26 May 2020
Cool Workspaces
Verona Carpenter Architects recently realized the office design for global fashion company, Adidas, located in New York City, New York.
The Adidas New York City Office project transforms two floors of a historic 1936 New York City factory into a state of the art office, event, and showroom space. All of the iconic brand’s departments are brought together under one roof for the first time, saving significant resources by eliminating the need to rent and outfit temporary event venues. In addition to the interior architecture, the project included specifications of all furnishings as well as careful coordination of a large consultant team including audiovisual, security, information technology, and branding.
To nurture creativity and innovation the design takes inspiration from sports, speed, and creator culture. Stadium light fixtures illuminate the showroom corridors, with super-graphic wayfinding numbers recalling arena signage. The central elevator and service core is clad with corrugated metal panels, custom perforated for acoustic performance and set at the sixty-degree angle of the famous Three Stripes. The industrial language of the former factory is preserved and celebrated by up-lighting the masonry piers and exposing the high ceilings, keeping mechanical and other building systems carefully organized and coordinated. A palette of expanded metal, hot rolled steel, cast concrete, and vibrant site-specific art resonates with Adidas’ vision of authenticity and urbanity.
The public-facing programs for all teams are grouped together on one floor. Sixteen showrooms, many shared across departments, provide space to collaborate with community partners, accounts, and media. The showrooms are pulled away from the large windows, creating generous corridors that function as more than just circulation: corner seating platforms create an inspiring brainstorming space with panoramic views, and cantilevered worksurfaces allow breakout opportunities. The new event space connects to a shared roof garden and accommodates over 200 people for community and market events. Flexible furniture solutions and an industrial roll-up gate allow this public assembly space to be continuously activated, also serving as a reception area and employee lounge.
The more private programming, like employee-only workspace and strategy rooms, are grouped on the other floor. This space echoes the wayfinding and material strategy of the showroom floor, but in a more intimate setting.
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