HIGH-TECH BUBBLE OFFICE FOR AMAZON

Construction on the first phase of the 3.3 million sq ft campus has already begun, and work is set to begin soon on these striking biosphere greenhouses.

NBBJ and Amazon have been hard at work for over a year on a compelling, sustainable and publicly accessible design for the internet giant’s new headquarters in downtown Seattle.

The Design Review Board has turned down proposals numerous times, citing issues with public connectivity, overall concept and landscaping. This time around, however, NBBJ appeased the board and was rewarded with unanimous approval for the biodome office space at the centre of the three-block campus. Changes to the design include making the three domes “visually lighter, and geometrically organic and sculptural,” according to the new design proposal. The new plan calls for improved public access to the domes and a total of 18,000 square feet of retail space. They also added a 5-foot-wide cycle track on Blanchard Street that connects to the planned track for Seventh Avenue.

Amazon’s campus will consist of three 38-story high-rise office towers, two mid-rise office buildings, a multi-purpose meeting centre, a public park and the biodome flex work office and retail space at the centre. The public has expressed approval in letters to the Design Review Board about the proposed project calling it “refreshing,” “organic,” and “very human-scaled.”

There’s no word yet on when construction is expected to be completed.

Apple is another company that has unveiled out-of-this world plans for its corporate headquarters, announcing it will build a spaceship-shaped workplace in Cupertino, California.