In August 2024, global giants Lego and Nike announced a multi-year collaboration with the slogan “sport is our game”. The two companies joined forces with a common goal: to encourage creative play and physical activity among children. However, this collaboration did not bear fruit until recently (2025), when it became something tangible for the children it is aimed at. The project consists of renovating the playground at Baoshan No. 2 Central Primary School in Shanghai, China, combining design, play and sustainability.
The design: modularity as a principle
The OLA Shanghai design studio was commissioned to carry out the project. The idea was to transfer the modularity of Lego bricks to an architectural scale. On the other hand, the 550 m2 playground is organised into areas differentiated by warm colours —reds, oranges and yellows— and incorporates clear references to the visual language of sports courts.
Lightweight, stackable blue blocks, inspired by Lego pieces, allow children to creatively configure and reconfigure their own play space, while providing clear opportunities for interaction. The design prioritises safety and offers multiple possibilities for use in a limited space.
Construction: a focus on recycled materials
In terms of the project’s execution, the flooring was made from Nike Grind, a material obtained from recycling around 280,000 pairs of trainers. This flooring offers adequate performance for the activity, but also, in line with the shared priorities of the Danish and American multinationals, incorporates a message in favour of the circular economy and sustainability. The furniture, which includes benches in the characteristic shape of Lego bricks, completes an environment consistent with the identity of both brands. This is the fiftieth playground of this type developed by Nike, whose goal is to build 100 courts with the same material, Nike Grind, throughout China by 2030.
Collaboration: a context of shared purpose
Both companies are convinced that play is fundamental to child development. This initiative in Shanghai is part of their commitment to creating spaces and experiences that encourage children to play actively and creatively.
