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February 12, 2018

Amazon Spheres

By JOURNAL STAFF

Photos by Jordan Stead/Amazon [enlarge]


After seven years of planning and construction, Amazon has opened the Spheres outside its headquarters at 2130 Sixth Ave. in the Denny Triangle neighborhood.

The glass conservatory domes are filled with more than 40,000 individual plants, from more than 50 countries.

There are four levels inside the Spheres, and a total of 130,000 square feet, filled with treehouse meeting rooms, waterfalls, palladiums and a four-story living wall.

The domes were built using 2,643 panes of glass, with 180 pentagonal-shaped windows. The largest dome is 130 feet in diameter and 90 feet tall.

At the base, a 400,000-pound ring beam transfers heavy loads of gravity, wind and seismic forces from the glass-and-steel facade to columns in the parking garage below.

Along with the horticultural collection, there are dozens of hang-out nooks as well as general seating for Amazon employees.

Public access is limited to the general Amazon campus tour, which requires online registration.

Owner: Amazon

Architect: NBBJ

Contractor: Sellen

Structural engineer: Magnusson Klemencic Associates










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