Under Armour Global Headquarters

Under Armour set bold new standards with this iconic project, showing what can happen when a leading sportswear company decides to construct a headquarters that embodies its sustainability values and celebrates a deep commitment both to its team of employees and hometown of Baltimore. Mass timber was a key contributor to its success.

The achievements are impressive. Designed to LEED v4 Platinum, WELL Platinum, net zero energy operational standards, and more, the facility also creates a workplace that feels intentional yet exceptional, supporting individual well-being and team collaboration. 

The five-story, 287,000-square-foot project also exemplifies how design teams can successfully use Type IV-C construction for commercial buildings. The hybrid structure combines glulam beams and columns and CLT panels with reinforced concrete cores for lateral resistance. The difference in movement between the mass timber and cast-in-place concrete demanded careful detailing. Architects designed connection points to accommodate the larger allowable tolerance in the concrete, mitigating the risk of installation delays.

Inside, the 30x30-foot grid forms large open spaces; the design uses a double beam system to meet loading demands. To facilitate primary MEP distribution, girders were partially dropped to keep distribution lines within the beam depth and avoid girder penetrations.  To route secondary systems such as lighting, narrow slots were fabricated into the tops of beams to permit perpendicular crossovers and avoid the need for glulam member penetrations. The wood system is left visible throughout.

Inspired by the design of international sports stadiums, the building’s prominent façade is formed using steel trusses, positioned about 15 feet from the exterior wall to create a dramatic exoskeleton with a single-layer ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) membrane. This structure is illuminated with a programmable LED lighting system that celebrates all things Baltimore—for example, glowing orange when the Orioles win and purple when the Ravens win. Because the façade behaves like a 26,000-square-foot external sail, the design required a complex system of connectors to transfer gravity and lateral loads from the steel armature back to the timber structure. 

The decision to use mass timber created construction efficiencies across the big building. Wood’s light weight allowed the use of a relatively shallow foundation system, reducing foundation costs. Efficient member detailing also simplified installation. For example, the structure contained CLT panels in only two thicknesses and glulam beams and columns in a limited number of dimensions. Panels were efficiently installed on site using a concealed fastener system that required just a 10-person crew.

Together, these and other design features helped the mass timber structure meet Under Armour’s ambitious sustainability goals, elevate their brand expression, and create an exceptional work experience for occupants. More broadly, this project helps advance the building industry by demonstrating that a brand-defining corporate headquarters can also deliver a powerful sustainability message.