Microsoft to pour $150m into headquarters overhaul

Redmond-based vendor to give campus a makeover, including cricket pitch for fan CEO Satya Nadella

Microsoft will plough $150m (£111.5m) into its Redmond, Washington headquarters, as part of a redevelopment that will see it construct 18 new buildings and renovate 6.7 million square feet of its base.

In a blog post, Microsoft president Brad Smith said the project, set to start next autumn, will take between five and seven years to complete.

"It's an investment that's good for our employees, good for the Puget Sound community, and makes good sense for our shareholders," Smith said.

"We are not only creating a world-class work environment to help retain and attract the best and brightest global talent, but also building a campus that our neighbours can enjoy and that we can build in a fiscally smart way with low environmental impact.

"As our employees create the tools and services of the future workspace for our customers, it's important they have a campus that reflects that future for themselves."

Smith said Microsoft will take inspiration from recent renovations of other campuses around the world, including its office in Paddington.

The plans also include a two-acre open plaza, which will be used as space for football and cricket, with CEO Satya Nadella an avid cricket fan, as well as for retail space.

Microsoft detailed plans for the project in a video uploaded to its YouTube page.