Microsoft is adding the equivalent of two Googles to its Redmond campus over the next three years, spending $1 billion to build or buy 14 buildings with space for up to 12,000 employees. The plans, detailed Thursday, would result in one of the world's largest corporate campuses, spread out on the woodsy plateau near Lake Sammamish.
Government officials said the project would boost the state economy and could add momentum to regional transportation projects, including plans to replace the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge.
Gov. Christine Gregoire said the project also challenges the state to improve its education system, so that state residents have a better chance of filling the new jobs.
The company floated its redevelopment plans a year ago and received Redmond's approval to proceed last summer, but it had planned to spread the work over the next 10 to 20 years. Thursday, it announced the project is speeding up and would be nearly half done over the next three years.
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