Tennis legend Serena Williams says she is “so grateful” to be honored by Nike, after the sports company unveiled an office building in her name at its world headquarters in Oregon on Wednesday.
In an Instagram post, Williams described the honor as childhood dream.
“When I was just a kid I visited the @nike campus and I saw that athletes get buildings! After that visit, I knew I wanted two things; to be a Nike athlete and to have a building,” she said. “it is beyond an honor and giving me chill bumps. I am so grateful to Nike and the Nike team.”
According to Nike, the Serena Williams building is now the largest office space on campus, spreading across one million square feet — the equivalent of 140 full-size tennis courts — and is where the Nike Consumer creation teams have access to many lab spaces.
The infrastructure includes 140,000 square feet of showrooms and work spaces, a footwear library, a color lab and the two-story, 140-seat Olympia Theater, named after Serena’s daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.
“The whole building takes your breath away,” Williams said in the Nike press release. “Every element, everywhere you go, is an opportunity to be inspired. I hope this building encourages people to bring out the best of themselves and to dream bigger than they thought possible.”
Williams joins a few other women who have buildings dedicated in their name, including Olympian Joan Benoit Samuelson and Olympic gold medalist soccer player Mia Hamm.
“Can you believe it? I have a BUILDING Y’ALL!!! This is CRAZY!!!,” Williams said.
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