Photos: The start of Microsoft’s campus remodeling project

Originally published January 8, 2019 at 2:11 pm Updated January 8, 2019 at 4:01 pm

A cardboard cutout of a young Bill Gates, Microsoft’s co-founder, occupies his mid-1980s-era office on the Microsoft campus. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

The Microsoft campus in Redmond includes treehouses used as meeting spaces. The company is overhauling both its indoor and outdoor spaces. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

A skylight allows natural light to bathe an outdoor treehouse at Microsoft. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

This ramp leads to a new treehouse on the Microsoft campus in Redmond. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

This perch in the trees on Microsoft’s Redmond campus offers good views and a place for breaks. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

This topographic rendering shows the five- to seven-year transformation of the Microsoft campus and how it fits in its Redmond neighborhood. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

Microsoft alum Ed Fries sends a golf ball down the hall of an X-shaped building slated for demolition. “Swing Around the Wing” golf events were once regular occurrences. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

New pathways include built-in guides for vision-impaired employees at Microsoft in Redmond. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

This renovated Microsoft building features an open floor plan and lots of natural light. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

This architect’s model of construction coming in the next few years shows open, airy buildings with plenty of natural light. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

People head toward a cafeteria at Microsoft. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

Caution tape marks a building that’s going to be demolished as Microsoft re-envisions its Redmond headquarters. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

An artist’s rendering depicts construction, which will include 17 new buildings. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

This renovated building features an open plan and an abundance of natural light. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

These “phone booths” don’t actually contain phones. They’re soundproof places to make cellphone calls. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

One of many artistic touches throughout the Microsoft campus buildings. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

Microsoft is well-known for providing workplace recreation such as pingpong tables. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

CDs are used as temporary wall art in this Microsoft building, one set to be demolished in the campus redesign. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

The aerial photo of Microsoft’s X-shaped buildings shows office space that will be demolished as part of Microsoft’s remodeling plan. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

It’s called “Lake Bill” and Bill Gates’ office looked out over it. The lake will be preserved in the renovated campus. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

By

Alan Berner

Seattle Times staff photographer

These photographs, taken in November, show changes that have already taken place on Microsoft’s Redmond campus and other features that will be changed as part of the company’s campus modernization project.

Related: Microsoft software engineers try some news tool at work (and rip out the side of a building)

Alan Berner: aberner@seattletimes.com.

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