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District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), Raymond Elementary School – ULI Americas Awards for Excellence Finalist
Learn more about 2024 ULI Americas Awards for Excellence Finalist (DCPS), Raymond Elementary School (Washington, D.C.).
May 3, 2024
Mei Li Liss
Location: Redmond, Washington
Developer: Microsoft
Designers: ZGF; LMN; NBBJ; Berger; CoughlinPorter, Lundeen; B+H Architects; Affiliated Engineers, Inc.; AECOM; WRNS Studio
Site Size: 72 acres
Situated on 72 acres of Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters and encompassing a wide array of workspaces and amenities, the new East Campus reflects the company’s commitment to its employees and the community in Puget Sound.
Designed to enhance productivity and create optimal spaces for hybrid work, East Campus serves 6,000+ employees and includes seven office buildings of four to five stories in an urban-inspired, pedestrian- and bike-friendly setting that’s fully ADA accessible.
Featuring a variety of retail spaces, wellness amenities, and culinary hubs for employees, East Campus is also designed to welcome the public—at its heart is a two-acre plaza open to all that will host events and gatherings.
To foster walking and biking and promote low-carbon commutes, an underground smart-parking garage creates a car-free environment at ground level. A Pedestrian Bridge also unites the East and West campuses, connecting to Sound Transit’s Redmond Technology Station, and serving as an extension of the local bike trail.
The pavilion-like mass timber parking portals, a notable feature of the campus, include integrated landscape and environmental graphics that bring daylight below ground and provide a biophilic experience and campus wayfinding elements.
Aligning with its goal of being carbon negative by 2030, Microsoft is pursuing ILFI Zero Carbon and LEED Platinum certifications for the East Campus, and has already received Salmon Safe Certification.
In both form and function, Microsoft’s East Campus helps weave together people with one another and with their environment, enhancing Microsoft’s culture of collaboration, innovation, and community.
East Campus was thoughtfully designed with a focus on sustainability, accessibility, wellness, preservation of nature, and fostering community.
Built at an urban scale, the campus promotes walkability and interactions. A Pedestrian Bridge connects the campus, enhancing access to transit. The wellness theme is integrated throughout with bike accessibility, recreation areas, sports fields, and walking trails. The architecture and built landscape bring employees together through inspiring and unique activity- and experience-based programming. A wide array of amenities offers employees conveniences and spaces to innovate and collaborate, while driving energy and engagement in the workplace.
Four- and five-story buildings with atriums and upper-level terraces infuse interior spaces with daylight. Employees enjoy flexible office spaces with team-based open plan neighborhoods surrounded by breakout zones for collaboration and social interactions. At ground level, retail spaces and food services create a sense of activity and energy, and indoor-outdoor experiences seamlessly bridge the built and natural environments.
Demonstrating leadership and innovation in environmental sustainability and stewardship, as many trees as possible were protected or salvaged for building design elements, furniture, and landscaping—enough wood to cover 12 basketball courts, and trees that had to be removed due to construction were replanted. Sustainability strategies include geothermal heat exchange, rainwater reuse, native vegetation, low-carbon materials, and green and/or solar-ready roofs, all of which contribute to a reduction of embodied carbon.
Nestled amid a beautiful natural environment, East Campus exemplifies a harmonious blend of thoughtful design, sustainable practices, and community engagement.
Microsoft’s storied Redmond Campus has witnessed three decades of evolution. Establishing its headquarters here in 1986, what began as a modest venture soon blossomed into a vibrant community.
The company’s initial footprint consisted of just four buildings. As Microsoft grew, so did its physical presence. Today, the campus spans 520 acres with over 100 buildings.
Planning for East Campus began nearly a decade ago as Microsoft looked to meet the changing landscape of its business and needs of its workforce. Microsoft wanted to create a modern workplace that fostered community and aligned with its mission to empower everyone to achieve more.
In 2018, construction began with the sustainably responsible demolition of its original campus structures, literally paving the way for new facilities and amenities to meet the demands of modern hybrid work.
Collaborative, open workspaces accommodate increased density while catering to the evolving needs of a dynamic workforce. The goal was simple yet ambitious—create the best workplace possible and position the company to meet the future.
Previously separated, the East and West Campuses now seamlessly integrate thanks to a new pedestrian bridge over the SR 520 highway. The urban feel encourages foot and bike traffic, and efficient shuttle and transit options enhance access.
Embracing sustainability and accessibility as core values, the new campus reflects the company’s commitment to responsible practices. From the humble X-shaped buildings of the 1980s to the vision of a future-ready workspace today, this journey epitomizes the company’s pursuit of excellence and community-building.
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