At Amazon, we are always innovating! You’re standing twelve stories below one of our innovations right now. As you stand in Nitro Plaza, the Prairie Roof is directly above you. Though you can’t see it from where you stand, the Prairie Roof is a 12,000 square-foot native prairie landscape that sits atop of Nitro’s South Tower.
The Nitro towers are also home to some of our 13 Amazon Affinity groups. Amazon affinity groups, sometimes known as employee resource groups, bring employees together across businesses and locations around the world. With executive and company sponsorship, these groups play an important role in building internal networks for creating community, advising Amazon business units, leading in service projects, and reaching out to communities where Amazon lives and works.
As we take in more of Nitro Plaza, make sure to observe the urban landscapes. Urban landscapes can make meaningful contributions to wildlife habitat. Native prairies are an excellent model for roof plantings because they utilize shallow soil, while the diversity of prairie species support abundant native pollinators—even in the middle of downtown. Less than 3% of Puget Sound’s original native prairie remains intact.
Beyond preserving the prairie lands of Puget Sound, we would like to address the elephant in the room... specifically the pink elephant of The Elephant Super Car Wash! Seattle natives will tell you the history of The Elephant Super Car Wash and the memories of driving in the first automatic car wash opened in Washington state in 1951. Started by Dean, Archie, and Eldon Anderson, The Elephant Super Car Wash quickly became an icon around the city. The original artist, Beatrice Haverfield, was hailed as the queen of neon in the Puget Sound area. In November of 2020, Amazon was gifted the smaller of the Elephant Car Wash signs. After restoration was completed, the iconic sign lit South Lake Union once more.
