The software mega-company holds the option on 150 acres in the 2,200-acre master planned community, located at the south end of what is known locally as the Sammamish Plateau. However, at Tuesday night's city meeting on the review of the project's permit application, local residents had their first opportunity to see what the sprawling campus could look like when completed.

Microsoft's Seattle-based architectural firm of Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership displayed a model before city officials and 16 Issaquah residents. If built according to the current plans, the campus cut into the forested hilltop north of Interstate 90 would hold 15 buildings -- and as many as 3,000 of the Redmond-based behemoth's employees.

Stacy Drake, a company spokesperson, tells GlobeSt.com the plans are not, however, cut into stone. "We don't have plans yet for how many sf we will end up building. A lot will be determined by [Microsoft's] growth. We want the predictability of knowing this space will be available when the need arises, but, it is a project that will be built in phases."

Drake says offices Microsoft now occupies provide sufficient space to meet the company's current needs. As 2001 drew to a close, its aggregated sites measured out at 7.9 million sf -- with approximately 3.1 million sf being company owned and the remainder under leases.

Last November, Microsoft exercised its option on 37.5 acres. Though GlobeSt.com was unable to confirm the sales price, some news reports were speculating it ran in the range between $12 and $15/sf.

As to when the massive project could get underway, Drake says, "We don't have a date. We're still working through the permit process." With the need for the campus still lingering at a point somewhere in the future, there has also been no need to settle upon a general contractor.

Drake says Microsoft will go before the City of Issaquah again on the Jan. 22, a continuation of this week's hearing where the public will once again have the opportunity to speak its mind about the project. Thus far, public opinion appears to be falling to the side of approval, though some concerns have been expressed as to the issues of water supply and traffic impacts in an already-congested area.

If all continues to go well, the hearings will result in Microsoft being issued its site development permit, which will open the final door to construction -- when the company is ready.

Instant Insights /

Public Gets First Peek at Plans for New Microsoft Campus

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