CLIENTNike

SERVICESInteriors, Workplace Strategy

LOCATIONNew York, NY

SIZE150,000 sq ft

STATUSCompleted 2017

STUDIOS and Nike came together to create an iconic headquarters for an iconic brand in the heart of New York City. The one-of-a-kind experience was designed to embody “Sport, Participation, and Innovation” and it delivers. Including on-brand amenities, “freestyle” working to support their collaborative teams, and a reimagined digital showroom experience to boot.

“Our overarching idea was looking at sport through the lens of New York City. We’ve highlighted amazing New York sports moments and Nike athletes through graphics, image, illustration, color, typography, and space.”

Matthew Kneller, Director of North American Communications at Nike

Circulation path divides the triple-height specialty spaces from the work areas and smaller showrooms
Circulation path divides the triple-height specialty spaces from the work areas and smaller showrooms

New York is raw, never finished, and constantly reinventing itself.

Nike’s choice to design a new headquarters in New York City builds upon the organization’s commitment to that community and the alignment of the city with their brand. For that reason, Nike chose a raw space at 855 Sixth Avenue with an abundance of triple-height spaces that had been overlooked by other tenants, but spoke to Nike and its vision in an authentic way. STUDIOS took care to preserve the raw elements of the space, with the construction marks and all, to pull the grit of NYC into the space and act as a neutral palette allowing Nike’s iconic logos and readily recognizable products shine in the space.

From the larger-than-life Michael Jordan performing a slam dunk on the cafe wall to ceiling tiles with designs of shoe soles to the Volkswagen minibus parked in a lounge—a nod to Nike’s beginnings selling sneakers from the back of a van at track meets in the Northwest—the brand is palpable throughout the space.

Working pantry featuring a mosaic of Michael Jordan donning infamous Air Jordan sneakers
Working pantry featuring a mosaic of Michael Jordan donning infamous Air Jordan sneakers
Nike_Photo_03.jpg
Nike_Photo_03.jpg
Volkswagen minibus conference room as a nod to Nike’s beginnings
Volkswagen minibus conference room as a nod to Nike’s beginnings
Central connecting stair from reception to showrooms
Central connecting stair from reception to showrooms
Reception desk with employee headshot wall
Reception desk with employee headshot wall
Sports inspired graphic installation and nyc street art
Sports inspired graphic installation and nyc street art
Nike's street-level entry celebrating simple materials in a
Nike's street-level entry celebrating simple materials in a

Nike’s commitment to inspiring movement is supported through early strategic planning and felt throughout the NYHQ. Starting from the front door, everyone enters like an athlete into a stadium, STUDIOS designed a blackened steel staircase ‘tunnel’ leading from the austere lobby off of West 31st Street up to the triple-height regulation size basketball court. The moves don’t stop on the court, we worked with Nike’s Workplace Design + Connectivity team to create a variety of work environments and work styles to support the 180 employees. The workspace is made up of open-air lounges, library hideaways, collaboration zones, stadium seating, as well as traditional sit-stand desks, but none of them are assigned—keeping the workspace a constant buzz of energy.

Stair from lobby to reception
Stair from lobby to reception
4,000 square foot regulation court for employee pick up games or the WNBA draft
4,000 square foot regulation court for employee pick up games or the WNBA draft
Workspace: Collaboration
Workspace: Collaboration
Workspace: Support
Workspace: Support
Workspace: Library
Workspace: Library

Throughout the process, STUDIOS designed with each constituent in mind—from Nike executives to the VIP and celebrity visitors to the buyer—how they navigate their own path as well as how and where they came together. The design of this headquarters allowed Nike a unique opportunity to re-think how they showcase their products to visitors and buyers. We created a digital showroom experience that spreads across the headquarters and culminates in 4 triple height showrooms. Throughout the spaces, life-size hardware is utilized to mockup a digital version of storefront windows complete with virtual mannequins and instantly rendered product images.

Double-height digital showroom
Double-height digital showroom
Central gathering point for showrooms supporting market days and other large gatherings
Central gathering point for showrooms supporting market days and other large gatherings
12-foot-tall lit numerals label the showrooms adding to the stadium feel
12-foot-tall lit numerals label the showrooms adding to the stadium feel
Small-scale digital showroom integrated with physical products
Small-scale digital showroom integrated with physical products
90-foot sedum-planted ‘swoosh’ adorns the roof terrace in the heart of Midtown
90-foot sedum-planted ‘swoosh’ adorns the roof terrace in the heart of Midtown

PHOTOGRAPHYGarrett Rowland