But the amount of space occupied by Microsoft—and plans for future additions—remains in a state of flux. Numerous times the company's local spokesperson, Stacy Drake, has informed GlobeSt.com that Microsoft is constantly reassessing and adjusting it's space needs—a statement that is backed up by the status of its leased spaces in downtown Bellevue.
Early last year, the company tossed approximately 250,000 sf of Bellevue space onto the sublease market. But, by October, the listing had been yanked. Drake then said, "We realized that we will need those Bellevue offices."
Now the company has turned another about-face. Just one-half year later, Microsoft confirmed for GlobeSt.com that 130,000 sf of that same 250,000 sf has now been, once again, reclassified as surplus. "We have put 130,000 sf at Lincoln Square back on the sub-lease market," states Drake, although no specifics as to price were forthcoming.
In January, Microsoft took another step toward making its new Issaquah Highlands campus a reality. At a city council meeting, it unveiled a model of the current concept by architectural firm of Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership. Thus far, the company has exercised on 37.5 of its 150 optioned acres in the 2,200-acre master-planned community in the foothills of Issaquah.
Although Drake says no construction schedule or final plans have been determined, preliminary concepts allow for as many as two million sf of offices cut up into 15 buildings that could hold as many as 3,000 employees. But, of course, that is all subject to change.
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