Sporting equipment company Scott Sports has completed a new headquarters building after three years of construction. The structure highlights several sustainable elements to help align with the company’s core values; green design features include a weather-adjusting smart glass facade, modular office spaces for employees and climate-regulating ceiling panels.
The project relied on materials like wood, metal and glass that are long-lasting and recyclable plus high-tech features. The exterior of the building is clad in micro-perforated aluminum, which is an homage to the company’s first manufactured product — an aluminum ski pole.
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The upper portion of the facade is designed to react automatically to weather conditions, making adjustments according to the sun’s intensity using 880 distinct, mechanically controlled motors. The innovative shading feature helps save energy by relying on the natural light to heat or cool the building instead of artificial systems. The ground floor facade uses modular, tinted electrochromic glass to change the window opacity and regulate temperatures. The combination of smart glass and micro-perforated aluminum gives the building a modern, futuristic vibe from the outside.
Inside, a single control system is installed for regulating heat, ventilation and acoustics. According to the architects, the Scott Sport headquarters building is the first in Europe with such a system. The interior central atrium is made up of vertical, thin pieces of wood to honor the company’s historic connection to skiing. Modular offices allow for simple and sustainable modifications depending on employee needs and preferences. The building has enough room to accommodate 600 employees.
Located in Givisiez, Switzerland, the building was designed by an award-winning local architecture practice, Itten+Brechbühl. The project has already accrued two awards, the 2017 Arc-Award BIM Gold in the Collaboration category and the Prix Bilan de l’Immobilier 2020 in the Administrative Building category.
Images via Simon Ricklin, Faruk Pinjo and Philipp Zinniker via Itten+Brechbühl AG
Written by Katherine Gallagher
