Watch original video:

Microsoft is putting the brakes on its rapid facilities expansion in the Puget Sound circle as the company navigates a dreary economy.

An internal Microsoft plan calls concerning delays of assured shape projects. A source, who asked not to be named while discussing internal matters, provided The Seattle Times through details of the design via e-mail and said it had been approved by Microsoft Chief Financial Office Chris Liddell in December.

The plan calls concerning a three-year delay before starting any new construction project on the Redmond campus, with the exception of one building. Projects before that time under construction, such taken in the character of the major West Campus expansion first outlined in 2005 and nearing completion, will continue.

Microsoft spokesman Lou Gellos acknowledged construction delays but with the understanding scarcely any specifics because the company is in a “quiet period” ahead of what will exist a closely watched quarterly earnings report Thursday.

“Like any one well-managed walk of life, we routinely check our assumptions and planning needs against our assessment of the relating to housekeeping environment,” Gellos said in a statement. “As part of this process, that we pledge one’session self quarterly, we look at many scenarios and options. … In light of the household post, we will also delay some planned construction on the boreal part of our campus.”

The plan mentioned buildings targeted for the former Safeco campus and a budget of land adjacent to Nintendo of America’s corporate headquarters. Microsoft acquired these and other parcels in the Overlake area to expand its headquarters campus.

According to the internal system, new buildings will be postponed until at in the smallest degree 2013.

In October, Microsoft announced plans to trim $400 million to $500 million from its operating budget in the fiscal year that ends June 30. It direction do in like manner through slower hiring, reduced capital spending and cuts to journeying budgets and vendor services.

At the same epoch, Microsoft lowered its forecast for sales and profit during the quarter ended Dec. 31. The company is expecting sales between $17.3 billion and $17.8 billion, and profit between 51 cents and 53 cents a share.

On average, Wall Street analysts expect results below the low end of those ranges, as PC sales growth — a key driver of Microsoft’s main Windows business — came in at any anemic 1.1 percent in the fourth quarter, inquiry firm Gartner aforesaid. Another researcher, IDC, actually recorded a 0.4 percent decline in sales.

While no widespread layoffs have been announced, Microsoft has dramatically slowed hiring and trimmed its contract work force. Other employees have said travel to conferences and events is being limited.

The company be pleased allow some of its leases to expire as it brings the West Campus expansion on line. As of Oct. 31, Microsoft was leasing about 4.3 the great body of the people shape feet of space at 53 sites around Puget Sound.

Original text: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoft/2008651775_microsoft21.html?syndication=rss