PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY
“In a way this project is like the culmination of a career spent pursuing authenticity – in architecture, in systems, in materials,” Tom Kundig continues, “I’ve always felt the basis of architecture is function-driven with a poetic finish. The physicality and athleticism you see in this building is something I’ve been exploring throughout my career at a variety of scales.”The firm’s design cohesiveness is also on display in the interior design choices, which are deliberately rough and simple — concrete walls that have signs of construction work, plywood tables that become work benches — underscoring the research’s practical nature. The overall design of neutral tones is warmed up through powerfully communicative, motivational graphics, referring to Nike’s history and that of “King James” (in the public spaces). Research, top performance, athleticism. And LeBron James Innovation Center also embraces sustainability. It is the second-largest LEED-NC v2009 Platinum building on the West Coast, with sustainability strategies including passive ventilation, daytime lighting through the central atrium and a photovoltaic system, in addition to the use of local materials and water-saving mechanisms. 120 | IFDM
INNOVATION CENTER
Beaverton, USA
