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AMAZON CAMPUS Seattle, Washington

Long-term investment draws an industry giant

 

Developer

Vulcan Real Estate

Designers

Callison | LMN Architects | et al

Land Use Program

  • 1.8 million square feet of office space existing, more than 3 million planned

  • 11 separate buildings, including adaptive reuse of 2 historic buildings    

  • 3,000 new residential units in the district

  • 100,000 square feet of ground-level retail within Amazon's own buildings

  • Investment in the public realm — walkable streets, gathering spaces and public art — was made up front, shaping new projects

Brief

Vulcan Real Estate had been betting on Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood for years, assembling parcels, investing in the public realm and building a variety of urban housing and office projects. Amazon became a major tenant, drawn to the amenities and transit prized by its tech-savvy workers. Recently, Amazon decided to move its entire headquarters to South Lake Union, buying 1.8 million square feet of rental space and planning three new highrises while reusing historic buildings. Small blocks are punctuated with pedestrian paths and gathering spaces — a far cry from the company’s dispersed suburban locations.

Lessons for Walkability

  • Some tech employers are breaking the mold of low-slung suburban campuses in favor of amenity-rich urban settings.

  • Tech can thrive in settings that are integrated into an urban pattern and include a mix of building types and public spaces.

  • Sustained investment in urban amenities and mixed-use development can dramatically shift market conditions.

 Images courtesy NBBJ, Callison