Microsoft In Plans To Overhaul Its Campus To Align With Trends

The Redmond, Washington-based software maker Microsoft is planning on constructing 18 buildings which will house an additional 8,000 workers. This will be at its current Redmond headquarters which has been Microsoft’s home for over three decades. Microsoft made the announcement just before the software giant held its annual shareholders meeting.

In the Puget Sound region of Washington, Microsoft has a workforce of around 47,000 people scattered in 125 buildings. The new construction project will involve not just new buildings but will include renovations. The project is expected to take between five and seven years. Microsoft did not disclose how much the renovation and expansion would cost the company but only said that it would involve billions of dollars.

Development agreement

The last time Microsoft embarked on a campus expansion was 11 years ago when it inked a development agreement of 20 years with Redmond city allowing the software giant to add extra space measuring over two million square feet. The renovation and expansion project will also include making improvements to transportation facilities as well as other public amenities at a cost of $150 million.

Prior to the announcement the largest software company in the world was already renovating some of the buildings on its campus with a view to adding small conference rooms, gathering places and open work spaces just like is the case at other tech firms. The software giant has been facing stiff competition not just from Google, Facebook or Amazon when it comes to recruiting employees and retaining them but also from startups in the Seattle area. Redmond is located around 15 miles from Seattle.

Communal spaces

According to Brad Smith, the president of Microsoft, some of the buildings that the software giant will be putting up will have four stories. They will be centered on a plaza measuring two acres and which will also serve as a venue for holding events. There will also be recreation trails and sports fields dotting the area.

“We are not only creating a world-class work environment to help retain and attract the best and brightest global talent, but also building a campus that our neighbors can enjoy,” said Smith in a statement.

The announcement of the construction project coincides with Microsoft disclosing that Windows 10 has now been installed on over 600 million devices. This was revealed by the chief executive officer of the software giant, Satya Nadella, during the annual shareholders meeting which was held Wednesday.