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Microsoft Opens New Vancouver Tech Center Taking Benefit of Easier Immigration to Canada

The Microsoft Canada Excellence Center is a colossal development facility at 725 Granville that will consolidate Microsoft's Vancouver workforce within 142,000 square-feet. The new facility will accommodate approximately 750 people, more than double its existing Canadian workforce.

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The design of the new Vancouver office comes from Clive Wilkinkson, a company specialized in progressive and modern office architecture.rooms for a capacity of 150 people, numerous collaborative spaces and the Maker's Garage which focuses on experimental hardware and software projects.

rooms for a capacity of 150 people, numerous collaborative spaces and the Maker's Garage which focuses on experimental hardware and software projects.

The center hosts two community rooms for a capacity of 150 people, numerous collaborative spaces and a so-called Maker's Garage for innovative hardware and software projects. The open environment is organized into neighborhoods that allow teams to enjoy a connected space with breakout areas and clustered seating.

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Three hubs also provide casual spots to eat and talk, transforming work into play. Table tennis, foosball, and a games room also offer downtime distractions. President Brad Smith says he hopes the opening of the facility will start a movement towards a Cascadia high tech corridor.

“We want to also start talking about and really investing in this region not just as a single city or one important country but as a corridor that actually connects two big important cities and two countries,” Smith said.

Microsoft's Vancouver employees work on apps like and OneNote, video games, and apps for HoloLens. Vancouver is also noted for its strong technology scene and several nearby universities that can supply new talent.

Smith adds that Canada's immigration policies are less strict than in the U.S., allowing Microsoft to pull top talent from all over the world for its Vancouver site.

Microsoft has been in Canada since 1985, with its operations headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario. Its 350 Vancouver employees previously worked in three different offices and has grown to 568 employees last year.

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