Building design and construction plans have been unveiled for the online travel company’s first “grown-up” campus
Expedia Inc. has been a world leader in travel since its launch in 1996 as a small division of Microsoft. After close to 20 years in Bellevue, Washington, the company is looking forward to their “first grown-up, technology campus”.
In early March, Expedia announced its initial campus designs for its future Seattle waterfront headquarters.
In 2019, the online travel company will hop across Lake Washington and revamp the former Amgen campus with the help of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson (BCJ), STUDIOS Architecture, and PWP Landscape Architecture. They’ve even established a website exclusively for their new neighbors to familiarize themselves with Expedia’s relocation plans.
The building design and construction is set to feature natural elements to play up its new Interbay neighborhood characteristics, including picturesque views of Elliott Bay, Mt. Rainier, and the Olympic Mountain range. Plans for the waterfront headquarters are slated to repurpose four former lab buildings and the construction of 600,000 square foot, four-story offices.
Designs call for expansive outdoor space and large glass curtain walls, which are virtual no-brainers in this neck of the Pacific Northwest. Employees and visitors can look forward to outdoor meetings, maximized scenic views, and plenty of exercise opportunities in the lush courtyard.
“Although these are early designs, we are very excited about the direction our campus is heading and feel that it brings together all that we are—a leading technology company revolutionizing the world of travel with deep roots in the Pacific Northwest. This will be an environment that will help us retain and build a world-class team of diverse, talented, and passionate employees as we continue to grow,” explained Dara Khosrowshahi, President and CEO of Expedia.
The first stage of construction will begin this year to add 73,000 square feet towards the company’s ultimate goal of 1.2 million square feet of office space and 2,670 parking stalls. Two additional phases could be integrated into a 15-year plan for Expedia’s corporate headquarters.