ARLINGTON, Va. — Amazon’s HQ2 opened in May 2024 with the promise to reshape Arlington. The company also hopes to transform what a modern-day workplace looks and feels like.
Standing 22 stories tall with 2.1 million square feet of space, Amazon’s HQ2 is a world of its very own. And a workplace unlike any other.
“This is our dog wall of fame,” said Rachel Lighty, standing in front of a staircase wall inside HQ2 which is lined with professionally shot photos of employee’s dogs. Lighty is a member of Amazon’s Corporate Communications Department.
“My favorite dog on the wall is by far my own dog,” Lighty said, pointing to a framed photo of her Pit Bull. “Her name is Portia.”
You won’t just see dogs on the wall of HQ2, but dogs at people’s desks.
“Some people are a little confused,” said Buzz Ryan, who works in the Business Strategy Department and brings his dog Ginny to work fairly often. “I think my parents don’t fully understand it yet.”
Employees are entitled to free coffee drinks and lattes from baristas. There’s also a banana stand, with the bananas handed out by “banistas” which is printed on the backs of their shirts.
“Peculiar for sure,” said communications specialist Jemila Campbell when asked how she describes the work environment to other people. “It’s nontraditional and it’s different. But it’s a ton of fun.”
There’s a game room. And even an art studio.
An inside at Amazon's HQ2
“Like, I try to explain to people, like OK, I work at Amazon. But I work in an Art Studio,” said Andrew Brandveen, who is coordinator of what is known as the “Expressions Lab.”
“And they’re like, 'What? Amazon has an art studio?'" Brandveen said.
If you’re wondering why, Amazon says it’s all about team building and collaboration. Allowing employees, dubbed “Amazonians,” to balance the perks of working at HQ2 with the demands of one of the sought after positions at HQ2.
“To whom much is given, much is required right?” said Senior Account Manager Rob Williams. “So you’re given the opportunity to work in a place that allows you to be yourself. But I think that expectation then becomes – you bring the best that yourself has to offer Amazon.”
There are no assigned desks at HQ2. “Amazonians” sit in what are called “neighborhoods” near others with similar jobs. They have booths for anyone who needs to work or speak in private. Post pandemic, Amazonians are required to be in office at least three days a week, with the option of working remotely or coming to HQ2 the other two days.
“I came to Amazon to do big things,” said Andrea Muscadin, Head of Partnerships, Amazon Community Impact, Education. “I expected a place where I could have an enormous impact on the world.”
“And I’ve gotten that."
In March, the company unveiled its team suite concept, an informal meeting area with high top tables and couches where Amazon teams can meet to collaborate.
“We’re in the garage suite,” Williams said as he exchanged ideas with a fellow team member.
The name of that team suite is a nod to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who launched the company out of his Seattle garage in 1994 as a virtual bookstore. Thirty years later, Amazon is an e-commerce empire. One of the largest retailers in the world according to Forbes, with $514 billion in revenue last year.
But Forbes also reports Amazon posted $2.7 billion in losses in 2023 and had the largest number of layoffs in the company’s history in a post-pandemic belt tightening.
Holly Sullivan, Amazon’s Director of World Wide Economic Development, who led the team that selected Arlington as the home of HQ2, said nothing has changed about Amazon’s long-term commitment to the region.
“We remain committed to, between this development and our future development, of at least 25,000 Amazonians,” Sullivan said.
Under its deal with Virginia, Amazon pledged to bring 25,000 jobs to Arlington County by 2038, in return for hundreds of millions of dollars in incentive payments from the state.
But Amazon is still far from hitting that number. There are currently 8,000 employees housed in HQ2, and room for another 6,000 yet unfilled positions in its twin towers.
Phase two of the project which includes the crown jewel of Amazon’s HQ2 design plans – a glass enclosed 350-foot Helix shaped tower, is currently on hold.
“We have plenty of room to grow here and then we’re going to continue to monitor when we need to break ground on that second phase,” Sullivan said adding there is “no distinct time” Amazon plans to begin development of Phase two.
Which means there is also no indication of when Amazon’s unique work culture will continue to grow in Arlington.