LEGO and NIKE team up to reimagine shanghai primary school as modular sports playground

the project by LEGO and NIKE draws inspiration from the simple geometry of the iconic 2x3 brick.

Guo Jun edited by sofia lekka angelopoulou October 7, 2025 3 min

LEGO x Nike playground draws from the 2×3 LEGO brick’s geometry

At Baoshan No. 2 Central Primary School in Shanghai, OLA Shanghai collaborated with LEGO China and NIKE to create a playground that integrates movement and creativity. The design takes inspiration from the form and logic of a simple 2×3 LEGO brick, translating its modularity into spatial and athletic functions.

Developed as part of NIKE’s Move to Zero initiative, the project aims to merge the concepts of play and physical activity. Modular elements derived from LEGO bricks are reinterpreted as adaptable structures for climbing, balancing, and exploration, encouraging children to construct their own routes and redefine how play spaces can support movement.

LEGO and NIKE team up to reimagine shanghai primary school as modular sports playground - 1 — all images courtesy of LEGO China and NIKE

Modular components reconfigure into various play structures

The design also connects to LEGO China’s Build the Change workshop, where children used LEGO bricks to express ideas about play and design. Insights from the workshop informed the project’s emphasis on open-ended interaction, allowing students to experiment, collaborate, and transform even short breaks into moments of creative movement.

Through this collaboration between companies NIKE and LEGO China, the playground becomes both a learning environment and a flexible platform for exploration, reflecting how design can support the intersection of education, sustainability, and play.

LEGO and NIKE team up to reimagine shanghai primary school as modular sports playground - 2 — the playground at Baoshan No. 2 Central Primary School redefines the relationship between play and movement

LEGO and NIKE team up to reimagine shanghai primary school as modular sports playground - 3 — OLA Shanghai designed the space in collaboration with LEGO China and NIKE

LEGO and NIKE team up to reimagine shanghai primary school as modular sports playground - 4 — modular design principles guide both the spatial layout and the play structures

lego-nike-shanghai-primary-school-modular-sports-playground-designboom-1800-2 — the design translates LEGO’s modularity into physical, scalable play experiences

LEGO and NIKE team up to reimagine shanghai primary school as modular sports playground - 5 — each element encourages climbing, balancing, and active exploration

LEGO and NIKE team up to reimagine shanghai primary school as modular sports playground - 6 — the project draws inspiration from the simple geometry of a 2×3 LEGO brick

LEGO and NIKE team up to reimagine shanghai primary school as modular sports playground - 7 — children can create their own routes and patterns of movement

LEGO and NIKE team up to reimagine shanghai primary school as modular sports playground - 8 — play and physical activity merge through flexible, open-ended structures

LEGO and NIKE team up to reimagine shanghai primary school as modular sports playground - 9 — the playground promotes experimentation and collective play

LEGO and NIKE team up to reimagine shanghai primary school as modular sports playground - 10 — open-ended interaction encourages creativity and problem-solving

LEGO and NIKE team up to reimagine shanghai primary school as modular sports playground - 11 — modular components can be rearranged to support different play activities

LEGO and NIKE team up to reimagine shanghai primary school as modular sports playground - 12 — the space adapts to both structured games and spontaneous exploration

lego-nike-shanghai-primary-school-modular-sports-playground-designboom-1800-3 — LEGO x NIKE playground serves as a model for rethinking school-based play spaces

project info:

name: LEGO x NIKE Sports as Play in Shanghai Primary School

designer: Our LEGO Agency Shanghai (In-house Agency at the LEGO Group)

workshop: Build the Change by LEGO China

program: Move to Zero by NIKE

companies: LEGO | @lego x NIKE | @nike

school: Baoshan No. 2 Central Primary School

location: Shanghai, China

head of LEGO Agency Asia: Annie Boo
creative director: Guo Jun
creative specialist: Bebe Wang
senior copywriter: Beck Deng
senior art director: Jace Wang
senior project manager: Karen Lin
project manager: Venice Choy

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.