NELSON Worldwide partnered with American internet and aerospace entrepreneur Jeff Bezos’ commercial space flight company, Blue Origin, to design a new headquarters in Kent, Washington. The growing company needed a facility fit for revolutionary work, and a campus that would attract and retain talent in the highly competitive Seattle market.
Working inside a unique, tinsel dome structure, our team created a mezzanine that houses private offices for the C-suite, while also adding dimension to the overall floorplan. Under the mezzanine lives a vibrant café and community gathering place. Also centric to the entry and community spaces is a full-scale mock-up of a lunar lander, designed and built by Blue Origin. This landmark celebrates the company’s work and provides a daily reminder of aspirations and purpose for employees.
Located in a secluded area, the campus with 1,500 employees needed extra on-site conveniences. The amenity-rich environment features an in-house gym, bike storage, and a dedicated walk-up window for online food orders. Durable materials are used throughout to accommodate the facility’s dog-friendly atmosphere and a children’s play area attached to conference rooms offers a convenience to impromptu meetings for working parents.
Wayfinding in this large U-shaped facility was key, so the team established a logical neighborhood layout with each department coded by color. A vibrant palette of orange, yellow, blue, and gray tones mimics the experience of a rocket launch from earth to sky and space and orients users in each part of the building. Ultimately, our team delivered a creative and professional headquarters for Blue Origin that will be able to attract and retain talent while also providing them the tools necessary to craft the future of space travel.
