East Campus Modernization
Microsoft engaged The Lumiere Group in 2017 to procure artwork as they redesigned their original campus, which included 3 million square feet of new workspace and amenities. As of 2024, we have installed 208 artworks across seven new Microsoft buildings, including 73 new acquisitions and 129 legacy artworks redeployed from storage and decommissioned buildings. Artworks curated for this project are aligned with the Microsoft Art Collection’s mission to foster a creative workspace and reflect the breadth and diversity of the company’s employees and client base.
Details
Highlights
- Managed the entire scope of artwork procurement, placement, and installation for this multi-year, multi-phased project
- Coordinated the participation of 17 galleries and 33 artists throughout the project
- Delivered and installed artworks during the multi-phased opening of new buildings across the largest construction project in the state of Washington; including training and preparing for delivery of artworks via below-ground tunnel system
- Worked with two project management firms, three architecture firms, and two contractors to fulfill project needs and safety requirements
Overview
The Lumiere Group was tasked with curating, managing, and installing artworks in a brand new, state-of-the-art campus at Microsoft’s headquarters. The project unfolded over nearly a decade, involving dozens of stakeholders including Microsoft real estate personnel, architects, construction project managers, and various contractors. The ever-evolving needs of this project required specialized attention from a project management standpoint, as buildings opened on a rolling schedule amidst the largest construction project in the state of Washington.
Curators tailored acquisitions to the Microsoft Art Collection’s mission and continue to engage employees and lead tours centering this mission. Artworks on display in the buildings reflect Microsoft’s commitment to the creative community and reflect the diversity of the company’s employees and clients.
Next Project:
Preston Singletary/David Franklin, Raven's Escape
The Lumiere Group coordinated with Tlingit artist Preston Singletary and sculptor David Franklin; artists commissioned by Microsoft to create a sculptural wayfinding component. Welcoming visitors to their new campus, the artwork extends from the roadway to the pedestrian area. It is executed in Singletary’s signature interpretation of Northwest formline style and consists of six ravens mounted on three vertical poles. Coordinating installation was key in one of the largest active construction sites in Western Washington.
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