Under Armour Headquarters, Baltimore | USA
The new global headquarters of Under Armour, the well-known manufacturer of sports apparel and footwear, was built in the Port of Baltimore, USA. The office space is spread across five floors. The offices are accessed via stairwells and elevators in four concrete stairwell cores. Aside from these access points and the foundation slab, the building’s entire structural framework is made of wood. The surfaces of all mass timber components in the interior, the binderholz crosslaminated timber BBS and glued laminated timber GLT remain exposed. This creates a pleasant and relaxed work environment while also underscoring Under Armour’s commitment to sustainability.
FACTS
Project Under Armour Global Headquarters
Location Baltimore, USA
Completion 2024
Architect Gensler
Main contractor The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
Client Seagate Mass Timber Inc.
Building Type: Office and retail space, and fitness center
Scope of Work: Project planning for timber construction, structural analysis, detailed design, prefabrication, and delivery of all solid wood components and associated fasteners
Use of materials binderholz glulam GLT, binderholz CLT BBS
In collaboration with Under Armour, Gensler has designed a groundbreaking corporate headquarters built entirely of cross-laminated timber (CLT BBS) and glued-laminated timber (glulam). The building meets the industry’s highest LEED and WELL Platinum standards and combines technical excellence with aesthetics to make a significant contribution to climate protection. From state-of-the-art sports facilities to a flagship store, the site has quickly become a hub for collaboration, athletic excellence, and community engagement on the Baltimore Peninsula.
A high-performance building for a high-performance brand
The project brings Under Armour’s innovative thinking to life. The facility was designed to achieve net-zero operations and become one of the most energy-efficient buildings in the country. Some of the building’s technical highlights include geothermal heating and cooling, a photovoltaic system, and a rainwater harvesting system that conserves water. The large glass facades are equipped with an optimized shading system, which can also serve as a large information display for the public. The visionary facade glows bright orange when the Orioles win and purple to celebrate the Ravens.
Efficient production and assembly were key considerations in the structural design and project planning. For example, only two different thicknesses of cross-laminated timber (CLT BBS) panels and a small number of standard glued laminated timber (glulam) dimensions were used for the columns and beams. All elements were dimensioned to meet a fire resistance rating of 90 minutes. Efficient assembly was ensured by repetitive details and the use of binderholz’s proven, in-house b_fix connector. A team of just 10 experts was responsible for the entire timber construction assembly.
All the material was transported by rail from Austria to the ports in northern Germany. From there, it was shipped to the port of Baltimore, which is just a few kilometres from the construction site. To guarantee smooth and on-time delivery, the elements were stored in a warehouse for an average of two weeks before being called off ‘just-in-time’ for the construction site.
planning period 12 months
timber construction 8 months
floors 5
building length 132,60 m
building width 101,80 m
building height 25,50 m
certification system LEED v4 Platinum Certification & WELL Building Standard
stored carbon (C) during the operational phase 1.626.246 kg ≙ 5.962.204 kg CO2e
Photos: © Connie Zhou © Withing Turner © Seagate © binderholz
Renderings: © Gensler © binderholz
