Microsoft Corp. today announced that it will expand its presence in the city of Bellevue, Wash., by leasing office space in two major complexes under construction.

Microsoft will occupy just over 600,000 square feet in the Advanta office commons in southeast Bellevue, located west of I-90, and nearly 740,000 square feet in the Bravern complex in downtown Bellevue, adjacent to Meydenbauer Center. When both projects are completed, the new locations will provide new work space for approximately 4,000 Microsoft people, made up of a combination of the current and future work force. Microsoft will begin to move people into the Advanta facilities at the end of 2007 and into next year, and will move into the Bravern complex starting late next year and into 2009.

�Microsoft continues to grow at a rapid pace across all our businesses � software, games, entertainment, search, mobile and business applications,� said Chris Owens, general manager of real estate and facilities at Microsoft. �Adding additional work space in Puget Sound, the company�s center of gravity, helps address our current space limitations and ensures that we are prepared for future growth.�