Designed for a staff of roughly 1,700 who are concerned with product development, this building is the newest addition to the Herzogenrauch campus of adidas, the manufacturer of sporting goods. Since 2006, this location has formed the global headquarters of the concern. The architects, kadawittfeldarchitektur, were able to convince the clients from the very outset with their competition concept of creating, in the south-east corner of the site, a counterpart to the low-rise, black volumes of the adidas Brand Centre. The new, clearly defined office complex, which seems to hover above the ground, is organized in a series of expressively angled strips about a central atrium with a thermally controlled environment. Via large areas of glazing, the facades open on to the surrounding landscape and the light-filled atrium. The latter is crossed on every level by slender bridges – the so-called “laces” – that tie the various departments together. An efficient means of circulation is thus formed without disturbing other working areas. At those points where the bridges penetrate the white and transparent inner facades, colourful “office lounges” are situated with loggias oriented to the landscape, inviting members of the staff to take a break for a moment. In this way, the design of the building stimulates interaction between employees. The requisite circulation areas merge seamlessly with communication zones, and there is an open, creative spatial environment.