With its cantilevered top floor, the LeBron James Innovation Center is an attention grabber; its boldness is a spectacle of Nike’s sport-research capabilities. On that floor, the Nike Sport Research Lab (NSRL) is reborn, housing the world’s largest motion-capture installation (400 cameras), 97 force plates, body-mapping equipment and so much more.
In the words of Matthew Nurse, PhD, VP of the Nike Explore Team Sport Research Lab, “The NSRL is the epicenter of where we work with athletes of all abilities, all backgrounds, all skills, and all sports.”
Within the LeBron James Innovation Center, the NSRL positions Nike for future decades of game-changing products and experiences for all athletes.
By the Numbers
84,000
square feet dedicated to sport research400
motion-capture cameras in the NSRL97
force plates in the NSRL Fieldhouse825
pieces of testing equipment in the NSRL4
environmental chambers80+
new prototyping machines
Facilities include a full-size basketball court, a 200-meter endurance track, a 100-meter straightaway, and an artificial-turf training pitch — all in service of capturing athletes in motion at full speed. Along with the force plates and motion-capture equipment mentioned above, a series of four advanced climate chambers mimic a variety of conditions. These advancements support an expansion of research and development that encompasses both mental and physical well-being.
Asked what it means to have Nike’s Innovation Center named after him, LeBron James stated, “Over the course of my career and my time here at Nike, for all of this to come together is surreal. Sometimes it doesn’t make sense to me, but I’m definitely honored. Having my name on the Innovation building feels very fitting because I’m always trying to figure out ways I can continue to innovate and continue to break the timeline of what they say is your prime.”
Sustainability Snapshot
908
solar panels on the roof100%
renewable electricity40%
less water thanks to water-efficient fixtures21,210
lbs of Nike Grind used to create the NSRL flooring
