Jeff Bezos’ Amazon has unveiled its plans for a new headquarters located in Northern Virginia. The plans shared show a master planned development unlike anything the United States has seen before both in sustainability and uniqueness. This Amazon campus will host three 22-story office buildings, a retail center, & parking for 950 bicyclers. At the center of the three office buildings will be a 350-foot building known as the Helix given its distinctive design. The Helix will be covered in plants and trees, making it blend into the nature surrounding it.
Not only will the building be covered in greenery but also, people will find plants and trees throughout the insides of all buildings on the campus. A study conducted by Harvard University’s Chan School of Public Health proves that the indoor built environment plays a critical role in the overall well-being of its customers. Through the study, it was found that buildings with more natural light, more plants, and the use of non-toxic / non-VOC systems enhanced worker cognitive function and productivity by 101%. Bezos undoubtedly wants to keep his future Northern Virginia workers happy and healthy for decades to come.
Discussion Question: Will we be seeing more environmentally-friendly master planned developments throughout the United States?
Nice job, Michael! Yes I hope plans become more sustainable from an environmental and social perspective. Ultimately, employers can influence decisions on this front. They should seek to embrace their local community, shifting from closed campus to community mentality. This was a guiding principle behind Amazon’s HQ2 according to John Schoettler, Amazon’s VP of global real estate and facilities. He said, “We believe this headquarters should be integrated into the neighborhood, not closed off, not a place for Amazon employees only.” Isolated, unsustainable corporate complexes won’t appeal to our generation’s workforce.