Microsoft's Innovative Campus

California Buildings • Q4 2022

Microsoft Silicon Valley Campus Wins NIBS Innovator Award

New Kind of Workplace Achieves Symbiotic Well-Being of People and Place

Situated in Mountain View, Microsoft’s re-imagined Silicon Valley Campus was designed, the company said, “to be a new kind of workplace—in form, function, aesthetic, and connection—that is first and foremost about the well-being and symbiosis of people and place. At 640,000 square feet, the campus is organized around a series of courtyards that invite sunlight and fresh air into every work space, while creating a latticework village of connected indoor and outdoor social spaces and amenities.”

The new campus achieved recognition by the National Institute of Building Sciences this year for innovation. According to NIBS, “At the start of the project, two key drivers converged: California was experiencing a serious drought, and Microsoft needed to increase campus capacity to address business demand. These drivers revealed an opportunity to reflect Microsoft’s mission with a new kind of workplace—in form, function, aesthetic, and connection— that makes evident the symbiotic well-being of people and place.”

“The Microsoft Silicon Valley Campus pushes the boundaries of innovation with a design that drives out and uses waste. The campus also features rainwater catchments and on-site wastewater treatment. It also increases landscaping threefold, while reducing potable water by 57%. All campus systems, besides main cooking functions, are electric, including four thermal energy storage tanks that reduce the central plant size while lowering grid demand during non-peak cooling days,” the NIBS continued.

As employees weigh office versus home-based work, this campus stands an excellent chance of attracting workers back to the institutional workplace.

Some MS campus features:

w It integrates technology throughout that enhances their experience, gives back to the local environment, and enables our community to connect with each other. w It is Microsoft’s smartest, greenest office yet with a net zero non-potable water system and one of the largest CrossLaminated Timber structures currently in North America. w Data on productivity, working styles, well-being, and more were leveraged to make a space completely optimized for our workforce. w New facilities across the campus will include: an official Microsoft retail store, on-site fitness center and recreational sport areas, corporate experience center and events theater and a main dining hall, restaurants, and cafes. w The campus is designed to achieve net zero non-potable water certification. An integrated water management system will manage and reuse both rainwater and wastewater. Beyond drinking fountains, food service, sinks, and showers, no water will come from municipal sources. w It will add more landscaped area yet reduce overall potable water consumption by over 50% through the integrated water management design. w All energy from municipalities is from a renewable, carbon-free source with our participation in the Silicon Valley Clean Energy GreenPrime program. w A photovoltaic, solar-panel system across the campus will off-set energy consumption up to 25%. w Across the campus, there is a strong connection to local biodiversity and habitat restoration adjacent to Stevens Creek. w Embedded within the parking structure are four thermal energy storage tanks, which support the closed-loop water system that provides all heating and cooling needs for the campus.

California Buildings • Q4 2022

w No employee will be further than 30 feet from a natural light source. w Long-haul shuttles, car-sharing programs, last-mile commute solutions, proximity to public transit, and bike parking ensure employees can get to work safely and in a way that suits their lifestyle. w Pathways and stairs link key amenities within the workplace encouraging movement between spaces and hallway conversations. w The campus was designed with a "courtyard” concept that encourages employees to meet outdoors or in modern flexible workspaces across the campus.

w The layout itself is based on a walkable city-block, where one can find everything needed within their neighborhood to stay productive throughout the day. “We looked to use fundamental elements around the campus to connect with nature and give back to the landscape as well as our employees. We wanted to celebrate California and use new technoloWorkspaces are designed with flexibility in mind, and no employee is further than 30 feet from a natural light source. gies to do that, in a region used to being at the forefront of innovation,” says Katie Ross, Microsoft Senior Sustainability Program Manager.

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California Buildings • Q4 2022

Workforce Development Programs Can Alleviate Construction Labor Shortages

Q&A with Allison Otto

Q: Construction seems plagued by a host of material sourcing issues in California. Can you give us your take on what are main problems are and how we might address them? A: Supply chain issues definitely affect many of our projects — both cost and schedule. We encourage our project owners to bring us on board early in preconstruction so that we can help identify where there may be long lead items and brainstorm solutions. Due to our longtime relationships with subcontractors, we can work with them to provide alternate solutions and realistic delivery dates. Our goal is to create a no surprises environment and keep the owner abreast of any schedule implications. Q: Staffing seems another challenge in your industry. What is your firm doing to meet workforce demands? A: Staffing has been a challenge for quite some time. We have known that there is a generation that is retiring, and we have been doing the industry a disservice by not working to replace them. That is where Build California has really stepped in to help. This workforce development initiative under the AGC of California is in place to activate the next generation of California’s workforce. (buildcalifornia.com) Also, Career Technical Education (CTE) programs are going back in high schools and community colleges to create career ready pathways. Otto Construction has built many of these classrooms over the last couple of years and they are good not just for construction but also auto shop, welding, floral arrangement, media production, culinary, agriculture, and mechanics. Introducing these opportunities to students provide options for careers at an early age. We also attend career fairs at community and four year colleges with the goal of bringing interns on board. They can work while going to school and upon graduation, they can become a full-time employee. The intern period allows for both the student and employer to get to know each other and see if the fit is right for fulltime employment. Q: Should we make a greater effort to use sustainable materials in construction? Are they affordable, shortterm, long-term? A: Sustainability is always important and building with less waste and with durable materials that perform well are good for the project, the long-term maintenance and the environment. Often this comes at a cost, so it helps to understand what the goals of the owner and the project are then work with them to make the right decisions. Q: What technologies are your firm using that boost productivity? A: The most effective technology being used right now is Microsoft Teams. We are able to meet often, reduce travel time, and be more productive. We have also adopted to the use of Miro which is an online white board. This tool comes in handy for pull-scheduling, brainstorming, and project organization. Q: You are an example a woman who has attained leadership status in your industry. What should be done to attract more women to construction? A: I have a great cohort of women in this industry and we all lead by example, both in the field and in the office. There is a huge employment gap to fill so the opportunity is there, we just need to communicate it better. Construction is more than just a job. It is a career. Women bring a unique skillset to the industry as do those with diverse backgrounds. We should reflect the communities that we build and bring that expertise to our projects. We are missing out on a huge workforce opportunity. If I had the answers, then we wouldn’t be having this challenge. I just attended a Women in Construction Conference in Sacramento and it sold out to 1,000 people. We are making strides but still have a long way to go. Reaching out to high schools is a good first step.

Otto is president & CEO of Sacramento-based Otto Construction, an award-winning firm that is celebrating its 75th anniversary.