Amazon is on track to meet its hiring goals at its new second headquarters in Arlington, Virginia despite the pandemic causing U.S. unemployment rates to skyrocket.
However, the future of how and where employees will do their new jobs is still uncertain.
“The only thing we can do is be authentic,” said Brian Riley, head of talent acquisition for HQ2. “We don’t know the answer to those questions right now. But what we do know is we are providing employees the work environment they need to be successful.”
Riley added that the company is committed to the minimum 4 million square feet of workspace in Arlington, but they are still reevaluating the role it will play in an increasingly virtual world.
“We’re continuing forward as if we will occupy the same space that we’ve been planning for,” said Riley.
This is crucial for Arlington’s post-pandemic recovery, as the new headquarters is anticipated to boost hotel stays, restaurant and retail business and bring in other technology companies into the area.
The first 2.1 million square feet of space in Pentagon City is expected to open in 2023. Currently, Amazon has around 617,000 square feet of space leased from JBG Smith Properties, who is building the first HQ2 towers, in Crystal City.
However, those offices are limiting the number of workers at the moment as Amazon employees are not required to come back into the workplace until June of 2021.