Archinect - News

First phase of Amazon HQ2 has been completed in Arlington, VA

2023-06-21T11:51:00-04:00

Phase 1 of the Amazon HQ2 has been completed in Arlington, VA, which includes the newly-created Met Park and rooftop terraces designed by James Corner Field Operations. The park is part of a broader $2.5 billion headquarters featuring buildings by NBBJ and ZGF Architects.

Image credit: Michael Zhao

According to the design team, the new Met Park “draws inspiration from the area’s natural context and reinforces the trend reshaping our cities with green infrastructure and pedestrian networks.” Over 50,000 plants and 160 native species are contained in the park, alongside public art commissions by Nekisha Durrett, Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, and Aurora Robson.

Image credit: Michael Zhao

In addition to the park, over two acres of landscaped roof terraces have been created within the Phase 1 buildings of Amazon’s headquarters, which were designed by ZGF. Features within the rooftop terraces include rocky outcrops, gardens, an urban farm, and “p...

Amazon hits the brakes on its new HQ2 headquarters project (for now)

2023-03-03T17:06:00-05:00

[...] the company’s decision made public on Friday to pause plans in Virginia — about four years after Amazon pulled out of its campus in New York — is the latest reminder that the tech industry’s long boom has slowed. [...] The pause will affect PenPlace, the second and larger stage, which would build a mix of office towers, open space and a signature, spiraling glass building Amazon calls the Helix.

The move comes after Amazon reported its first unprofitable year since 2014. The helix-shaped, $2.5 billion biophilia-lined PenPlace design had only been greenlit in August and is contracted to NBBJ. Amazon had said its construction would cost another $5 billion. The company began cutting some 18,000 workers beginning in January. Former CEO Jeff Bezos’ net worth, meanwhile, is still growing by a reported $2.25 billion per week.

“Our second headquarters has always been a multiyear project, and we remain committed to Arlington, Virginia, and the greater Capital Region — which includes investing in affordable housing, funding computer science education in schools across the region, and supporting dozens of local nonprofits,” Amazon Global Real Estate and Facilities VP John Schoettler said in a statement. “We appreciate the support of all our partners and neighbors, and look forward to continuing to work together in the years ahead.”

New Amazon HQ2 gets green light from Arlington County officials

2022-04-27T14:31:00-04:00

Amazon will begin transforming an undeveloped swath of Arlington County into the largest piece of its second corporate headquarters [...] County lawmakers on Saturday unanimously endorsed the expansion of Amazon’s footprint at the 10.4 acre site in Pentagon City, known as PenPlace. Plans include three corporate office buildings, retail pavilions, a futuristic glass Helix, a child-care facility and about 2.75 acres of open space.

Designs for the second phase of Amazon's $2.5 billion Arlington HQ2 campus, including its much-debated tree-covered and helix-shaped centerpiece tower, first appeared on Archinect in February 2021. Updated designs were released by the company and its architect NBBJ later that year.

Previously on Archinect: Amazon updates design for its $2.5 billion headquarters project in Arlington, Virginia

Amazon updates design for its $2.5 billion headquarters project in Arlington, Virginia

2021-11-10T12:25:00-05:00

An updated version of PenPlace, Amazon’s forthcoming suburban DC headquarters dubbed ‘HQ2,’ has been released by the company showcasing a series of design changes that were the result of an eight-month feedback process from the local community in Arlington, Virginia.

The company said they were working to meet the requests of Arlingtonians that will eventually make the new buildings more accessible and architecturally diverse.

Rendering by NBBJ

“We appreciate the ideas and have made changes to enhance the overall connectivity of the site,” an Amazon statement read. “We also incorporated additional sustainable elements and more greenery into the design, and diversified the architecture within PenPlace. These updates make the entire project even better, benefitting our neighbors and all those that will visit HQ2.”

Rendering by NBBJ

The statement detailed changes made to the facades, material, and envelopes of all three buildings, all of which will feature increased biophilic design eleme...

Amazon HQ2 to feature a tree-covered swirling glass tower, 'The Helix'

2021-02-02T16:10:00-05:00

Amazon has unveiled the latest design plans for the second phase of its $2.5 billion Arlington HQ2 campus. The proposal for the PenPlace site includes three 22-story office towers, several smaller buildings, a 250-seat outdoor amphitheater, public green space, and a fourth 350-foot swirling glass tower as the development's centerpiece.

Dubbed The Helix, the tree-covered structure utilizes a similar 'biophilia' concept as the company's The Spheres HQ in Seattle — both designed by NBBJ.

Image courtesy of NBBJ/Amazon.

According to this Amazon project statement, "the Helix at our Arlington headquarters will offer a variety of alternative work environments for Amazon employees amidst lush gardens and flourishing trees native to the region."

Image courtesy of NBBJ/Amazon.

"A true double helix in shape and structure, this unique building will feature two walkable paths of landscaped terrain that will spiral up the outside of the bu...

The Heights: BIG and Leo A Daly complete terraced school building for creative learning in Arlington

2019-10-30T14:20:00-04:00

Stacked onto a compact site along Arlington's Rosslyn-Ballston corridor in Virginia, The Heights by BIG and executive architect LEO A DALY is a new 180,000 square-foot academic building that brings two existing secondary schools under one roof. The Heights is BIG's first U.S. public school — and their fourth school project to be completed within the last academic year.

The Danish firm worked with Arlington Public Schools (APS), WRAP (West Rosslyn Area Plan), and the local Arlington community on the building's design, which supports H-B Woodlawn Program's visual and performing arts-focused programs as well as the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Program's resources for students aged 11 to 22 with specialized educational needs.

Photo: Laurian Ghinitoiu.

Designed to accommodate up to 775 students, the cascading, glazed-brick building comprises five rectangular classroom "bars" that fan out from a central axis point. Above each floor is a green ter...

Amazon's HQ2 may be 2 HQs after all

2018-11-06T13:31:00-05:00

After conducting a yearlong search for a second home, Amazon has switched gears and is now finalizing plans to have a total of 50,000 employees in two locations, according to people familiar with the decision-making process. The company is nearing a deal to move to the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens [...]. Amazon is also close to a deal to move to the Crystal City area of Arlington, Va., a Washington suburb, one of the people said.

It looks like Jeff Bezos may have finally found that second home for his online empire—or make that second and third. After narrowing down the list of cities that could be potential new hosts of Amazon's HQ2 in January, the company has been tight-lipped about its final decision. Until yesterday.

These 20 cities successfully flirted their way into Amazon's inner circle, but 18 may be swiped left soon.

The NYT reports that Amazon is in final talks with not just one but two cities to share the pie that had been dangled as irresistibly lucrative carrot in front of local politicians for months now: Long Island City, New York and Crystal City/Arlington, Virginia.

Get Lectured: University of Texas at Arlington, 2016-17

2016-09-28T14:19:00-04:00

Gearing up for another eventful school year this fall? Archinect's Get Lectured is back in session. Get Lectured is an ongoing series where we feature a school's lecture series—and their snazzy posters—for the current term. Check back frequently to keep track of any upcoming lectures you don't want to miss. Mark those calendars!

Want to share your school's lecture series? Send us your school's lecture series poster and details to connect@archinect.com.

See what 2016-17 events are in store for the University of Texas at Arlington School of Architecture, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Sept 28
Burton Baldridge / Baldridge Architects, UT Austin School of Architecture

Oct 3
Dwayne Oyler / Oyler Wu Collaborative, SCI-Arc

Oct 26
reDefining the Relationship Panel Discussion
Norma Lehman (The Beck Group), Thad Reeves (A.GRUPPO), Brian Rex (South Dakota State U.)
moderated by Joshua Nason (UTA)

Nov 16
E.B. Min + Jeffrey L. Day / Min | Day, CCA - San Francisco, CA, University of Nebr...

UT Arlington approves school merger to create new College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs

2015-05-14T19:46:00-04:00

UT Arlington’s longstanding schools of Architecture and Urban and Public Affairs are in the final phase of an integration that will strengthen academic and research opportunities under the new College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs. [...] The College will incorporate six professional degree programs – urban planning, public administration, public policy, architecture, landscape architecture and interior design.

Get Lectured: University of Texas at Arlington, Spring '15

2015-01-20T13:07:00-05:00

Archinect's Architecture School Lecture Guide for Winter-Spring 2015

Archinect's Get Lectured is back in session! Get Lectured is an ongoing series where we feature a school's lecture series—and their snazzy posters—for the current term. Check back frequently to keep track of any upcoming lectures you don't want to miss.

The next featured poster comes from the University of Texas at Arlington with their upcoming 2015 lectures.

Unless otherwise noted, events will take place in the UTA Architecture Building, Room 204, located at 601 West Nedderman Drive, Arlington, TX 76019. All events are free and open to the public.

Want to share your school's lecture series? Send us your school's lecture series poster and details to connect@archinect.com.

February 25
Monica Ponce de Leon - Ann Arbor, Michigan

March 11
Javier Sanchez - Mexico City

March 16
Cliff Welch - Dallas, Texas

March 16-27
"Abstractions: Sketches, Paintings + Photography Through the Eye of an Architect"
Drawings and Paintings of Cliff Welc...