Amazon Makes Adjustments To HQ2 Design Based On Community Input

ARLINGTON, VA — Amazon is making adjustments to the design of its planned HQ2 development in Arlington after receiving feedback from county officials and community members, the company said Thursday.

Amazon plans to make it easier for pedestrians and bicyclists to move through PenPlace site, the second phase of the company’s HQ2 development in Arlington. The company also intends to add more green space to the HQ2 area of Arlington.

The centerpiece of the second phase will be a 350-foot helix-shaped office tower that can be climbed from the outside like a mountain hike. Overall, the proposal for the second phase features 2.8 million square feet of office space in three 22-story office buildings in addition to those already under construction as part of the new headquarters’ first phase.

The updated design features include the widening of paths that cross the PenPlace site from east to west and adding a mid-block stair toward the northern boundary of the site to supplement the walkway at the base of The Helix.

Amazon also added protected bike lanes to its proposal to ensure that PenPlace connects to the local bike transit plan. Furthermore, the width of certain sidewalks where the company anticipates the heaviest pedestrian traffic will be widened.

“All of these adjustments will create more direct, wider pathways through the site and make traversing PenPlace even safer,” Amazon said in a blog post Thursday. “It will also make the public Central Green and urban forest at the center of PenPlace even more accessible for everyone to enjoy.”

The Arlington community also told Amazon it wanted even more green space and native plant species at the PenPlace site.

“In response, we’ve expanded the planted area by 5,500 square feet and reduced the amount of impermeable surfaces, such as paving. We are excited to be able to deliver 2.5 acres of public open space for everyone to enjoy at PenPlace,” the company said.

Diversity in the design of the three office towers also was a request from Arlington residents. When Crystal City was developed, most of the buildings looked the same, creating a concrete canyon look and feel.

Community members who offered input said they wanted to see each building look different and to add creativity and uniqueness to the architectural design of the HQ2 area beyond The Helix.

Based on that input, Amazon made adjustments to make each building's design. “We’ve broken up the building facades, making each base, middle, and top stand out more,” the company said. “We’ve also given each building more distinct character by making the exterior of the three structures a different color and texture, inspired by the local landscape.”

Amazon also plans to double the number of rooftop solar panels and make them part of the building profiles on the skyline. The retail pavilions in PenPlace will have roof meadows, and all building terraces will include landscaping.

In 2019, the Arlington County Board approved Amazon's development of the site, which was re-named National Landing and includes neighborhoods in Crystal City, Pentagon City and Potomac Yard.

Construction is already underway on two office towers in the Metropolitan Park section of the development as part of the HQ2 project's first phase. That area of the Arlington-based headquarters will create 2.1 million square feet of office space and about 65,000 square feet of retail space and other community features.

RELATED: Amazon Plans 'Helix' Building As Centerpiece Of Arlington Campus