Under Armour Opens Footware R&D Facility In Portland At Former YMCA
Not all tech is information-oriented. Recently Under Armour opened its newest R&D facility — a center for performance innovation, the company calls it — in Portland, which is bringing its footwear design and development under one roof. It is a tech center for improving the company's shoes.
The facility, the Under Armour Portland office, or UA PDX, is home to company design, development and innovation employees, about 100 in all, who are tasked with creating Under Armour's next generation of basketball, running, training, golf, sportstyle and outdoor footwear.
The 70K SF property is in Southwest Portland, adjacent to the recently refurbished Duniway Park, and at the site of a former YMCA facility. It will include a biomechanics lab and performance training center for athlete testing.
"Footwear is a key driver of our long-term growth," Under Armour Senior Vice President for Footwear Peter Ruppe said. "UA PDX represents a leap forward towards creating footwear designed to make athletes better."
Under Armour has begun to establish roots in the Portland community beyond the UA PDX facility. The company recently played a role in refurbishing and updating the sports fields, running tracks and trails at Lents Park and Duniway Park in Downtown Portland.
