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Overview

Microsoft Corporation has had three headquarters, the first established in Albuquerque, NM, in 1975. Microsoft returned to the Seattle area, where co-owners William Gates III and Paul Allen had roots, in 1979, setting up their second world headquarters in Bellevue, WA, in 1979. This third headquarters was established in Redmond, WA, in 1986.

By 2019, Microsoft had 125 buildings occupying more than 500 acres in the Redmond area, with plans for six more by 2021. Redmond employees included about 47,000, with another 3,294 in Bellevue, Factoria, and other WA State locations. In total, Microsoft had over 600 offices worldwide in 2019 employing 134,944 people.

Building History

Architect Anthony Callison (1932-1988) served as Partner-in-Charge for this project, working with the development firm Wright, Runstad and Company. Wright, Runstad obtained 29 acres of land in 01/1985, and construction begain by 08/1985. Building was very rapid, with the first six office units being ready for occupancy by 02/26/1986.

Alteration

Changes, large and small, have been nearly constant at the Redmond East Campus since 1986.

Microsoft retained Skidmore Owings and Merrill, Architects, in 09/2015 to replan this main campus. The company worked with the City of Redmond to increase its total square footage on this campus by 1.4 million square feet, and easing the permissible height limit from six to ten stories.

As a result of SOM's planning, the high-tech giant indicated that it would tear down 12 of its original 1980s buildings and erect 18 new ones, enhancing space by 2.5 million square feet. This expansion, to be built over seven years, would make room for an additional 8,000 workers. Demolition began in 01/2019. (See "Need to Know: Five Things that Happened as Summer Officially Began," Puget Sound Business Journal, 06/21/2019, p. 2.)

PCAD id: 8600