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Wicked Blue

(5,830 posts)
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 11:28 AM Feb 2021

Amazon unveils 22-story Helix building as heart of HQ2 campus in Arlington

Washington Post
By Fredrick Kunkle
Feb. 2, 2021

Amazon unveiled plans Tuesday to build a 22-story, futuristic building modeled after a double helix to serve as the centerpiece of its Arlington, Va., headquarters.

In artists’ renderings, the 350-foot-tall building — designed by the architectural firm NBBJ to reflect nature’s fondness for the helix in areas from DNA to the Milky Way galaxy — climbs above its National Landing neighborhood like the swirl on an ice cream cone or the tip of a giant screw that has punched through the Earth’s surface.

Amazon officials said the structure is intended to be an alternative workspace, not a traditional office building, where employees would be able to air out ideas and find downtime beyond their cubicles. Trees dot terraces along two walkways that spiral upward, evoking the feel of a stroll through the Blue Ridge Mountains. The streetscape below, with wood-frame retail pavilions and green space, is designed to appeal to people and keep them around when the workday ends.

Company officials said they want the corporate complex to blend with the neighborhood, offering features such as a community center, an amphitheater, a dog run, new bicycle lanes and 2.5 acres of green space that would be open to anyone. The Helix would include an artists-in-residence program and on occasional weekends would open its doors to the public.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/02/02/amazon-arlingon-headquarters-helix/

One has to ask, will the bathrooms be decorated with anti-union messages? I suppose they can afford all this architectural excess on the backs of low-paid workers.

Doesn't this look like it was based on a poop emoticon?

19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Amazon unveils 22-story Helix building as heart of HQ2 campus in Arlington (Original Post) Wicked Blue Feb 2021 OP
Looks like the screw they're shoving up workers' asses... Wounded Bear Feb 2021 #1
You're right! Wicked Blue Feb 2021 #2
Amazon: "We'll screw you all" aidbo Feb 2021 #10
Good one. And boy it's ugly anyway! ananda Feb 2021 #12
Did you actually read the story? lapucelle Feb 2021 #3
Yes, did you see this one? Wicked Blue Feb 2021 #4
That's fairly typical when a workplace is trying to unionize. N/T lapucelle Feb 2021 #6
We can applaud this and still criticize their anti union stances Johnny2X2X Feb 2021 #9
I agree. N/T lapucelle Feb 2021 #15
It's Arlington arlyellowdog Feb 2021 #5
Oh, that's in the theme of the poo emoji! PirateRo Feb 2021 #7
Arlington: you pick it up arlyellowdog Feb 2021 #11
Wait...wut? OMG! PirateRo Feb 2021 #13
Uzumaki ornotna Feb 2021 #8
I love the gardens, and nature loves the helix. Hortensis Feb 2021 #14
Jobs which could have been in NYC... brooklynite Feb 2021 #16
+100 nt Wicked Blue Feb 2021 #17
I love the helical garden on the outside DavidDvorkin Feb 2021 #18
My immediate reaction is that I love it eleny Feb 2021 #19

lapucelle

(18,239 posts)
3. Did you actually read the story?
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 11:40 AM
Feb 2021
Company officials said they want the corporate complex to blend with the neighborhood, offering features such as a community center, an amphitheater, a dog run, new bicycle lanes and 2.5 acres of green space that would be open to anyone. The Helix would include an artists-in-residence program and on occasional weekends would open its doors to the public.

snip===============================================================================

The tech company, which has been criticized in Seattle as a domineering neighbor that has overlooked the side effects of growth, such as gentrification and homelessness, has taken steps to win over Northern Virginia. The company donated $9 million last year to local nonprofit organizations, including health clinics, literacy projects and groups seeking to advance the cause of racial equity.

This month, the company’s Housing Equity Fund teamed with the nonprofit Washington Housing Conservancy to purchase Crystal House, an 825-unit apartment complex, as affordable housing.


Have you read this one?

Amazon Sets $15 Minimum Wage For U.S. Employees, Including Temps

https://www.npr.org/2018/10/02/653597466/amazon-sets-15-minimum-wage-for-u-s-employees-including-temps

Johnny2X2X

(19,027 posts)
9. We can applaud this and still criticize their anti union stances
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 12:37 PM
Feb 2021

When companies like Amazon do something right, we should applaud it and praise them. Doesn't mean we stop fighting them on other issues. Amazon is building a fantastic structure here that is going to help the community, they've made an enormous effort to enrich the city with this, good for them.

PirateRo

(933 posts)
13. Wait...wut? OMG!
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 12:43 PM
Feb 2021

You’ve hit on what’s wrong with society! How did we ever get here without it! You’ve done it, you’re brilliant!

And explosive poo emoji!

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
14. I love the gardens, and nature loves the helix.
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 12:46 PM
Feb 2021

Galaxies, genetic codes, seashells, soft serve ice creams, and yes animal poop. I don’t have the mathematical knowledge to really appreciate it, but it’s an eternal magnificent, magical wonder.

I think the people who chose this design are a lot more in tune with the wonders of the universe than those who look at it and see poop. I’d like to visit someday.

DavidDvorkin

(19,473 posts)
18. I love the helical garden on the outside
Tue Feb 2, 2021, 01:52 PM
Feb 2021

A lot of workers would probably walk up that way to their office instead of taking the elevator.

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