Amazon HQ2 is an under-construction Amazon corporate headquarters in Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia. The scheme is an extension of the company’s headquarters in Seattle, Washington. HQ2 was revealed in September 2017, when Amazon presented proposals request to governments and economic development organizations requesting for tax breaks and other incentives to entice the corporation. Amazon revealed that it planned to spend $5 billion on construction and that HQ2 would accommodate 50,000 workers upon completion.
Amazon stated in 2018 that HQ2 would be divided into two locations, each with 25,000 workers: National Landing located in Arlington County, Virginia, and Queens, New York, Long Island City. Virginia would offer $573 million in tax breaks cash of $23 million and other incentives. New York also planned to give Amazon at least $1.525 billion tax break, $325 million cash grants and other incentives. In February 2019, Amazon forfeited the New York location after huge opposition from local grassroots organizers, politicians and the residents. The project drew criticism in multiple cities being an example of corporate welfare.
Read also: The Nairobi Western Bypass Highway Project Timeline.
Timeline.
2020.
Clark construction marked the commencement of concrete operations on the scheme’s first phase, Metropolitan Park in October. The milestone kicked off the placing of around 200,000 cubic yards of concrete, which was used to form the superstructure for the twin 22-story buildings. Four tower cranes had taken rise to support the operation with a fifth being erected later. To sustain the quantity of concrete needed in the development over the period, the team installed a concrete batch plant at a vacant area just blocks from the job. Additional concrete was also being collected from an Arlington-based plant a few miles from the site. Clark Concrete and Miller & Long Concrete were controlling concrete operations on buildings 6 and 7 & 8 respectively.
Covering 2 million square feet of sustainable office area, and additional 1 million square feet of below-grade parking and support spaces, Metropolitan Park is the biggest active construction site in the Washington, DC metropolitan market. To accommodate the project’s dynamic schedule, the Metropolitan Park team is placing almost 3,000 cubic yards of concrete each week on average. With around 300 craftworkers onsite currently, the number will continue to rise to as many as 1,200 craftworkers before the scheme tops up in Spring 2022.
April 2021.
Amazon stated that construction on Amazon HQ2, Metropolitan Park is on schedule and is expected to open in 2023. Amazon is also planning to run the new buildings on 100% renewable energy from a local solar farm. The corporation has pledged to invest $2.5 billion in the HQ2 headquarters in Arlington over the next decade, and offer jobs to around 25,000 workers.
Sept 2021.
Work continued on Metropolitan Park, the first phase of HQ2 construction, which comprises of two office structures dubbed Met Park 6 and 7/8. Construction crews were working on the 10th stories. Later in the year, work would be slated to start on the existing Metropolitan Park open arra, which apartment dwellers visits often with their dogs. It was in 2020 last year when the County Board approved plans to redevelop the space. According to Clark Construction, utility work was set to wrap up early in the month at the intersection of 15th Street S. and S. Eads Street.
Nov 2021
An updated style of PenPlace, Amazon’s forthcoming suburban DC headquarters dubbed ‘HQ2,’ was revealed by the company illustrating a series of design changes that rresulted from an eight-month feedback process from Arlington Community.
The company stated they were working to fulfil the requests of Arlingtonians that eventually will make the new development more accessible and architecturally diverse.
The update detailed changes made to the facades, material, and envelopes of all the buildings, all of which comprises of increased biophilic design constituents as seen in the updated renderings of the scheme. Amazon also stated it has added an additional 5,500 square feet of planted spaces and a new east-to-west pathway that will help users’ increased wayfinding ability.
On Metropolitan Park,the construction team had gone above the halfway mark on the concrete operations, set the timber roof on the on-site event center and started working on exterior facade installation.
In an attempt to counteract disruptions and material delays on supply chain, Clark’s teams have made an effort to order the scheme’s necessary supplies ahead of the schedule. As from April 2020, excavation and pile driving works at the site overlapped with Northern Virginia stay-at-home order. Clark gave notice to residents about its efforts and work to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including plans to offer earplugs to residents in nearby residentials.
Despite the efforts, later in May 2020, a local resident forwarded a petition to stop work at the site until the stay-at-home order would be lifted, prompting local news coverage and responses from board members of Arlington County. While work was not halted, Amazon’s team is going on to work with residents’ groups regarding noise and interference from the scheme.
Whiting-Turner is set to become the general contractor for PenPlace, the Amazon HQ2 second phase. The scheme is being reviewed by the Arlington County Site Plan Review Committee, with public hearings from the Arlington County Planning Commission and County Board.
