Zumtobel lights up Scott Sports headquarters in Givisiez, Switzerland.
Being one of the world’s successful sporting goods manufacturers, Beat Zaugg, CEO of Scott Sports, believes “peak performance” is a key concept. This reflects in the architecture of the company new headquarters with an inviting working environment where open space and light are considered real luxuries.
About the project:
The new building will be home to all Scott Sports departments, and they include the cycling, winter sports, running and motor sport departments, as well as subsidiaries of the divisions such as Syncros, Bergamont, Dolomite, Powderhorn, Bach, Lizard and Outdoor Research. When employees enter the new building, they are greeted by a spectacular atrium flooded with light, which is accessed via an impressive flight of steps that flows from the entrance and via a curved wall to the auditorium.
Public areas are accessed via this lobby.The ground floor includes the cafeteria and restaurant, as well as the showroom and a view of the grounds, where newly developed bikes are tested. On the four upper floors, employees will find open-plan office space and separate focus rooms, all intended to offer future generations the perfect working environment, too.
Employees can also use the bike garages, fitness facilities and lockers. "I believe that it's important for our employees to be able to benefit from an infrastructure that allows them to play sport, meet or simply relax", says Zaugg. The company intends to employ up to 600 employees in its new headquarters. The aim was to offer employees a stimulating environment, along with state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology.
About the architecture:
The new building's external façade is aluminium and is a direct reference to the Scott Sport's first product: a ski pole in the same material. The high-tech base façade and the dynamic awning, which opens and closes depending on the weather, are also remarkable. There's a hidden analogy here, too: "Scott Sports is a dynamic company that has grown considerably in recent years. We wanted to show that in the façade as well", explains architect Tima Kamberi from IttenBrechbühl.
The wooden slats on the atrium walls are also particularly interesting and also allude to the company's connection with skiing. The word "ski" comes from Norwegian and simply means "split piece of wood". Here, this creates an effect that emphasises the spaciousness of the rooms. The main challenge for Zumtobel is to integrate the technical lighting in the structure and blending it visually into the architecture. The Austrian luminaire manufacturer has hence found a suitable customised lighting solution for the task.
About Zumtobel:
Zumtobel, a company of the Zumtobel Group, is an internationally leading supplier of integral lighting solutions for professional indoor and outdoor building lighting applications. For 70 years, Zumtobel has been developing innovative, custom lighting solutions that meet stringent requirements in terms of ergonomics, economic efficiency and environmental compatibility and also delivers aesthetic added value to its customers.
