View of One Cambridge Center from front of building.

Microsoft expands its NERD campus in Kendall Square.

When we opened the Microsoft New England Research & Development Center in September of 2007, we knew this would be the first of many steps in our journey to build a world class R&D center right here in Massachusetts. And what a journey it has been! NERD is now a bustling vertical campus with 10 R&D teams focused on some of Microsoft’s most strategic products and investments. During the past year we have welcomed more than 25,000 members of the community to our campus to learn, network, and collaborate.

Today, we are thrilled to announce the expansion of NERD in two important ways:

We are leasing and renovating 113,000 sq. ft. of office space at One Cambridge Center from our longstanding partner Boston Properties. One Cambridge Center is located in the heart of booming Kendall Square and a short walk from our One Memorial Drive building. The initial expansion phase at One Cambridge Center is expected to be completed this summer and will accommodate our Microsoft Advertising team and our employees from Navic, who have been working from our Waltham Jones Road location.

At the end of June, our Microsoft SharePoint Workspace team (formerly Groove) will move from our Beverly office to join us at One Memorial Drive. These moves will bring together the majority of our more than 500 Massachusetts based R&D employees at NERD in Cambridge.

Our expansion reflects the value Microsoft places in Massachusetts as a high-tech talent center and the company’s commitment to growing our presence and investment in the state. These are exciting times for our industry and for Microsoft employees here in Massachusetts. If you aren’t familiar with NERD, we hope you’ll join us at an upcoming community event hosted at NERD and of course we encourage you to check out our latest job listings.

Perspectives on NERD Expansion

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick

”Massachusetts has been known the world over as the hub of innovation. Our entrepreneurs have advanced our economic prosperity, our doctors have made historic breakthroughs, and our academics have set the global standard in education. Today we are blazing a trail in information technology as well from robotics to video games. That’s the future we want to build in Massachusetts and with the expansion of the NERD Center Microsoft is leading the way.”

Ray Ozzie – Chief Software Architect – Microsoft Corporation

“As the executive sponsor of Microsoft’s New England Research & Development Center in Cambridge, Mass., I am delighted to announce our plans to expand our company’s presence here in Kendall Square. I am pleased by how it builds toward our goal of creating a campus in Cambridge that can attract some of the best tech talent that this region has to offer. I am also pleased by what it means in terms of our ability to further contribute to the region’s vibrant tech community.”

City of Cambridge Mayor David P. Maher

”Microsoft’s commitment to the city of Cambridge is an example of how municipalities and the private sector can partner to benefit both the residents of the city and a dynamic company. The city of Cambridge is proud that Microsoft has chosen to expand their presence in Kendall Square.”

Rupert Bader – Director of People Insight – Microsoft Corporation

“When we evaluate where the qualified engineering talent is around the world – the biggest market isn’t India or China it’s the East Coast of the United States. Massachusetts has established itself as one of the world’s leading centers for innovation.”