‘A revolutionary, 'athletic-inspired' headquarters sporting the Adidas values’
Overall the Adidas Headquarters encompasses themed meeting spaces to express brand and image, creative pockets of working space to contain teams and breakout spaces that enhance and shape a corporate culture in line with the associated brand values.
The client facing areas were designed with a generic aesthetic as not to favour a certain brand line. However, the large showrooms dedicated to each brand were retail inspired and used as 'mock-stores' for training. Along with themed meeting rooms and functional facilities built around employee’s needs, the overall concept of the team player and Adidas’s athletic spirit was successfully captured.
Distinct business units were compartmentalised with shared facilities such as meeting spaces, utilities and storage pods providing boundaries. Meanwhile, evenly distributed unique hotspots provided collaboration areas within the typical office space on every floor to integrate teams and increase interaction. These in-between spaces were integrated into a cohesive workplace whilst promoting a fun and exciting brand experience and journey which, in turn, leads to an office landscape with depth, volume and accents of brand identity.
The central staircase binds all levels through an iconic ‘three stripe’ lighting feature that penetrates all floors. A stunning cityscape forms the backdrop to the staircase and pantry delivering natural light, inspiring views and acting as a social hub and transitional space shared by all.
The most challenging notion was to provide a balance between the individual and the collective. It was paramount that the separation of brands should not inhibit communication or general traffic flow and the central shared facilities were easily accessible.
The rigorous briefing and design process ensured Adidas's aspirations were embodied in the workplace, both strategically and aesthetically. The design solutions that grew out of these interactive discussions with the client guaranteed a result that is unique, considered and particular to Adidas.