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PGA Tour Headquarters

Architect: Foster + Partners
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA
Type: Office
Year: 2021
Photographs: Chuck Choi

Bringing the entire organisation under one roof for the first time, the building offers an innovative vision for a workplace in a post-pandemic world.

The following description is courtesy of the architects. Focussing on health and wellbeing, the design blurs the boundaries between the lush landscape and the interior spaces with shaded outdoor terraces and generous amenities that embrace new ways of working and collaboration.

“On our very first visit to the site at Sawgrass, we were inspired by the quality of the landscape, the interplay of light and shade and the water. This led to our very first sketches, maximising light and views beneath a generous overhanging roof that creates shaded external terraces and plaza spaces. The building was then set amidst a ‘natural‘ lake on axis with the famous 17th green.”

Nigel Dancey, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners

Nature plays a key role in the design, which incorporates principles of biophilia – an inherent affinity for nature found in humans – that is proven to enhance staff wellbeing and improve the quality of the workplace. The focus has been on creating a rich experience throughout the building, while enhancing the connections with the surrounding landscape and flooding the building with natural light and fresh air.

The low-slung three-storied structure is nestled within the verdant landscape and surrounded by a newly created lake that defines a dramatic arrival experience. The floorplates are bisected by an atrium that runs the length of the building – the social heart of the building for company-wide events.

The atrium is lined with flexible formal and informal meeting spaces along with generous amenities for staff.

The two building bays are connected by 20-foot-wide bridges that encourage chance meetings, and allow for informal gatherings along the edges, without impeding the flow of people. A grand central stair cascading down the central atrium creates a dynamic spatial and visual flow between successive levels. Flexible workspaces are located on the wide terraces along the atrium and the far ends of the building on the upper floors to support an increasingly mobile workforce.

Looking onto the lush landscape surrounding the golf course, the western end of the building contains a new staff café and gym on the ground floor, creating a new social focus for staff.

The glazed façades and atrium fill the building with natural light, also allowing for panoramic views out to
the surrounding landscape. The building’s raised floor aims to futureproof the building with the flexibility to change internal configurations over time. The design adopts a simple and understated palette of materials that act as a backdrop to a vibrant and energetic workplace.

Continuing its fruitful partnership with the TOUR, the practice has begun work on the second phase of the
project with the design of a new digital media building that will help create an integrated campus at TPC
Sawgrass.

“The new Global Home for the PGA TOUR has been the product of a true collaboration. Working closely with the fantastic team at the TOUR, we have collectively delivered a building that will allow the TOUR to flourish and nurture its talent. It has been an incredible opportunity for us to realise a complete vision – from the overall orientation of the building to the interior finishes and detailing.”

James Barnes, Senior Partner, Foster + Partners

Project Details

• Client: PGA TOUR
• Architect: Foster + Partners
• Foster + Partners Design Team: Nigel Dancey, James Barnes, Kimberly Chew, Daniel Martinez, Henry Ng, Alessandro Ranaldi, Joe Bausano, Beau Johnson, Joem Sanez, Alan Paukman
• Collaborating Architect: Wakefield Beasley
• Structural Consultant: Atlantic Engineering Services
• Cost Consultant: Clark Construction (Construction Manager)
• Mechanical Engineers: Jordan & Skala Engineers
• Landscape Consultant: Prosser
• Lighting Engineers: Lumen
• Project Manager: RocaPoint
• Civil Consultant: Kimley Horn
• Civil Engineer: Kimley Horn
• Acoustics: Longman Lindsey
• Furniture: JAS

Fats and Figures

• Construction Start: 2016
• Completion date: 2021
• Site Area: 168.8 acres / 68 hectares
• Area (Gross): 252,168 ft² (76,860m²)
• Floor Area (Gross):
  • Ground Floor: 119,514 ft² (36,428m²)
  • Second Floor: 68,874 ft² (20,993m²)
  • Third Floor: 63,720 ft² (19,422m²)
• Number of Buildings: 1
• Number of Floors: 3
• Building Dimensions:
  • Height: 46 ft / 14m
  • Length: 400 ft / 122m
  • Width: 221 ft / 67m
• Structure:
  • Post-tensioned concrete slabs
  • Steel structure roof
  • Conventional aluminium curtain wall system on a 10ft (3m) module
• Capacity:
  • 800+ staff members
  • 150 Cellular Offices
  • 150 Collaborative Workspaces
  • 95 Meeting Rooms/Spaces
• Parking facilities:
  • Cars: 900
  • Bikes: 30
  • Golf Carts + Truck Dock
• Materials:
  • Concrete
  • Glass
  • Limited Steel Structure
  • Timber cladding to the soffit of the roof
  • Terrazzo flooring to the ground floor of the building
  • Simple palette of materials
  • Materials are locally sourced where possible.
• Facts:
  • The building has been designed to accommodate projected 2030 staffing figures to enable flexibility to expand into the building.
  • The raised floor and demountable partitioning allow for layouts and furniture configurations to change over time and adapt to the organizations change in working practice
• Facilities:
  • Large gym with showers and lockers provided in the building for all staff to access.
  • A full-service cafeteria.
  • Large on-site cafe and juice bar.
  • 70 enclosed meeting spaces of various sizes and many flexible breakout spaces.
  • Defined walking and running paths built into the landscape.
  • Parking spaces for all employees but ample and easily accessible bike parking with direct access into the gym/showers.
  • Golf cart parking for those that live nearby and to get from the HQ to the Club House (rather than driving).
  • 2 elevators set into the plan with large central stair and upgraded communicating stairs to encourage people to walk between departments.
• Landscaping:
  • The building is set within the landscape of the golf course and its height is kept low to limit its visual impact from the surrounding landscape.
  • A comprehensive Landscape Plan.
  • Darker glazing shaded by the building’s roof prevents the building appearing as a reflective mirror”.
  • Light tones to the metal cladding and the timber soffit with the reflections off the take that surround the building help blend into the natural environment.
• Sustainable features:
  • The entire golf course has a comprehensive water management strategy as the site is in a Wetland Area. Rainwater from the roof is held in the surrounding lake.
  • Significant overhang from the building roof to reduce solar load on the glazing.
  • PV Panels on the roof to generate electricity.
  • 16,660 ft2 (1548m) of solar panels
  • 13 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
  • 5 ETFE covered Skylights (three internal and two external) each measuring 53ft’ 10” (16.4m) in length.
  • LEED Gold.
  • Raised floor providing underfloor air to maximize comfort and efficiency.
• Wellbeing and user comfort:
  • Floor to ceiling glass to maximize natural daylight.
  • A large roof overhang provides shading and limits glare with internal blinds only installed in certain areas.
  • Interconnecting stairs within the bar buildings with artwork to the walls to promote the use of the stairs rather than the sole escalator.
  • Exterior terraces to provide easily accessible outside space on all floors.
• Culture & Heritage:
  • By showcasing golf’s greatest players, the PGA TOUR engages, inspires and positively impacts the fans, partners and communities worldwide.
  • Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations to maximize charitable giving.