Seattle-based technology company Amazon recently announced the highly anticipated opening of its second headquarters in Crystal City, Va. Currently referred to as Metropolitan Park, the campus includes two buildings rising 22 stories each and incorporates more than 2 million square feet of new office space in Arlington, Va.

While the company’s second headquarters development intends to house 25,000 workers by 2030, it will welcome only about 8,000 Amazon employees initially. The site opened its doors to the first wave of office occupants in late May during a soft opening that was accompanied by an assortment of “first look” images released by the company. The two buildings, nicknamed Jasper and Merlin, mark phase one of the larger Amazon HQ2 project in Virginia and were built by Clark Construction.

Notably, Metropolitan Park is LEED Platinum-certified and incorporates features such as recycled gray water systems for irrigation, native trees, and locally sourced plants. Likewise, landscaping was designed with sustainable integration in mind and features more than 175 native trees and plantings.

The North Tower (Jasper) is located at 1400 S. Eads St. as its primary address and incorporates roughly 926,500 square feet, which includes nearly 27,880 square feet of retail space. The building also features floor plates ranging from about 9,400 to roughly 32,500 square feet, as well as more than 800 spaces in subterranean parking structures.

Meanwhile, the larger South Tower (Merlin) rises 22 stories above 15th Street South and encompasses more than 1,267,200 square feet, of which about 41,670 square feet is retail. Parking capacity here includes more than 1,100 spaces and floor plates range between roughly 12,970 and 84,650 square feet.

“I’m thrilled to see Amazon’s Metropolitan Park opening and Amazon’s unwavering commitment to our community,” said Kate Bates, president and CEO of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. “From the beginning, Amazon has translated their promises into tangible actions. By including local retailers and prioritizing opportunities for women- and minority-owned businesses, Amazon is not only stimulating the local economy, but also fostering diversity and inclusivity within the retail industry.”

Metropolitan Park prides itself on its close connection with the neighborhood and the wider community, which contributed feedback that was integrated in the final design. In fact, the more than 60,000 square feet of retail space brings together 14 locally owned small businesses. Plans also call for a new, 2.5-acre public open space that features recreation areas, a dog park, walking paths, and a home for seasonal weekend farmers’ markets, as well as public art installations, a children’s garden, and a play area.

Meanwhile, employee amenities and perks include: terraced rooftop gardens with scenic views of Arlington, the Potomac River, and Washington, D.C.; eight on-site quick-service food stalls and cafes; 290 electric vehicle charging stations; more than 600 bike racks; two bike repair and wash stations; a half-mile of new, protected bike lanes; safe pedestrian walkways for employees walking to work and commuting via the Metro; as well as commuter benefits, like monthly transportation subsidies for transit cards, bikes, and rideshare to stimulate and encourage the use of public transportation and non-motorized commute options.

“This project is extraordinary in many respects,” said Arlington County Board Chair, Christian Dorsey. “It will bring us significantly closer to fulfilling the community’s vision of Arlington and National Landing as an urban neighborhood with a better balance of office, residential and retail development; more and better public spaces; and more and better access for pedestrians and cyclists.”

In November 2018, Amazon and Virginia officials announced that the tech giant had chosen National Landing as the home for one of its split second headquarters plan. The other was originally announced to be a 4-million-square-foot development in Queens, N.Y., but, by the end of 2019, Amazon had moved on from that option following strong pushback from the local community.

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