Seattle's New Amazon Headquarters

[RockHarbor]

Today, I was looking at a fairly distant picture of Seattle, and I saw this surprising wide, black, blocky building on the NE section of Downtown Seattle, not far from the Space Needle (where most of the new high rises are constructed). I was like: "What the heck is that?" It was almost like the black "domino" monolith in 2001.

Googling further, I realized it was Amazon's new headquarters in Seattle! I knew they were building a new headquarters there, but I never got around to Googling it, and I always pictured it more like a low-rise, spread out campus (like Microsoft). I had no idea it was going to be a satisfyingly-sharp black, sleek, striking, rectangular skyscraper fronted nicely by contrasting geodesic spheres (housing tropical gardens). How cool is that?!? It kind of reminds me of the shape of the blocky, wide Target Center in Minneapolis.

It all just makes the city of Seattle that much more beautiful, urban, and exciting. I love Amazon. What a great addition to the Emerald City.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... Jan_17.jpg

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Bf2cqVn ... _141.0.jpg

https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/ ... 2x1278.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4220/3543 ... c031_b.jpg

Can you imagine Omaha with a building like that? I'm not sure the city is ready....

Article on the 2nd Amazon Headquarters: http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/upd ... 2#stream/0

[Bob from Omaha]

Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks, nordstroms, costco, alaska airlines, boeing(yeah, I know,Chicago, but still).

Talk about on a roll...

[RockHarbor]

Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks, nordstroms, costco, alaska airlines, boeing(yeah, I know,Chicago, but still).

Talk about on a roll...

I know...Seattle sure has some big time successful businesses... Maybe all the rain makes people work harder, no golden evening sun beckoning, like in Los Angeles & Phoenix & Miami. I have a sibling that lives up in Seattle, and used to work just blocks from that new headquarters, now in a different job. Along with that same sibling, I was exposed to Seattle from a very young age before kindergarten, my relatives flying my sibling & I up there almost every summer from Omaha, an annual summer trip I counted on and cherished. Therefore, Seattle has a "good ole'" familiarity & place in my heart, almost as much as Omaha. I went to college up and tried living there, but it is just too rainy & chilly for me year round. Visiting Washington in the clear, sunny late summer was one thing, living with the grey, fog, clouds, drippy rain, cool air & moss most of the rest of the year is another. Beautiful even when grey, gorgeous setting when sunny, one of the sharpest & "with it" & sparkliest cities in the nation, but just not for me weather-wise. (Some Washingtonians get defensive if I say that. But, I'm sorry...) Anyways, love that striking & cool & exciting Seattle is even more so now, with this new headquarters. That's why architecture is so important to get right. Thats why I'm always whining about Omaha to make sure to get things right & "raise the bar."

[iamjacobm]

I will have to see if Amazon is really going through with putting the brakes on future development in Seattle. They brought it up before Seattle passed a new tax on large companies, I haven't followed up to see if it was a bluff or not.

[iamjacobm]

Ha, hit the Associated Press today it looks like.

http://www.omaha.com/news/nation/seattl ... 31600.html

Seattle leaders said Monday that they plan to repeal a tax on large companies like Amazon and Starbucks as they face mounting pressure from businesses, an about-face just a month after unanimously approving the measure to help pay for efforts to combat a growing homelessness crisis.

The quick surrender showed the power of Amazon to help rally opposition and aggressively push back on taxes at all levels of government, even in its affluent home city where the income gap is ever widening and lower-income workers are being priced out of housing. It has resulted in one of the highest homelessness rates in the U.S.

[RockHarbor]

Ha, hit the Associated Press today it looks like.

http://www.omaha.com/news/nation/seattl ... 31600.html

Seattle leaders said Monday that they plan to repeal a tax on large companies like Amazon and Starbucks as they face mounting pressure from businesses, an about-face just a month after unanimously approving the measure to help pay for efforts to combat a growing homelessness crisis.

The quick surrender showed the power of Amazon to help rally opposition and aggressively push back on taxes at all levels of government, even in its affluent home city where the income gap is ever widening and lower-income workers are being priced out of housing. It has resulted in one of the highest homelessness rates in the U.S.

Its interesting you bring this up, iamjacob. I just talked to a lady who has lived in Manhattan most of her life, and I guess the rent rates are getting so high there (because of Google, ect), that only well-paid "techies" and top execs are able to afford places now, pushing many many out. She told me that in the Chelsey section of Manhattan, she was paying $550 a month for a small apartment when 9/11 happened. (Can you believe that?? I was paying about same in suburban Phoenix at that time). She considered relocating to San Francisco, and I remarked that yes, it is big & neat & expensive, but is still no New York -- so I understood why she just couldn't leave Manhattan. She was like (in a strong NY accent): "San Francisco is a CREAM PUFF compared to New York!" Lol. This stuff is happening in several cities, including Seattle. Thanks for informing on this. ***By the way, I was just reminded about your Amazon HQ2 thread while spending time in this section tonight finally responding to the Sioux Falls thread, and DC project thread. I didnt realize that thread was yours, and I did skim it awhile back, but I had forgotten about it. I was simply surfing for a new screensaver at work, when I came across a pic of Seattle w/ the mysterious black building...***

[RockHarbor]

By the way, I'm realizing more from pictures now it is actually two black buildings that are almost twins, but are a little bit different. The spheres are more situated between the two black skyscrapers with a meeting center in the middle (a lower section jutting out, near the spheres, that has that green grass/lawn rooftop). Pretty cool design.

[buildomaha]

The Pacific Northwest has some sort of magic in their water because brands and companies that come from the region seems to catch wildfire and do AMAZING!

[RockHarbor]

The Pacific Northwest has some sort of magic in their water because brands and companies that come from the region seems to catch wildfire and do AMAZING!

I know what you mean. There's also that "Lantern Press" graphic/poster company up there that is great & successful, too. Maybe if a firm is in "Ooooh, Seattle", people think higher of it, or something? Are there harder workers under rainy skies? Who knows...

[RockHarbor]

I was Googling different webcams in different cities, and I came across this EXCELLENT pano webcam on the top of the Space Needle: https://www.spaceneedle.com/webcam/

Just had to share it. It shows what a beautiful city Seattle is, and you can see all the newest construction going on. There is a new office complex that has two boomerang-shaped buildings just NE of the Space Needle. Way cool. And, when the camera points to downtown, you can see the black Amazon boxy headquarters. And, you can see Seattle's new funky, glass, modern building right in front of the Columbia Building (the city's tallest).

[ricko]

Today, I was looking at a fairly distant picture of Seattle, and I saw this surprising wide, black, blocky building on the NE section of Downtown Seattle, not far from the Space Needle (where most of the new high rises are constructed). I was like: "What the heck is that?" It was almost like the black "domino" monolith in 2001.

Googling further, I realized it was Amazon's new headquarters in Seattle! I knew they were building a new headquarters there, but I never got around to Googling it, and I always pictured it more like a low-rise, spread out campus (like Microsoft). I had no idea it was going to be a satisfyingly-sharp black, sleek, striking, rectangular skyscraper fronted nicely by contrasting geodesic spheres (housing tropical gardens). How cool is that?!? It kind of reminds me of the shape of the blocky, wide Target Center in Minneapolis.

It all just makes the city of Seattle that much more beautiful, urban, and exciting. I love Amazon. What a great addition to the Emerald City.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... Jan_17.jpg

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Bf2cqVn ... _141.0.jpg

https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/ ... 2x1278.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4220/3543 ... c031_b.jpg

Can you imagine Omaha with a building like that? I'm not sure the city is ready....

Article on the 2nd Amazon Headquarters: http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/upd ... 2#stream/0

OK. Word on the street here (Northern Virginia suburbs of D.C.) is that Amazon, which has already built a data center adjacent to Dulles Airport, has been secretly buying up land in the same area. Many here think that NoVa has already been chosen as their second HQ. Thing is, NO ONE here wants it, and Bezos knows that, hence the secrecy. This will add 50,000 more vehicles to our ridiculously overcrowded highways. In a just world, they would have built it in a city that really needs the jobs, like Detroit, Cleveland or Buffalo-----we don't. In fact, we have a labor shortage. I live about 5 miles from the data center and I'm not looking forward to this at all.

[Louie]

What if they are just expanding the existing data center?
Though it does make sense that the richest person on earth would want to be close to the capitol.

[jessep28]

Amazon needs to be close to dense population areas of educated workers in order to accommodate their extremely high turnover rates.

The DC area makes sense. They can recruit up and down the East coast, and poach smart government workers. Then when a worker quits or is forced out due to Amazon's awful culture, they are more apt to find a replacement that is close.

[ricko]

Amazon needs to be close to dense population areas of educated workers in order to accommodate their extremely high turnover rates.

The DC area makes sense. They can recruit up and down the East coast, and poach smart government workers. Then when a worker quits or is forced out due to Amazon's awful culture, they are more apt to find a replacement that is close.

Dunno. Their current median hourly pay rate is $13.50 per hr.. I don't know where the heck they're gonna find people to work there. Smart govt. workers won't go near the place. A crappy 1 bedroom apt. anywhere near there goes for $1400 a month + utilities (bugs included). It's a great part of the country, though; mild Winters, well run, clean, solvent and responsive local governments, an educated and international population, low taxes, amazing public schools, loads of cultural amenities, great restaurant scene, lots of history, an hour from the mountains, 2 to the beaches, liberal/progressive, low crime, very gay friendly, most companies have great benefits. I can see why they would want to locate here, but I don't see them being very successful recruiting people. Now, if they bumped up the hourly pay to $20 or so, they might have some luck.

[Uffda]

Amazon needs to be close to dense population areas of educated workers in order to accommodate their extremely high turnover rates.

The DC area makes sense. They can recruit up and down the East coast, and poach smart government workers. Then when a worker quits or is forced out due to Amazon's awful culture, they are more apt to find a replacement that is close.

Dunno. Their current median hourly pay rate is $13.50 per hr.. I don't know where the heck they're gonna find people to work there. Smart govt. workers won't go near the place. A crappy 1 bedroom apt. anywhere near there goes for $1400 a month + utilities. It's a great part of the country, though; mild Winters, well run, clean, solvent and responsive local governments, an educated and international population, low taxes, amazing public schools, loads of cultural amenities, great restaurant scene, lots of history, an hour from the mountains, 2 to the beaches, liberal/progressive, low crime, very gay friendly, most companies have great benefits. I can see why they would want to locate here, but I don't see them being very successful recruiting people. Now, if they bumped up the hourly pay to $20 or so, they might have some luck.

I think the median income for Amazon includes all the people who work in their businesses... warehouse/distribution, Whole Food etc. I think I saw an article where the salaries in Seattle offices were $100,000+

[RockHarbor]

I'm kinda irritated because I saw a picture today of Seattle at a certain angle, and the Amazon Headquarters looked so big & wide and oddly out-of-scale, I felt it ruined the skyline. That, and Seattle's new wacky glass skyscraper (neat in its own way, but these new unconventional shaped skyscrapers look best in foreign cities, imo, and dont compliment US skyscrapers the best) has made me think twice how well I like the Seattle skyline anymore. (Likewise, I dont like the Charlotte & Philly skylines anymore due to a poor choice, imo.) I like Amazon. It is probably my favorite website, actually. I dont think they threaten the vibrancy & diversity of a city like Im learning Google is doing -- and other Tech giant companies. I hope not. A city should be diverse & vibrant, not all a bunch of high income techy people that go home to "artsy fartsy" units and play their CDs -- with no painters or musicians around, because they cant afford the rents anymore. Learning all this stuff, I'm really irritated. So many people dont want to work at giants like Google or Amazon or Facebook or Apple -- nor are "techy people." They still should be able to enjoy life in the city, though, and help create its unique culture. I'm hoping Amazon isnt one of those, though...

[Garrett]

I'm kinda irritated because I saw a picture today of Seattle at a certain angle, and the Amazon Headquarters looked so big & wide and oddly out-of-scale, I felt it ruined the skyline. That, and Seattle's new wacky glass skyscraper (neat in its own way, but these new unconventional shaped skyscrapers look best in foreign cities, imo, and dont compliment US skyscrapers the best) has made me think twice how well I like the Seattle skyline anymore. (Likewise, I dont like the Charlotte & Philly skylines anymore due to a poor choice, imo.) I like Amazon. It is probably my favorite website, actually. I dont think they threaten the vibrancy & diversity of a city like Im learning Google is doing -- and other Tech giant companies. I hope not. A city should be diverse & vibrant, not all a bunch of high income techy people that go home to "artsy fartsy" units and play their CDs -- with no painters or musicians around, because they cant afford the rents anymore. Learning all this stuff, I'm really irritated. So many people dont want to work at giants like Google or Amazon or Facebook or Apple -- nor are "techy people." They still should be able to enjoy life in the city, though, and help create its unique culture. I'm hoping Amazon isnt one of those, though...

Amazon is literally the epitome of all of those things haha. And its corporate culture is heck.

[RockHarbor]

I'm kinda irritated because I saw a picture today of Seattle at a certain angle, and the Amazon Headquarters looked so big & wide and oddly out-of-scale, I felt it ruined the skyline. That, and Seattle's new wacky glass skyscraper (neat in its own way, but these new unconventional shaped skyscrapers look best in foreign cities, imo, and dont compliment US skyscrapers the best) has made me think twice how well I like the Seattle skyline anymore. (Likewise, I dont like the Charlotte & Philly skylines anymore due to a poor choice, imo.) I like Amazon. It is probably my favorite website, actually. I dont think they threaten the vibrancy & diversity of a city like Im learning Google is doing -- and other Tech giant companies. I hope not. A city should be diverse & vibrant, not all a bunch of high income techy people that go home to "artsy fartsy" units and play their CDs -- with no painters or musicians around, because they cant afford the rents anymore. Learning all this stuff, I'm really irritated. So many people dont want to work at giants like Google or Amazon or Facebook or Apple -- nor are "techy people." They still should be able to enjoy life in the city, though, and help create its unique culture. I'm hoping Amazon isnt one of those, though...

Amazon is literally the epitome of all of those things haha. And its corporate culture is heck.

I do appreciate many things about Google, Amazon, Facebook, ect, but I almost wish these "tech giants" would build their headquarters & housing in the middle of the desert or jungle then, far from cities. How dare any company ruin a city's culture & vibrancy & diversity!

[Linkin5]

not all a bunch of high income techy people that go home to "artsy fartsy" units and play their CDs

Those rich techies and their new fangled cds.

[RockHarbor]

not all a bunch of high income techy people that go home to "artsy fartsy" units and play their CDs

Those rich techies and their new fangled cds.

lol. (Right. It's disgusting. I'm not against techy people or high income people or them having art on their walls & CDs. What I'm against is this: All of the artists and musicians not being able to live in the city with them. What city is EVER interesting with all techy people? What is the matter with people? Get some rent control laws in place.)

[ricko]

not all a bunch of high income techy people that go home to "artsy fartsy" units and play their CDs

Those rich techies and their new fangled cds.

lol. (Right. It's disgusting. I'm not against techy people or high income people or them having art on their walls & CDs. What I'm against is this: All of the artists and musicians not being able to live in the city with them. What city is EVER interesting with all techy people? What is the matter with people? Get some rent control laws in place.)

Some expensive metro areas (like mine) have adopted a concept known as live/work for lower-middle income people. It's a set-aside program that requires developers to include a certain percentage of rental units at a below market price. This insures that people like teachers, cops, admin assistants, etc. don't have to commute 25 miles through rush hour traffic to get to work (here, the farther away from the city, the less expensive the real estate).