‘This is the moment that the entrepreneurial community, regional leadership and local institutions have been working toward for over a decade, and moves like Microsoft’s help us accelerate that momentum’ – Christine Johnson, Miami-Dade Beacon Council
It’s been rumored for months but now it is official: Microsoft announced today it is opening a new South Florida office in Miami. The tech giant is leasing about 50,000 square feet at 830 Brickell, the city’s newest Class A office tower now under construction. It will be home to Microsoft’s Latin America team as the company’s regional hub, Microsoft said.
“This space will become our new regional hub in addition to supporting other Microsoft businesses. This move will unite employees across multiple locations supporting collaboration, inspiration, and productivity. The new location will also serve as a bridge to deepen relationships with our customers while navigating the ever-changing hybrid work environment and maintaining Microsoft’s high standards around sustainability and accessibility,” said Mariana Castro, Microsoft’s VP of Sales, Marketing and Operations for Latin America, in her LinkedIn announcement.
Microsoft is the latest example of a global tech firm expanding to Downtown Miami. Microsoft becomes the second major corporation to lease space at 830 Brickell this year, joining tech-focused private equity firm Thoma Bravo, which is taking 36,500 square feet in the tower, and WeWork, the anchor tenant that is taking more than 100,000 square feet. 830 Brickell is the first stand-alone Class A+ office tower to be developed in the City’s Brickell Financial District in over a decade.
The Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the county’s economic development agency, has been working diligently with other community partners to get this deal done.
“Having an industry titan like Microsoft expand to Brickell is yet another signal of Miami’s standing as a sought-after location for global technology leaders. They not only want to locate in the Downtown corridor, but are eager to partner on Miami-Dade’s continued growth and success – something we are excited to support,” said Christine Johnson, VP of Innovation for Miami-Dade Beacon Council.
“This is the moment that the entrepreneurial community, regional leadership and local institutions have been working toward for over a decade, and moves like Microsoft’s help us accelerate that momentum,” Johnson added.
In a statement, Manolo Reyes, City of Miami Commissioner and Chairman of the Miami Downtown Development Authority, said: “The news that Microsoft is headed to Downtown Miami is rocket fuel for our City’s growth as a technology hub that’s capable of attracting the largest firms in the world, Microsoft’s office in the Brickell Financial District will be a magnet for other tech firms and the businesses that serve them, and that activity will have a direct impact on our Miami economy. The Miami DDA has been recruiting tech companies dating back nearly a decade, and the arrival of Microsoft will prove invaluable when it comes to showcasing the benefits of doing business in Downtown Miami,” Reyes said.
Microsoft’s interest and search in the Miami area has been rumored over the last eight months, and follows a number of other high-profile office expansions in the tech space, including the announcement by global finance giant Blackstone that it would be opening a large office for its tech team, ultimately creating some 200 high-paying jobs. Silicon Valley venture capital firm Founders Fund announced its new office would be in Wynwood, Plug and Play intends to locate in Mana Common, and SoftBank is reportedly looking for more space to service its exploding team. Microsoft already has office space in Broward, and it is unclear if those employees will be consolidating in Miami or how many employees will be housed in Miami.
“Huge!!!!!” Miami Mayor Francis Suarez tweeted. “Massive tech migration office announcement by @Microsoft. Very proud of this 50K square foot office with the corresponding jobs it will bring!!!!!”
830 Brickell, a 55-story amenity-filled office tower, is a joint venture between OKO Group and Cain International and is slated for completion in 2022.
This story has been updated. Follow @ndahlberg on Twitter and email her at [email protected]
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