Beyond parking. LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership
03/05/2021.
[Beaverton - Oregon] USA
metalocus, ELENA FIGUEROA FALCÓN
metalocus, ELENA FIGUEROA FALCÓN
With 409,000 square feet, the new LA Garage at Nike's world headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, sets up a new activity space for the sportswear giant's main complex.
More than a prototypical parking structure, the design devised by the SRG Partnership breaks the mold to create a true link between driver and pedestrian.
Space provides a dynamic opportunity for interaction, thanks to the presence of a huge covered patio in the center of the building that encourages meeting and collaboration. In turn, the movement inspires the place, integrating into its concept the culture of the brand, which is defined by promoting activity, sports, and a healthy lifestyle.
More than a prototypical parking structure, the design devised by the SRG Partnership breaks the mold to create a true link between driver and pedestrian.
Space provides a dynamic opportunity for interaction, thanks to the presence of a huge covered patio in the center of the building that encourages meeting and collaboration. In turn, the movement inspires the place, integrating into its concept the culture of the brand, which is defined by promoting activity, sports, and a healthy lifestyle.
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership. Photograph by Andrew Pogue
Site plan. LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership
Site plan. LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership
Section. LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership
Sketches. LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership
Plans. LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership
First plan. LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership
Second plan. LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership
Diagrams. LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership
Diagrams. LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership
Diagrams. LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership
Diagrams. LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership
Diagrams. LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership
Diagrams. LA Garage at Nike World Headquarters by SRG Partnership
SRG Partnership's design for the LA Garage is characterized by its sloping exterior walls, covered by perforated metal and glass, the panels of which are aligned along a diagonal grid. As if its walls were to "jump forward", the structure of the garage benefits not only the dynamism but also the natural ventilation of the building.
“Coming to the table with no preconceived ideas helped make innovation happen.”
Jeff Yrazabal, AIA, Principal-in-charge
Its pronounced entrances resemble portals that invite you to enter the heart of the construction, inside which it can efficiently house up to 1,130 vehicles. Thus, pedestrians and drivers, divided by a walkway, are led to the different levels of the garage, each one defined by a theme and identifying the color of each of the Los Angeles sports teams.
The patio is also encompassed by three illuminated glass segments that show the image of some sports icons, visible from the play area for the employees' children. As a final touch, the LA Garage provides bikes that make it easy to connect the various areas of Nike's main industrial complex.
“The concept was that rather than having a large, massive structure, we'd start to pull the structure apart into smaller scale buildings to create opportunities to penetrate the building with natural light. Doing so created all these great spaces in between. We brainstormed to find ways and moments where we could break down the scale of the building and focus on the whole aspect of movement and experience...to create something special. That opened the building up to functioning as a venue for special events, a way to create spaces that they don't have on campus right now. The result is a place where you can have hundreds of people meet, gather, and celebrate. It's an added value that the parking structure brings to the campus at a larger scale.”
Jeff Yrazabal, AIA, Principal-in-charge
Description of project by SRG Partnership
As the place in which the transition from driver to pedestrian occurs, the 409,000-square-foot LA Garage is a nexus of activity for people arriving on campus. The design breaks up the typical parking structure mass, providing opportunities for daylight and creating a “wow” space in between: a public covered courtyard carved into the center of the building that encourages chance encounters, casual gatherings and collaboration. Surrounded by three sides of backlit glass showing iconic Olympic athletes, the courtyard faces the campus daycare center. Employees and their children can experience playful elements incorporated into the design such as a slide into the courtyard, rubberized pyramids, a balance beam and a running track. Furthermore, bikes are provided in the courtyard to easily connect people in the space to the campus.
The LA Garage neither looks nor feels like a garage. Embodying the movement theme which is key to the client’s design culture, exterior walls are canted and tilted at an angle to give the elaborate building skin of perforated metal panel and glass a dynamic quality while concealing the cars within. Aligning the panels in a pattern along a diagonal grid creates a sense of leaning, making the building appear ready to spring forward. Layering of the façade elements provides both natural ventilation and adds to the garage’s dynamism. The theme of movement also inspired the site design, which integrates sports and functional program elements that celebrate interaction, activity, fitness and a healthy lifestyle.
Wayfinding is expressed in orange circulation elements for cars and people which reference the external orange massing reveals. Pronounced entrances act like portals to create a holistic experience of entering, circulating and exiting the garage. Maximizing this space housing 1,130 cars with safety and efficiency, walkways separate pedestrians from drivers and guide those on foot to the courtyard. Each level is themed with super-graphics and colors for a different Los Angeles sports team, reinforcing the overall concept and making wayfinding an easier and more memorable experience.
More information
Architects
Design team
SRG Partnership Design Team.- Jeff Yrazabal, Eric Wilcox, Rick Zieve, Aaron Pleskac, Trevor Lavoie, Marquesa Figueroa, Philip Lopez.
Collaborators
Structural Engineer.- KPFF Consulting Engineers. Electrical Engineer.- PAE Consulting Engineers. Civil Engineer.- WH Pacific. Landscape Architect.- PLACE Studio. Lighting Designer.- Luma.
Client
Builder
Hoffman Construction.
Area
409,000-square-foot.
Location
Beaverton, Oregon (USA).
Photography
Jon Schleuning, Dave Richen and Fred Gast. SRG Partnership
SRG Partnership, Inc., was founded in 1972 as the dream firm of three young and ambitious architects: Jon Schleuning, Dave Richen and Fred Gast. The three principals began their practice in the basement of the Portland Art Museum, adjacent to the outdoor sculpture court.
Their first project was the John’s Landing Master Plan, establishing precedence for SRG’s planning expertise that continues to this day. Within several years, SRG added numerous K-12 public school projects to its portfolio. These projects served to establish a niche in the education market which has today grown to include more than 40 community colleges and public and private universities.
In 2002 SRG teamed with Rick Zieve, Dennis Forsyth and Ralph Belton to start the Seattle office, which began with large-scale public projects such as Bellevue City Hall and the Washington State Capitol Building historic restoration. Today SRG is a regional practice with projects across the western United States and beyond.
Their first project was the John’s Landing Master Plan, establishing precedence for SRG’s planning expertise that continues to this day. Within several years, SRG added numerous K-12 public school projects to its portfolio. These projects served to establish a niche in the education market which has today grown to include more than 40 community colleges and public and private universities.
In 2002 SRG teamed with Rick Zieve, Dennis Forsyth and Ralph Belton to start the Seattle office, which began with large-scale public projects such as Bellevue City Hall and the Washington State Capitol Building historic restoration. Today SRG is a regional practice with projects across the western United States and beyond.
