After years of planning, tough decisions, and construction work, the first phase of Amazon’s second headquarters (HQ2) opened for business in Arlington, VA in June 2023. The massive development, which now serves as the workplace for thousands of employees, was first announced more than six years ago. Quite a bit has happened in the intervening time.
A Brief History of HQ2
Amazon first announced that it would be building a new headquarters in 2017. The company had primarily operated out of Seattle since its 1994 founding. After a long search in which dozens of cities of North America submitted proposals in an effort to court the tech giant, Amazon chose to split the new headquarters between New York and Northern Virginia in late 2018. In early 2019, Amazon pulled out of New York amid pushback from opponents of the project. The Virginia project was split into two phases and construction began in January 2020.
The Metropolitan Park Facility
Clark Construction oversaw the first phase of the HQ2 project, Metropolitan Park in Arlington. This facility consists of two 22-story office buildings that account for more than two million square feet of office space. That includes 65,000 feet of street-level retail, a half-mile of protected bike lanes, and new and renovated public spaces. With green buildings in mind, the buildings feature green roofs, greywater and heat exchange systems, and electrical vehicle charging stations.
The ground floor of each tower is open to the public, who can shop at the more immense space dedicated to local small businesses. There are multiple meeting centers, including a 700-person event space available to the community.
The Surrounding Area
However, Metropolitan Park is far more than just a couple of office buildings. It includes a 2.5-acre public space, which is home to a dog park, recreation areas, 175 native trees and plantings, and weekend farmers markets. Members of the community can visit the area to stroll down the walking paths, view the public art, admire the children’s garden, or enjoy the play area.
Amazon’s HQ2 at Metropolitan Park now employs more than 8,000 employees with the capability of taking that number as high as 14,000. Meanwhile, it has provided both outdoor and retail space to the people of Arlington.
At Construction Protection Systems, we are proud to have played a small part in the development of Amazon’s Metropolitan Park construction. Stay tuned for more updates from the makers of 1-2-3 Door Shield—the original, reusable door protection system.