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.
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."
"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 building, featuring plantings you may find on a hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia," the statement continues.
The second phase of this proposal could break ground as early as 2022 and complete construction by 2025 if the approval process goes as planned.
23 Comments
Mmmkay!
Found on twitter:
Poop emoji
tduds, who on twitter did you see post that? If it was the same person I saw, they worked at NBBJ when the spheres were being designed and I think even had a hand in refining the structural expression and overall design ... which makes this take all the better. I don't know if they were the ones to photoshop it, but I did see them post it.
Seems like its going around but here's the tweet I saw: https://twitter.com/andrewheumann/status/1356647863477018632
Swirling? More like swirly.
Rhino/GH was a mistake.
Say what you want, but NBBJ has the market cornered on architecture that looks like other things. Ranging from this poop emoji, to the new knee-high boot tower in Seattle, to Bezos' Balls, and of course the Longaberger Basket building ... they are leaving their mark on the world.
skid mark
The less stylish tech companies love them - Amazon and NVidia in particular.
I had no idea the Longaberger Basket was by NBBJ! Amazing
They are the Duck of Duck vs Decorated Shed
oh yes tduds. My favorite thing about it is that it is clad in EIFS so it's basically a styrofoam cooler. Also the handles are heated so ice doesn't build up on them in the winter.
Tatlin's Tower? Sitka Alaska has Russia America.
I don't know why, but I've been drawn to this thing ever since first year. There's your helix.
The spirally building distracts you from how bad the other three towers look. Why does every office building nowadays have to have at least 4 different curtainwall patterns?
Its an easier way to design a tower than to do it simply but elegantly.
It also bothers me that the amenities in the spiral are isolated from the workers in the towers. It's the same mistake made in Seattle with the Spheres. Other architects like Roche-Dinkeloo have done much better integrations of offices and garden space.
Drainage works well but erosion might be an issue.
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