Amazon’s Arlington Headquarters Doubles Down on Sustainable Design
The e-commerce company announced phase 2 construction plans for the 2.8 million-square-foot three-story office complex.
Amazon has submitted its proposed development plans for the second phase of its new Arlington headquarters, revealing a heavy emphasis on sustainability both in construction and design of the three 22-story office towers that will total 2.8 million-square-feet.
In the construction of the property, Amazon is targeting LEED Platinum certification, the highest rank offered by the Green Building Council. To meet this goal, the property will have an electric central heating and cooling system that will run on 100% renewable energy provided by a solar farm in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. The sustainable features will also help Amazon achieve its goal of reaching net-zero by 2040 and Arlington’s sustainability plans as well.
The design also supports sustainability and clean living. Working with architecture firm NBBJ, the property features a helix design that incorporates gardens and trees native to the region planted around the spiral of the property—the same design of the firm’s Seattle headquarters.
The property will also feature 2.5 acres of open space for public use. The area will have a variety of uses, including an amphitheater for outdoor concerts, farmers’ markets and movies in the park; a forest grove with shaded areas and central green area. The property will also have a retail pavilion with 20,000 square feet of community space that can support educational initiatives, large community meetings, small classes and individual use.
Amazon is also focused on community integration. First, it plans to provide public walkways and pedestrian paths, and it will move all vehicle traffic under ground to encourage more pedestrian and bike traffic. The property will also feature dedicated bike entrances—for safety—and it is working with the city to implement protected bikeways on the street.
No doubt this will have a significant impact on the surrounding market. Already, Arlington has seen a surge in home sales due to the new headquarters project, and expansion in other markets will likely mean housing appreciation and new commercial investment as well.