"The Children's Museum has a deep history in the community. We had been in the same quaint location for over 50 years and had long outgrown the space. When we made our move to a more modern facility, we saw this as an opportunity to ask ourselves if we were best serving our clients. Based in Portland, we serve all of Oregon and Southwest Washington, and felt we had to address the tastes of a diverse and sophisticated audience. So, here we were, left with the charge of creating a whole new package, inside and out. And we literally tripled our size. With a new facility, a new outlook, and new vision, what was the fastest and most creative way to communicate our new image? Nike had the answer. Without the help of Nike's innovation and generosity, this project would not have succeeded. Their dedication to the community is what really drove this collaboration."

—Margaret Eickmann, Executive Director,
Children's Museum 2nd Generation (CM2)

Beginning in November 2000, a unique partnership between a group of eight Nike designers, who wanted to donate their time and creativity, and Portland's new children's museum has enabled the leading sports and fitness company to contribute its creative, architectural, and design strengths to the children and community of Portland. Nike's partnership with CM2-Children's Museum 2nd Generation began when the museum moved to a new site in Washington Park, a well-known, popular public site, across from the Oregon Zoo. Nike employees, who lived in the surrounding community, wanted to get involved in the museum's new location and identified the main facade as one of CM2's outstanding design needs. Proposing to tackle the task of designing an imaginative and inviting front entrance for the museum's young visitors, Nike's design team worked with CM2 for several months to develop a strong design that embodied the museum's mission of supporting imagination and creativity.		Concept for CM2's Main Tower (Architectural Structure) created by Nike's Design Team

The complete front facade design includes four elements—the first of which was installed in February 2003. Nike has donated the equivalent of nearly $1 million in pro bono and in-kind services and a $33,500 cash contribution to CM2 for this special project. During an 18-month design period, Nike employees on the design team, led by Mike Tiedy, Nike brand design creative director at the time, worked well beyond their usual workday hours to produce a creative, out-of-the-box image for CM2. “It has been terrific to leverage our own internal strengths and power to make a meaningful contribution to the community,” says Mary Roney, Nike global employee involvement manager.  “This project was particularly special because it was in our own backyard and it gave us an opportunity to give back directly to the surrounding community.” 

Nike also regards the level of trust and teamwork between the company and CM2 as one of the partnership's most significant accomplishments. “When we presented our creative ideas to CM2's team, they were extremely receptive—in part because we established credibility and involvement with them very early in the process,” observes Chuck Eichten, Nike design director.  “For two creative organizations to work together and broker compromises and adjustments is an enormous accomplishment that we're all very proud of.”

The partnership has also evoked a level of inspiration from the Portland community and Nike employees, particularly because of the way the company's goals dovetail with CM2's mission. “CM2 hopes to inspire children to explore, imagine and learn, and that's what our business is all about,” says Eichten.  “In our jobs at Nike, we as employees are focused on the new and the innovative, and we do a lot of exploring to get to those ideas . . . and so helping kids in our community do that through this project has meant a lot to us on a personal level.” 

“No museum can survive on earned income alone. It's through donations like this that we're able to be the world-class museum we are. To be the recipient of this creativity from a world-class talent like Nike, is an honor for our institution, and a treasure for the Northwest.”

—Margaret Eickmann, Executive Director, CM2

“This project has provided us a lot of personal benefits, and has allowed us to flex our creative muscles for the good of the Portland community . . .the CM2 project is special to us because we didn't write a blank check, we really got our own employees involved with the process.” 

—Luis Rueda, Design Director, Nike

“We shared our own talents and strengths to give to our community and I think that's why the partnership was so successful. Had we written a check for the market value of our pro bono services, the project probably wouldn't have gotten this far.”

—Mary Roney, Global Employee Involvement Manager, Nike

“The timeline of this project really allowed for CM2 to maximize its visibility and public relations efforts. Last year, CM2 had a big grand opening where we introduced a model for the proposed facade. In February 2003, installation of the first interactive sculpture gave us another opportunity to stir up interest in the community—which is fantastic for CM2.”

—Chuck Eichten, Design Director, Nike

“Look at your business and ask yourself two questions: First, what are the internal assets you have that others don't? Second, how can you use those skills to make a greater impact than by simply donating a check? A partner should really look inward to explore and identify those core competencies to use and give back through a community project.”

—Mary Roney, Global Employee Involvement Manager, Nike

“Nike's creativity is second to none, but we had to make sure the museum's mission was being honored. We couldn't be afraid to keep them focused on our clients' needs. Luckily, Nike was sensitive to our opinions. We couldn't have asked for a more compatible partner.”

—Margaret Eickmann, Executive Director, CM2

“Project management was an important key for us. You need someone to make sure all the t's are crossed and the i's are dotted, and that nothing falls through the cracks. We knew early on that we absolutely needed a project manager to do the juggling act. Fortunately for us, Steve Cruzen of Shiels Obletz Johnsen, Inc, project manager for the museum renovation, became very passionate about our design, and decided to remain past the museum opening to manage our portion of the project.  He's the reason why we have progressed this far.”

—Luis Rueda, Design Director, Nike

“Defining expectations is extremely important so that each partner knows what to expect from the beginning and where they stand at each point in the process.”

—Chuck Eichten, Design Director, Nike

For more information about Nike and CM2, visit www.nikebiz.com and www.portlandcm2.org.

Page last updated: March 2003