The project encompasses approximately 3.3 million square feet on three city blocks, including three 37-story high-rise office towers, a mid-rise office building, a multi-purpose meeting center that seats 2,000 people, and the landmark The Spheres. To reflect Amazon’s community-focused culture, the design seeks to build a neighbourhood rather than a campus, with emphasis given to ground-level amenities open to the public and to diversity in building character.

For instance, ground-level retail on each street front, sheltered pedestrian arcades and public art create a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood in an urban area formerly dominated by surface parking lots. The design also includes a public dog park, a two-way cycle track on 7th Avenue, with dedicated entrances for bicycle commuters immediately adjacent to the main lobbies, and tower curtain-wall systems that extend upward to screen the rooftop mechanical equipment.

The Spheres

The centrepiece of the new Amazon headquarters is The Spheres: a multi-story, glass-enclosed workplace containing tens of thousands of plants and trees from around the world. As exposure to nature is proven to put people at ease and help them think more creatively, The Spheres are designed to help Amazon employees feel and work their best and are open to the public on weekends. LITEFLAM XT 90 contributed to the Architects vision and use of natural light.

Application: Interior, 1.5 hr fire-rated glass floor.
Year Completed: 2016