REDMOND, WASH. — Demolition began on Jan. 8 for Microsoft’s multibillion-dollar overhaul of its corporate headquarters campus in Redmond and includes the decommissioning and demolition of 13 buildings.
In mid-2018, the company announced its plans to renovate its campus and build nearly 3 million square feet of new workspace on 72 acres at its current campus in Redmond.
Construction of the new buildings is expected to begin soon, with completion slated for 2022. The project team includes architecture firms LMN, NBBJ, WRNS Studio and ZGF Architects; general contractors Skanska, Balfour Beatty, GLY and Sellen; and lead landscaping architect Berger Partnership with OLIN. CBRE, JLL and OAC Services are serving as project managers for the redevelopment.
Once complete, the modernized campus will include:
• 18 new buildings, ranging from 180,000 square feet to 200,000 square feet, clustered in four distinct villages
• Accessibility features to enhance mobility and ease of access for all employees
• Buildings that are four to five stories in height
• Atriums and courtyards for improved daylighting and direct connections to the outdoors
• Sustainable design strategies
• A gateway to serve employees and visitors arriving via Sound Transit’s Redmond Technology Center light rail station
• A pedestrian-and-cyclist-only bridge over State Route 520 connecting to the western portion of the campus
• A pedestrian and cyclist-friendly experience, with vehicular traffic — including drop-off and parking areas — located on the campus periphery and underground structured parking
In 2016, Microsoft became the first technology company in the United States to be certified Zero Waste for diverting at least 90 percent of its waste from the landfill. The company plans to remain in line with this certification for the demolition and construction process of the project, by focusing on reusing, donating and recycling. Microsoft’s project team is also working with local waste processing and recycling companies to maximize sustainability by prioritizing hauling distances to reduce the construction carbon footprint.