Industry News

Microsoft Corp. is planning to expand its Redmond, Wash., campus by one third. The company will invest $1-billion over the next three years to bring 3.1 million additional square feet on line by June of 2009. Microsoft plans to add fourteen new buildings to campus, seven of which will be new construction. The remaining seven buildings will be purchased. The new facilities will house an additional 12,000 employees.

Hitachi Transport System Ltd,, a subsidiary of consumer electronics maker Hitachi, has selected global facilities and services provider ProLogis of Denver to construct a 569,000-sf distribution center in Osaka, Japan. The five story facility, dubbed the ProLogis Parc Maishima II, is slated for completion in the second half of 2006.

Federal Express has selected Birmingham-based Doster Construction to construct a $4-million expansion of its Central Ground Distribution Center in Nashville, Tenn. The project consists of a new recruiting and guardhouse building, an additional maintenance building, a service garage, and expanded loading areas.

Grange Mutual Insurance Company has selected Gilbane Building Company as program and construction manager for a $50 million expansion of Grange's corporate headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. The project consists of a 205,000-sf mid-rise tower accommodating a 1,000-car parking structure, 100,000 sf of office space, data center, auditorium, cafeteria, fitness center, and a new front entrance. The design team for the expansion is Maddox NBD and Perkins + Will.

Printing and prototype systems manufacturer 3D Systems Corp . is relocating its headquarters to Waterford Park in Rock Hill, S.C. The first phase of the $10-million, 75,000-sf facility will reach completion in September 2006. The developer for the project is Koll Development Co. with Choate Construction Co. as general contractor. 3D Systems will close its operations in Grand Junction, Colo., and Valencia, Calif. The next phase of the Rock Hill campus is slated for completion in late 2008.