand and corporate image and has been the backdrop for countless special events, sporting events, and feature films. Its iconic aesthetic has served to be a substantial component for Nike’s recruitment and retention efforts for both athletes and employees alike. Upon completion, the campus was recognized by BOMA as “International Corporate Campus of the Year” and named by ESPN as the eighth most important sports venue in the United States.