Microsoft HQ is getting a sizable new addition to its campus this week and no, it's not the flood of free Surfaces, Windows 8 PCs and Windows Phones their employees should be receiving soon.

In anticipation of BUILD 2012 beginning next Tuesday, Microsoft is building one of the nation's largest tents (three-dimensional model pictured above). That's according to GeekWire, who learned that the large venue will welcome more than 2,000 developers and has "a footprint roughly the size of 12 NBA courts". Yowza.

There are several reason for why Microsoft chose to build its own tent instead of playing host in another pre-existing venue, like BUILD 2011's Anaheim Convention Center. Microsoft's Tim O'Brien told GeekWire that "the campus experience is something that we want to show off to Build attendees," which is sure to be a memorable experience for the several hundreds who may have never seen Microsoft's campus before. Obviously, another advantage to the home field event is immediate access to Microsoft's own development teams.

GeekWire managed to catch footage of the tent being built, which you can watch after the break. Looks like this BUILD is not one to be missed!

Source: GeekWire