Microsoft identifies Dublin site for campus-style Irish headquarters
Microsoft has identified a site for its new offices, subject to approval of planning permission. The software giant has been searching for new premises that would allow it to create a campus-style Irish headquarters, bringing its 1,200 Irish staff within one development. At present, the company rents space in two adjoining buildings in Sandyford, known as the Atrium. It also has offices in Leopardstown Business Park.
A site in the nearby South County Business Park – close to existing premises of Merrill Lynch and Vodafone – is believed to have been chosen for the new development. It is understood staff were informed yesterday of the plans to move.
Microsoft had been seeking a building extending to 37,160sq m (400,000sq ft), the largest request for office accommodation in Ireland to date.
The company’s current lease at its Sandyford base, where is shares part of one building with international companies, is due to run out in five years.
Planning permission
The company is expected to seek planning permission for the multimillion euro development this year, although it will be several years before any offices are ready for occupation.
Microsoft said its quarterly profit edged lower as Office software sales slowed ahead of a new launch, offsetting a solid but unspectacular start for its Windows 8 operating system.
Profit slid to $6.4 billion, or 76 US cents per share from $6.6 billion, or 78 cents per share. Overall sales rose 3 per cent to $21.5 billion, in line with analysts’ estimates.Microsoft said it has sold more than 60 million Windows 8 licences since its launch, an unexceptional start for a product which hasn’t gripped the public’s imagination as much as Apple’s iPad. – (Additional reporting: Reuters)
