Williams shared her childhood dream to own a building at Nike in an Instagram posting Wednesday.
To her 14.6 million followers, she wrote: “When I was a child, I visited Nike’s campus and I saw that athletes get building.” “After that visit, it was clear to me that I wanted to be a Nike athlete as well as a building.
She shared her opinion that owning a building is “a great honor,” and said she felt chills seeing the results of her “blood sweat, many tears, many trophies.”
“Can you believe it? “I have a BUILDING, Y’ALL!” This is crazy !!!” She concluded.
The Serena Williams Building is the largest building on Nike’s campus. It also includes a 140-seat theater named for her daughter, Olympia.
According to Nike, the company’s design, insights and product-merchandising teams will work together in the new space. The building’s triangular structure, which is inspired by Williams’ greatness and references Nike’s wings, is a tripartite construction.
In a Nike press release, Williams said that “the whole building takes you breath away.” Every element, wherever you go, offers inspiration. This building should inspire people to be their best selves and dream big.
Nike’s dedication to supporting athletes is evident in the LEED Platinum-certified Serena Williams Building.
John Hoke, Nike’s chief designer, stated in a press release that “Architecture has always been a creative catalyst” This building is Serena’s legacy of positive change, a manifestation of form following footprint.
Few female athletes are honored with buildings on campus named after them, including Mia Hamm, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in soccer, and Joan Benoit Samuelson (long-distance runner).
