County grants approval for Amazon’s helix-shaped HQ tower

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. unanimous / yuˈnæn ə məs / (adj.) – describing a situation in which every member of a group or organization agrees with a decision
    Example:

    The voting process was quick because the votes were unanimous.


  2. helix / ˈhi lɪks / (n.) – a spiral shape
    Example:

    I had a hard time going down the helix-shaped staircase.


  3. anchor / ˈæŋ kər / (v.) – to secure something
    Example:

    The businessman is working on a proposal to anchor a partnership with another business.


  4. phase / feɪz / (n.) – a particular stage in a process
    Example:

    The project will have three phases.


  5. dominate / ˈdɒm əˌneɪt / (v.) – to be the most important, powerful, or noticeable
    Example:

    The popular baseball team dominated the rankings with twelve wins and zero losses.


Article

Read the text below.

The Arlington County Board gave unanimous approval Saturday to Amazon’s plans to build a unique, helix-shaped tower as the centerpiece of its emerging second headquarters in northern Virginia.


Amazon announced the plans in February 2021 for the eye-catching, 350-foot tower to anchor the second phase of its redevelopment plans. The new office towers will support a second headquarters for Amazon that is expected to welcome more than 25,000 workers when it’s complete.


The helix is one of several office towers granted approval, but the helix stands out. The spiral design features a walkable ramp wrapping around the building with trees and greenery planted to resemble a mountain hike.


Amazon has said the building is designed to help people connect to nature, and the outdoor mountain climb will be open to the public on weekends.


Since then, the plans have gone through the famously thorough review process of Arlington County, including numerous public hearings. Earlier this month, the county planning commission voted 9-0 to support the project.


On Saturday, the County Board voted 5-0 to approve the plans. They also include park space and will accommodate a community high school, along with ground-level retail.


Amazon has said it hopes to complete the project in 2025.


Because skyscrapers are banned in the District of Columbia, and the Amazon buildings will be among the tallest in Arlington County, from some vantage points the helix will dominate the region’s skyline like no building other than the Washington Monument.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • In your opinion, how can having a unique headquarters like Amazon’s helix-shaped tower impact a company (ex. strengthen the company’s branding, attract consumers)? Discuss.
  • The new headquarters will have features like a walkable ramp and greenery planted to resemble a mountain hike. If you could design a tower like this, what unique features would it have? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Skyscrapers are banned in the District of Columbia to keep residents safe, but some residents argue that the ban limits office space in the city and increases rent and hotel prices. Do you agree with the implementation of the ban? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Green skyscrapers are made of eco-friendly construction materials and consume less energy than conventional skyscrapers. However, they usually have higher construction costs. Do you think countries should invest in green skyscrapers? Why or why not? Discuss.