Microsoft plans a total overhaul and major expansion at its main operations campus in Redmond, Washington. Expansion will add enough room for 8,000 more associates.

In a project designed to begin next fall, the site will see the addition of 18 new buildings and 2.5 million square feet of new office space added to the campus. While older outdated building will be demolished, once the project is complete the campus will be enlarged from 125 to 131 buildings. Construction is expected to last up to seven years.

Microsoft President Brad Smith said, “As our employees create the tools and services of the future workspace for our customers, it's important they have a campus that reflects that future for themselves.”

“ We will create that workplace in part by applying our learnings from our other recent campus redevelopment projects in Redmond, Vancouver B.C. and the Paddington office in London, and how they have enabled teams to collaborate, showcase our workspace and related technologies for customers and, most importantly, enhance the experience for employees,” he said.

“Our new campus will be more open and less formal, divided into a series of "team neighborhoods" while capturing more natural light and fostering the type of creativity that will lead to ongoing innovation to advance the industry and benefit our customers,” he added.

The expansion will also see the addition of a 2-acre open plaza that can fit up to 12,000 people, walking trails, soccer and cricket facilities, and retail space.