thing oneTrek Bicycle recently announced the opening of “Thing One,” an all-new design center in Waterloo, WI. The 20,000 sq. ft. studio is the new home for 55 designers working in environmental, retail, and industrial design alongside interactive, packaging, product graphic, and visual design teams. Also within the Thing One environment is a photo studio, retail merchandising areas, fabrication shop, and a pro barista to keep the troops caffeinated.

“Today, best-in-class function is no longer enough to make best-in-class products,” noted Trek President, John Burke. “Shape, form, color, and presentation are integral to making products that can be global leaders. This new design center is Trek’s commitment to leading the future of cycling.”

Formerly warehouse space within Trek’s world headquarters, the design spaces making up Thing One were opened in the fall of 2008, with final resources and finishing touches recently completed. By February 2009, Thing One will be completely powered by renewable energy from a combination of wind and hydroelectric sources.