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Does Amazon’s ‘Helix’ Reflect the Shape of the Post-Pandemic Office?

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...e?srnd=citylab

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- On the same day that Amazon founder and erstwhile wealthiest human on earth Jeff Bezos gave notice that he is stepping down as chief executive, the company revealed another big twist: plans for a 350-foot-tall tower shaped like a conch shell that will serve as the spiraling centerpiece of its HQ2 office complex. Dubbed the Helix and designed by architecture firm NBBJ, the gleaming glass structure will anchor the e-commerce giant’s second headquarters in the suburbs outside Washington, D.C. The Helix stands on an 11-acre development within the broader campus in Arlington, Virginia, that Amazon is rebranding as National Landing. --- Inside, the building will feature meeting spaces and indoor gardens; on the outside, exterior pathways converge at the top of the spire, offering employees and weekend visitors the opportunity to scale a simulated Blue Ridge peak. While the “biophilic” double-helix design is striking, in the context of the ongoing economic fallout of the pandemic, the mere fact that the company is launching an office development of this scale makes it an epic undertaking. “The Helix is a very special building that represents Amazon’s commitment long-term,” says Dale Alberda, architect and principal at NBBJ.

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