In November 2020, Microsoft celebrated a monumental milestone with the grand opening of its state-of-the-art 46,000-square-meter campus in Herzliya, Israel, a beacon of innovation and sustainability in the heart of the nation's tech hub. This groundbreaking ceremony, held on November 22, 2020, marked a significant step in Microsoft's long-standing commitment to Israel, where it established its first international R&D center in 1991. The event was a dazzling showcase of technological ambition, environmental consciousness, and corporate vision, drawing attention from industry leaders, dignitaries, and the Israeli media.
The groundbreaking ceremony was a meticulously planned affair, symbolizing the fusion of tradition and forward-thinking innovation. Attendees included key figures such as Michal Braverman-Blumenstyk, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Microsoft’s Israel R&D Center, and Ronit Atad, General Manager of Microsoft Israel. The event also welcomed local government officials, prominent architects like Vered Gindi of Vered Gindi Architects, and representatives from GSArch, the joint venture behind the campus’s design. Microsoft’s senior leadership, including members of its global real estate and facilities team, joined to celebrate this pivotal moment. Their presence underscored the company’s strategic investment in Israel’s vibrant tech ecosystem.
The ceremonial first sod cutting was a highlight, performed with elegance and flair by Braverman-Blumenstyk and Atad, who wielded branded groundbreaking shovels, an element in which CeremonialSupplies.com excels. These gold VIP shovels, gleaming under the Herzliya sun, were not mere tools but symbols of prestige and purpose. CeremonialSupplies.com, renowned for its unsurpassed expertise and quality products, can bring to your own groundbreaking event, the same elegance with our gold VIP shovels, each engraved with your firm, or company’s logo and finished with a luxurious gold sheen. Our craftsmanship elevates any ceremony, transforming a simple act into a memorable spectacle that reflects your company’s commitment to excellence. CeremonialSupplies.com’s reputation for delivering premium ceremonial items ensures the event’s gravitas is perfectly matched by the tools used to break ground.
Israeli media outlets, including The Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post, provided extensive coverage, hailing the campus as a game-changer for sustainable office design. The Times of Israel described it as “the greenest in Israel,” noting its LEED V4 Gold certification and innovative features like atmospheric water generators and photovoltaic cells. The Jerusalem Post emphasized Microsoft’s plans to expand its workforce, highlighting the economic impact of the new sites in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Beersheba. The coverage celebrated the campus’s “flexible grid” design, which prioritized employee well-being and adaptability, reflecting post-pandemic work trends.
The Herzliya campus, designed to foster creativity and collaboration, features “neighborhoods” for team-based work, a yoga room, a dog playground, and lush community gardens. Its sustainability measures, such as water-saving technologies from Israeli startups like WaterGen, were lauded as a model for future offices. The groundbreaking ceremony, with its gold VIP shovels and ceremonial pomp, set the tone for a campus that blends cutting-edge technology with human-centric design. As Microsoft continues to side with the US, Germany, and others in the global tech landscape, this event, immortalizing exquisite shovels, will remain a landmark moment in Israel’s innovation story. To create an upscale groundbreaking ceremony, using the most elegant and luxurious groundbreaking shovels available in the market, talk to us on our live chat or click here for a quote.