Amazon Headquarters Phases II&III

A mid-block, landscaped courtyard forms the focal point for three office buildings on two blocks in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood. The courtyard enhances pedestrian activity and future development opportunities through building entries, lobbies and retail uses near public transportation access.

The design approach creates a diversity of architectural expression and urban form. The facades of the two buildings on the west block transition from subtle concrete textures on their street-facing sides to animated, transparent building entries and lobbies in the courtyard. An abstract landscape pattern is applied as ceramic frit to the exterior glazing system, extending the sense of landscape and recalling the marsh edge of Lake Union.

While the west block buildings define strong urban edges along the street, the east block fragments the urban edge with sheared wall planes and variegated exterior panel expression. Exposed concrete columns and concrete base recall the neighborhood's industrial history.