--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I arrive at the Gray Holdings…" description: "\"“I arrive at the Gray Holdings headquarters in downtown Seattle two hours later. The building is a ginormous 175-story office building that juts into t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4f/andrew-shaffer-9890_engineering_i-arrive-at-the-gray-holdings-headquarte_2492529.jpg" --- # I arrive at the Gray Holdings headquarters in downtown… ![“I arrive at the Gray Holdings headquarters in downtown Seattle two hours later. The building is a ginormous 175-story office building that juts into the sky like a glass and steel erection. It’s fifteen minutes until two when I arrive – just in time for the interview. I walk through the glass…” quote by Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4f/andrew-shaffer-9890_engineering_i-arrive-at-the-gray-holdings-headquarte_2492529.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4f/andrew-shaffer-9890_engineering_i-arrive-at-the-gray-holdings-headquarte_2492529.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4f/andrew-shaffer-9890_engineering_i-arrive-at-the-gray-holdings-headquarte_2492529.jpg) > ““I arrive at the Gray Holdings headquarters in downtown Seattle two hours later. The building is a ginormous 175-story office building that juts into the sky like a glass and steel erection. It’s fifteen minutes until two when I arrive – just in time for the interview. I walk through the glass doors and into the lobby, which is also floor-to-ceiling glass and steel. This fascinates me, because buildings back in Portland are made of grass and mud.”” [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The towering glass skyscraper symbolizes modern ambition, contrasting with natural, humble architecture. **In simple terms:** Tall glass buildings reflect modern ambition. Key Takeaway Recognize how environments shape perception. Themes architecture modernity contrast perception Mood observational critical Type analytical descriptive When to use this quote - job interview - city planning - travel - design critique Key Concepts Urban development environmental psychology Questions to Reflect On - What does this building say about our values? - How does architecture affect your mood? A Different Perspective The awe may mask underlying sustainability concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arrive Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrive-gray-978464/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Gray Holdings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gray-holdings-978463/) [Headquarters Downtown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/headquarters-downtown-978466/) [Holdings Headquarters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holdings-headquarters-978465/) [Office Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office-building-766270/) ## Related quotes > [“The receptionist laughs. “Relax. It just means you’re a first-time visitor here at Gray Holdings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shaffer/the-receptionist-laughs-relax-it-just-means-you-re-a-first-time/) [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) > [“The building is a ginormous 175-story office building that juts into the sky like a glass and steel erection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shaffer/the-building-is-a-ginormous-175-story-office-building-that-juts-into/) [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) > [The office building is a building for work, organization, lucidity and economy. Light, spacious working rooms, clearly arranged, undivided, only organized according to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-mies-van-der-rohe/the-office-building-is-a-building-for-work-organization-lucidity-and/) [Ludwig Mies van der Rohe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-mies-van-der-rohe/) > [The tall modern office building is the machine pure and simple...the engine, the motor and the battleship the works of the century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/the-tall-modern-office-building-is-the-machine-pure-and-simple-the/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [Death is a new office building filled with modern furniture, A wise thing, but which has no purpose for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ashbery/death-is-a-new-office-building-filled-with-modern-furniture-a-wise/) [John Ashbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ashbery/) > [The problem of the tall office building is one of the most stupendous, one of the most magnificent opportunities that the Lord of Nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sullivan/the-problem-of-the-tall-office-building-is-one-of-the-most-stupendous/) [Louis Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sullivan/) > [My office is in a building in midtown Chicago. It's an older building, and not in the best of shape, especially since there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/my-office-is-in-a-building-in-midtown-chicago-it-s-an-older-building/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Zackary Connor's office building was made of glass, endless windows giving the impression of being outside. It was exactly how I liked nature--air conditioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-hanson/zackary-connor-s-office-building-was-made-of-glass-endless-windows/) [Caroline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-hanson/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [Design is a very personal thing. It's like art. Your personal choice plays a big role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gauri-khan/design-is-a-very-personal-thing-it-s-like-art-your-personal-choice/) [Gauri Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gauri-khan/) > [I design some of my own clothes now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiernan-shipka/i-design-some-of-my-own-clothes-now/) [Kiernan Shipka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiernan-shipka/) > [Batley and Spen has a high proportion of people working in manufacturing, and we can boast the full range of industries, including high-skilled, precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/batley-and-spen-has-a-high-proportion-of-people-working-in/) [Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/) > [Design is not making beauty, beauty emerges from selection, affinities, integration, love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/design-is-not-making-beauty-beauty-emerges-from-selection-affinities/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) > [“Nothing is easier than yesterday's solutions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-sperry/nothing-is-easier-than-yesterday-s-solutions/) [Roger Sperry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-sperry/) > [The bones of my architecture are very much related to the structure, to the physical fact of how a building can stand up; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-bones-of-my-architecture-are-very-much-related-to-the-structure/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) ## More by Andrew Shaffer > [When Patrick finally broke his silence with 2008's 'Anthems For the Damned' - the first Filter album that he recorded sober - fans were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shaffer/when-patrick-finally-broke-his-silence-with-2008-s-anthems-for-the/) [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) > [“Who is this man I’m supposed to interview, this man whose last name is the same as the color of my sweatpants? Is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shaffer/who-is-this-man-i-m-supposed-to-interview-this-man-whose-last-name-is/) [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) > [“She hands me a security badge that says VIRGIN. How could she know that I’m a virgin? Is it that obvious? “How did you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shaffer/she-hands-me-a-security-badge-that-says-virgin-how-could-she-know/) [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) > [If you're looking for a behind-the-scenes rock-n-roll biography, pick up Nikki Sixx's 'The Heroin Diaries'. If you want the world's most narcissistic high school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shaffer/if-you-re-looking-for-a-behind-the-scenes-rock-n-roll-biography-pick/) [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) > [“ Stop it, girl. There’s no way he’s five-years-old. Or one hundred. He’s probably like every other CEO on the planet: Late twenties, handsome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shaffer/stop-it-girl-there-s-no-way-he-s-five-years-old-or-one-hundred-he-s/) [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) > [Chicago is a city built on architecture, and there are plenty of buildings to scale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shaffer/chicago-is-a-city-built-on-architecture-and-there-are-plenty-of/) [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) > [Treat haters in your online spaces just the same as you would in the real world. If they're not respectful to you and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shaffer/treat-haters-in-your-online-spaces-just-the-same-as-you-would-in-the/) [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) > [In 2009, the American Library Association recorded 460 challenges reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shaffer/in-2009-the-american-library-association-recorded-460-challenges/) [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) > [“I growl with frustration at my reflection in the mirror. Damn my hair – it’s fifty shades of fucked up. The situation I’m in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shaffer/i-growl-with-frustration-at-my-reflection-in-the-mirror-damn-my-hair/) [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) > [Young adult author Richelle Mead holds the distinction to perhaps be the only author ever to have a book banned... before it was even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shaffer/young-adult-author-richelle-mead-holds-the-distinction-to-perhaps-be/) [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) > [In their political careers, Obama and Biden faced down lobbyists, Tea Party carpetbaggers, and Washington gridlock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shaffer/in-their-political-careers-obama-and-biden-faced-down-lobbyists-tea/) [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) > [The difficult part of writing about someone you don't admire is that it's easy to demonize them. What you get then is a cackling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shaffer/the-difficult-part-of-writing-about-someone-you-don-t-admire-is-that/) [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) > [I catch Filter in Des Moines doing their soundcheck at a small club. After tearing through a few songs, they spend nearly an hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shaffer/i-catch-filter-in-des-moines-doing-their-soundcheck-at-a-small-club/) [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) > [In the White House, Obama was driven around in an armored Cadillac limo nicknamed 'The Beast.' In 'Hope Never Dies,' he blows his book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shaffer/in-the-white-house-obama-was-driven-around-in-an-armored-cadillac/) [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) > [Celebrating Christmas without subscribing to Christianity is like watching the Super Bowl without watching a regular season game. Some people watch the Super Bowl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shaffer/celebrating-christmas-without-subscribing-to-christianity-is-like/) [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) [Explore all 67 Andrew Shaffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) ## More Engineering quotes > [The bones of my architecture are very much related to the structure, to the physical fact of how a building can stand up; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-bones-of-my-architecture-are-very-much-related-to-the-structure/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [“Nothing is easier than yesterday's solutions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-sperry/nothing-is-easier-than-yesterday-s-solutions/) [Roger Sperry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-sperry/) > [Design is not making beauty, beauty emerges from selection, affinities, integration, love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/design-is-not-making-beauty-beauty-emerges-from-selection-affinities/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) > [Batley and Spen has a high proportion of people working in manufacturing, and we can boast the full range of industries, including high-skilled, precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/batley-and-spen-has-a-high-proportion-of-people-working-in/) [Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/) > [I design some of my own clothes now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiernan-shipka/i-design-some-of-my-own-clothes-now/) [Kiernan Shipka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiernan-shipka/) > [Design is a very personal thing. It's like art. Your personal choice plays a big role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gauri-khan/design-is-a-very-personal-thing-it-s-like-art-your-personal-choice/) [Gauri Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gauri-khan/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [ Leave a cavity behind the \[wall\] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-and-on-the-inside-build-walls/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Our guiding principle was that design is neither an intellectual nor a material affair, but simply an integral part of the stuff of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gropius/our-guiding-principle-was-that-design-is-neither-an-intellectual-nor/) [Walter Gropius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gropius/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [I think the ethics and morals of genetic engineering are very complicated. It intrigues me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spottiswoode/i-think-the-ethics-and-morals-of-genetic-engineering-are-very/) [Roger Spottiswoode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spottiswoode/) > [Some architects have a preconceived notion of what a building should be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-w-fentress/some-architects-have-a-preconceived-notion-of-what-a-building-should/) [Curtis W. 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