[...] 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 New York Times
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.”
8 Comments
What went wrong? Did Satan's screwdriver stop working before this thing made it to the surface?
Construction cost went from $2.5 billion to $5 billion in 7 months for the helix-shaped tower? How?
Probably got pricing feedback on the huge amount of uniquely curved giant glass panels, plus all the unique structure that will support it. It's not even a big building .. the balls in Seattle also have a pretty limited floorplate.
Probably you dont do geometry optimization,triangular panels are basically flat , thats the easiest optimization to do.
Hoping for a redesign that replaces the current asinine concept.
Good luck coming from a tech company. It's giant glass and steel or their name ain't cutting edge.
this building is so ugly… please do a redesign Amazon
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