Amazon’s Arlington Headquarters to Highlight Helix

Plans designed by architecture firm NBBJ have been submitted for Amazon’s new headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, near the United States Capitol. One of the four buildings will be shaped like a double helix and offer two walkable paths of landscaped terrain. The 350-ft.-tall tower, dubbed “The Helix,” will be the centerpiece of the PenPlace campus, which will also include three 22-story office buildings (for a total of 2.8 million sq. ft.), a 250-seat outdoor amphitheater, and public green space.

The featured building’s shape is a reference to the prevalence of said form in nature, such as in the double-helix shape of DNA. Much of the shared space, including 2.5 acres of open spaces, will be open to the public in an effort to foster a bond with the community rather than merely creating one within the culture of the company itself. The $2.5 billion Arlington HQ2 will feature native plant species incorporated into alternative workspaces within The Helix to “prioritize areas for collaboration, natural light, and a constant interaction with nature.”¹ All vehicle access will be planned for underground, further creating a pedestrian-friendly environment.

The new buildings are designed to LEED Platinum standards, the highest certification available from the United States Green Building Council. The project will also incorporate an all-electric HVAC system which will draw its power from a solar power farm in Pittsylvania County, in southern Virginia.

— Archinect, Amazon, CNN

1. Schoettler, John. 2021. “The next chapter for HQ2: sustainable buildings surrounded by nature.” https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/amazon-offices/the-next-chapter-for-hq2-sustainable-buildings-surrounded-by-nature. Accessed Feb. 4, 2021.