Metropolitan Park Terraces, home to Amazon’s new Arlington headquarters, presented many challenging opportunities for innovative solutions and collective effort. We were responsible for the installation of 20 upper-level private terraces that included a dog run, community farms and spaces for events and collaboration.

95% of this job was over-structure making soil, drainage and grade changes extremely important. To that end, we installed 18,375 drainage cells, 36,000 SF of geosynthetic products, 6,300 CF of polystyrene, 231 LF of drainage pipe, 228 CY of lightweight aggregate and 1300 CY of intensive green roof soil.

All deliveries were made to ground level—and cranes were used to place materials onto upper-level spaces. This required close coordination between the crane operator, radio technician, receiver, personnel offloading material and the GC to ensure there would be no interference by, or danger to, other contractors.

About 20% of this installation was an irrigation system with 30 zones and 2 miles of various irrigation drip lines, fixed spray, tree bubblers, and rotors. All were carefully configured to keep plant material thriving in a lightweight soil mix, where upper deck temperatures are 10-15 degrees of warmer than street level.

No venue would be complete without amenities for man’s best friend who attend doggy daycare while their pet parents’ work. We installed over $20,000 worth of materials in this dog park including almost 1000 SF of synthetic turf, fire hydrants, water fountain and waste receptacle.

The density of the plant material—with over 74,000 perennials—helps to create a verdant oasis for employees to visit while working. Over 40,000 bulbs were installed as well.

To create a more sustainable landscape, special focus was given to preserving water resources, sourcing local vendors and using both native and adaptive plant material. Over 59 native varieties of plant material were used in these terraces to provide interesting textures and colors throughout all growing seasons.

With large portions of the project being done at high elevations, safety precautions were imperative and included using fall arrest systems and weekly safety meetings which included training on fall hazards, mitigating weather-related conditions and securing of materials to prevent them from becoming projectiles…to name a few.

We supplied and installed 60 fiberglass planters and a special soil mix to enable Amazon employees to create their own gardens. A variety of herbs and vegetables were planted to provide employees with a space to relax and destress.

With some electrical delays that prevented irrigation from coming online once installed, our team spent hundreds of hours for months hand watering plant material to keep it alive and thriving.

Half of the terraces were adjacent to areas that were already occupied and being used. We worked cooperatively to minimize noise when there were on-site meetings; and had to work no earlier than 8 a.m. and no later than 5 p.m. to minimize disturbance for residents of other high-rises.

We installed 26 trees on this project varying in size from 2-3” caliper. Several of the larger trees that were too big to be hoisted or fit in a service elevator, were craned up and then moved using dollies and hydraulic lifts.

Building interiors incorporate native flora and fauna and use natural materials to create an inviting feeling. We installed 67 CY of lightweight intensive interior planting soil in all interior planters as well thousands of plants.

Careful coordination was required to protect all the finished interior walls, floors and glass while installing these interior planters. We laid down tarps and plastic and could only use wheelbarrows to move the planters, aggregate, soil and plant material into place.

Polystyrene foam was used to create topography without adding significant load to underlying structures. Crews spent upwards of 500 hours creating the right elevations for soil installation—which was installed immediately once the foam was in place to weight it down and prevent it from becoming a projectile.

This same area after installation shows plant material thriving and contributing to Amazon’s goal of offering employees the option to connect with nature during the workday.

Now completed, Metropolitan Park Terraces is transforming the skyline of Arlington, enabling Amazon employees and visitors the ability to enjoy this urban greenspace while working to minimize environmental impact for generations to come.