Under Armour
Global Headquarters

• LEED v4 Platinum Certification
• Targeted to be Net Zero energy operations (EUI of 0 vs. a standard building EUI of 65)
• Top 1% of building performance nationally, measured by Energy Use Intensity (EUI)
• Embodied carbon reductions in line with UA 2050 net zero goals
• WELL Building Standard

MASS TIMBER

With an eye toward its 2050 goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions, Under Armour decided to use mass timber instead of steel to lower the project’s embodied carbon. The chosen structural material served as a baseline that would elevate the impact of many of the building’s other sustainable design features. To pursue mass timber explorations, Gensler partnered with structural engineer Thornton Tomasetti and brought a manufacturer on board to ensure a smooth process. Supporting Under Armour’s decision to pursue a mass timber building was how well the material aligned with the athletic apparel and footwear company’s brand, which revolves around authenticity.

GEOTHERMAL HEATING AND COOLING

While the PV panels are on center stage, other sustainable design elements are hard at work underground. The main building uses geothermal heating and cooling systems to keep day-to-day operations on-campus comfortable, significantly reducing its energy footprint and capitalizing on both state and federal incentives available for using the strategy. Additionally, the HVAC system, with enhanced filtration and indoor air quality monitoring, boasts 100% energy recovery.

PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELING

Since their invention, photovoltaic panels (used to generate energy from the sun) have had a significant drawback: their appearance. As the technology developed however, these panels have become slimmer, with increased power output capabilities. Our project team took advantage of newer, nimbler panels to incorporate the photovoltaic array into a curved canopy structure. With elegant bends and twists, the array becomes an ode to the idea of performance itself, both in terms of form and function.

RAINWATER HARVESTING

The photovoltaic system joins forces with a series of strategically placed sunshades to reduce the building’s energy usage (studied and modeled in partnership with Interface Engineering), and even aids with rainwater harvesting to support the surrounding landscapes. Enough rainwater is expected to fall on the roof annually to meet 100% of the project’s flushing water needs — a high percentage of its water consumption. The system also helps to protect local waterways by reducing the pressure on the storm drainage infrastructure.

BIOPHILIA

Whereas traditional designs call for concrete columns that are subsequently covered in drywall and then painted, mass timber designs like Under Armour tend to expose the structure and embrace the material’s natural beauty and wood tones. As companies increasingly focus on enhancing employee well-being via workplace design, mass timber’s utility and quality will only increase its value. Educational moments are sprinkled throughout the exterior landscape, illuminating the area’s natural character as well as the community’s story. The landscape design prioritizes the campus’s walkability, with pedestrian connections set within the bioretention plantings. Providing employees with easy, everyday access to green space and natural light was key to the project’s pursuit of the WELL Building Standard.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE LANDSCAPE DESIGN

For Under Armour, it was critical for the project’s sustainable and resilient mindset to extend beyond its four walls. Because the site had been an industrial shipping yard for more than 100 years, its original contours became flattened, and native species crowded out. Seeking to reclaim Port Covington’s natural landscape, the Gensler team, along with its landscape architect partner Nelson Byrd Woltz, has introduced berms, bioswales, and rain gardens for on-site stormwater management. The selected plantings, including grasses, perennials, and woodlands, are native to the area, ushering in a long overdue recalibration. To shore up the project against anticipated sea level rise, the main building itself is elevated 17 feet.