The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation broke ground this week on its new headquarters in Seattle, which will open in 2010 with space for its employees, meetings, events, and a visitors center, reports The Seattle Times.

The $500-million facility will be about 90,000 square feet, will cover a city block in downtown Seattle, and will be located across the street from the Space Needle.

The foundation reports in its announcement of the groundbreaking that the visitors center at the new facility will open in 2011.