SportsShoes.com has started work on a 10,750 sq ft creative and tech hub called Unit 2 adjacent to its Bradford head office and warehouse facilities.
The £2.5m investment forms part of the online running shoes, running clothing and outdoor gear retailer’s ongoing strategic growth plan.
Established in 1982, SportsShoes.com offers customers more than 17,000 products from 150 global running and outdoor brands. From a running perspective these include Asics, Nike, Adidas, Hoka and New Balance whilst in terms of outdoor they include Haglöfs, Montane, Rab and Patagonia.
Unit 2, which can accommodate an additional 100 people over two floors, is being created by refurbishing an existing warehouse building. Once open, it will immediately become home to the company’s digital, marketing, commercial and management teams.
Designed by architects, building consultants and interior designers Bowman Riley, the new interior and exterior embody the SportsShoes.com brand and provide an immersive experience.
The interior concept is based on the run, gym and hike elements of the business. Running is represented by a racetrack and trainer tree for display, gym is recognised by climbing ladder references in reception and hike by bleacher seating that leads to a social space called Park Life.
Expected to be in use by the end of this year, Unit 2 incorporates collaborative workspaces, quiet working pods, a showroom, meeting rooms, boardroom, photography studio, kitchen and café.
Externally, the building is being painted black and will feature stealth lighting. New windows are also being installed that will flood the internal mezzanine with natural light.
SportsShoes.com managing director, Brett Bannister, said: “Our vision is to have a creative and tech hub that provides the very best environment for our people, brand patrons and suppliers to collaborate and enjoy.
“We are now going to make that vision a reality and deliver an outstanding facility that represents and reflects everything the SportsShoes.com brand stands for.
“Unit 2 will play a fundamental role in enabling our continued expansion. We can’t wait to start working from it and welcoming our people, brand partners, suppliers and new employees to the building.”
As Unit 2 is being created by refurbishing an existing warehouse, it significantly reduces the level of carbon emissions during the process compared to a new build unit. In addition, the building features solar panels on its roof enable the generation of its own power.
Both these initiatives form part of SportsShoes.com’s stated intention of becoming the world’s most sustainable running equipment retailer by 2025.
Bradford-based Peter Howell Facilities is undertaking the fit out whilst Cartner Property Solutions, also based in the city, is providing project management services.
