Microsoft Announces Massive Redmond Campus Expansion And Up To 8,000 New Workers

Microsoft has announced some major construction plans at its Redmond campus. It's not building a spaceship campus as Apple did, but it will be adding 18 new buildings and up to 8,000 more workers to the payroll. Microsoft says that the massive expansion might not be completed until 2025.

Microsoft announced the plans for expansion via the Microsoft blog. Microsoft's campus in Redmond is a 500-acre parcel that the software giant says is close to a "vibrant urban core, suburban towns, mountains, lakes, and forests."

Microsoft plans to break ground on the expansion project next fall and the 18 new buildings will include 6.7 million square feet of renovated workspaces. The expansion will also include $150 million in transportation infrastructure updates, public spaces, sports fields, and a green space.

Microsoft wrote on its blog, "This project represents a significant investment by the company, will involve roughly 2,500 construction and development jobs, and will take five to seven years to complete. It’s an investment that’s good for our employees, good for the Puget Sound community, and makes good sense for our shareholders. 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, and that we can build in a fiscally smart way with low environmental impact."

Microsoft says that the new campus will be more open and less formal. The space will be divided into what it calls "team neighborhoods." The campus revamp promises more natural light and a setting to "foster the type of creativity that will lead to ongoing innovation" writes Microsoft.

The work isn't to be limited to the inside remodeling alone, the exterior will be worked on as well. Microsoft writes, "And while we transform our workspace inside, we will renovate the exterior to create more opportunities to exercise, play and connect with nature for the people who work at Microsoft and those who live nearby. Our plans include a 2-acre open plaza that will fit up to 12,000 people, running and walking trails, facilities for soccer and cricket, and retail space."

The campus remodel will be built for pedestrians and bikes with all cars in an underground parking facility. The campus will also be connected to WA-520 on both sides and it will tie into the future Redmond Technology Transit Station linking the campus to Link Light Rail in 2023.

"As Microsoft continues to create the tools and services that are shaping the future of work, we can’t think of a better time to modernize our campus into a model of ingenuity and innovation. As our plans and work on this exciting project progress, we look forward to keeping you updated on our journey," the company adds.