Aspect Leads Environmental Oversight for Amazon HQ2

On February 2, 2021, Amazon announced the Phase 2 design proposal for its second headquarters, located in Arlington, Virginia, featuring a blend of sustainable architecture and public green spaces.

Aspect Leads Environmental Oversight

In partnership with Amazon and development manager Seneca Group, Aspect (and our subconsultant, Sanborn Head) is leading environmental due diligence, cleanup, environmental construction oversight, and regulatory strategy on Phase 1 (Metropolitan Park property) and Phase 2 (PenPlace property) of this project, as we have for the past several years.

Sustainable Community-Centric Design

Designed by architecture firm NBBJ, PenPlace, is a ground-up development project that will feature 2.8 million square feet of office space across three 22-story LEED platinum-certified buildings, 2.5 acres of green space accessible to the public, and a mix of restaurants, retail, and community gathering areas. Undoubtedly, the most striking HQ2 landmark will be the glass-encased Helix, a counterpart to Seattle HQ1’s Spheres, where employees can work immersed in nature. The 370,000-square-foot building will be open for public tours and will feature landscaped terrain, walking paths, and vegetation native to the region.

Amazon HQ2.jpg

Phase 1 Metropolitan Park Construction Underway

Adjacent to PenPlace, Amazon’s HQ2 Phase 1, designed by architecture firm ZGF is a development at the Metropolitan Park property that also features a 2.8-acre park, lush tree canopies, and public space. Construction at this site is currently underway and features redevelopment of vacant warehouses into two 22-story sustainable office towers and 65,000 square feet of retail and restaurant spaces. Amazon plans to add 25,000 jobs and invest $2.5 billion in Arlington over the next 10 years.

Competition and Opportunity: Panel on Affordable Housing and Contaminated Sites in Puget Sound

Just like everyone else in today's real estate market, Puget Sound housing authorities, non-profits, and entities are looking for property in a region that has become very expensive. That has resulted in stiff competition from all purchasers – private and non-profit --for developing even contaminated sites, which only adds to the already high cost of development. Into this mix, money for affordable housing is tighter and lending requirements more conservative. Conversely, outside the Puget Sound region, contamination commonly puts property values under water, leaving key land underutilized.
 
However, affordable housing success stories are happening and showing that buying and redeveloping a brownfield property can lead to homes; more productive use; a cleaner environment; jobs; and retail.  On April 20 in SeaTac, Aspect’s Dave Cook and Jessica Smith join Ken Lederman and Jacquie Quarré of Foster Pepper PLLC for a panel discussion hosted by the Association of Washington Housing Authorities (AWHA). The group will cover the potential of brownfields sites for Housing Authority entities from the regulatory, legal, and environmental perspectives and present several recent affordable housing development stories, including Rainer Court and the Mt. Baker Housing Association.  
 
Learn more about AWHA here.

A New Goal for Stormwater Management in Seattle

The City of Seattle has set a new goal for stormwater management in the city. Relying on “green” stormwater technology--including bioretention swales, rain gardens, stormwater cisterns, pervious pavements and green roofs--it is the City’s goal to manage 700 million gallons of stormwater annually with green stormwater infrastructure (GSI).

ell aligned with this initiative, Aspect’s core commitment to earth+water sustainability has been reflected in our staff’s position at the forefront of the green stormwater “revolution” in Seattle and across the West Sound. 

From the geotechnical design of Seattle streets, to GIS analysis of geologic areas to support GSI for the Rainwaise program, to the development of infiltration-specific soil parameters for the design and development of Theater Commons and Donnelly Gardens (recently certified by SITES), Aspect staff have been helping develop the framework for long-term regional sustainability. 

>> READ THE POST FROM MAYOR McGINN's BLOG HERE