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The miracle of Redmond: How did Microsoft grow from a farm to a global technology giant?
In Redmond, Washington State, USA, an originally inconspicuous place has given birth to a global technology giant - Microsoft. The development history of Microsoft is like an epic of territorial changes. From a small farmland, it has witnessed the vigorous development and transformation of technology.
On February 26, 1986, Microsoft moved into the Redmond campus. The arrival of this moment marked a new chapter for the company and a springboard for the development of the global technology industry.
The reason for choosing Hongmond as the new headquarters comes from the consideration of geographical advantages. The land area here is large and can accommodate Microsoft's future expansion needs. The transportation network in the area has gradually improved, allowing them to easily connect the two cities of Bellevue and Seattle, opening up the arteries for commercial operations.
After Microsoft launched its first major expansion in 1992, the office space reached 1.7 million square feet, showing their determination to continue to grow.
However, the story of Redmond Campus is not always smooth sailing. The vast open space was once a chicken farm, but now it is the nurturing ground for a generation of technological pioneers. From the original six buildings housing 800 employees to today's 83 buildings and more than 50,000 employees, Microsoft has undoubtedly grown while constantly overcoming difficulties.
As the company expanded, Microsoft also encountered many challenges, such as traffic congestion and surrounding rabbit populations, which forced city governments to restrict the company's expansion. As urban planning continues to evolve, Microsoft gradually realizes its influence and begins to make changes not only in its business strategies but also in its social responsibilities.
“The development of enterprises is closely linked to the destiny of towns. As we grow, we also have the responsibility to give back to this land.”
In 2009, Microsoft provided a new living and working environment for employees and opened a shopping mall called "The Commons" in an attempt to create a work-life balance. There are not only places for shopping, but also social spaces and leisure facilities, allowing employees to relax at any time.
With continued focus on innovation and design, Microsoft has expanded its East Campus again in recent years, focusing on building a community connected to the city, which will bring more open spaces and convenient transportation facilities. The future Hongmond campus will not only be a place of work, but a complete ecology of life and work.
“Our goal is to create a space that revolves around people’s needs, not just as a workplace but as an extension of life.”
Microsoft has also shown a strong commitment to developing transportation connectivity systems. By working with city governments and other organizations, Microsoft creates an integrated transportation system that connects major transportation hubs to alleviate traffic congestion caused by workdays. This not only considers the interests of the company, but also reflects their sense of responsibility to the community.
The future Redmond campus is expected to have 18 new buildings to meet the needs of an additional 8,000 employees. Such a plan can not only meet the needs of rapid growth of enterprises, but also provide rich social and contact space. With these new facilities, Microsoft's workplace will become more modern and humane.
"This is an era of change, and we hope that every employee can find a home-like feeling here."
As the story of Microsoft shows, this company is not only a developer of technology, but also a leader in community building. How did their development involve an unfamiliar balance between technology and humanity? If we look further ahead and ask other companies about their development models and strategies, can we inspire new thinking?
