Type: Office Campus
Developer: Microsoft
Owner: Microsoft
Architects: ZGF; LMN; NBBJ; Berger; Coughlin, Porter, Lundeen; B+H Architects; Affiliated Engineers, Inc.; AECOM
Site Size: 72 acres (29 ha)
Date Opened: September 6, 2023
Date Completed: December 5, 2023
Buildings: 1,295,120 square feet (120,321 sq m)
Parking: 6,400 spaces
Open Space: 47 acres (19 ha)
Since Microsoft established its headquarters in Redmond, Washington, in 1986, the company’s campus has grown from four buildings to more than 100. The East Campus Modernization Project is the latest addition: occupying 72 acres (29 ha) of the 520-acre (210 ha) site, it replaces several older structures with ones designed to meet the demands of the modern hybrid workplace—and embody the company’s commitment to both employee well-being and environmental stewardship.
Able to accommodate more than 6,000 employees, the seven new office buildings range from four to five stories and are arranged in an urban-inspired, pedestrian-friendly setting. An underground smart-parking garage allows the ground level to remain car free. At the heart of the new section lies a two-acre (0.8 ha) plaza that can host events and gatherings for both employees and the public.
The all-electric buildings are completely fossil-fuel free, drawing renewable energy from off-site sources and the campus’s Thermal Energy Center, which houses a geothermal system that provides heating and cooling for 18 buildings. From demolition through construction, Microsoft tracked and reduced emissions from transportation, on-site equipment, and temporary power. During demolition, 48,000 tons (43,545 metric tons) of concrete were reused for subgrade fill to minimize transportation emissions.
By adding native and adaptive vegetation, using rainwater capture for toilet flushing, and installing efficient fixtures and irrigation, the campus is projected to save more than 20 million gallons of water each year.
Microsoft partnered with Building Transparency, a Washington state nonprofit organization, to pilot the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator, which helps quantify overall carbon emissions. Microsoft also published Environmental Product Declarations to encourage manufacturers to provide material transparency. These efforts have made low-carbon concrete the default option for local suppliers, with no cost premium.
The project targets the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Platinum certification and the International Living Future Institute’s Zero Carbon certification and has achieved Salmon Safe Certification.
A variety of design strategies enhance employee wellness. Large stairways rise through daylit atriums, encouraging people to choose walking over elevators, promoting both exercise and informal interactions. Terraces planted with native species connect occupants with nature and bring more daylight into the interior. Proximity to sports fields and walking trails further encourage workers to engage in physical activity. A new pedestrian bridge over State Route 520 links East and West Campuses, extends a local bike trail, and connects to Sound Transit’s Redmond Technology Station.
Buildings include a variety of workspaces to support different working styles, from team neighborhoods and focus rooms to informal meeting areas and recreational spaces. All-gender restrooms, lactation rooms, meditation rooms, and ablution rooms, as well as universal design elements throughout, ensure equitable access.
