Microsoft Co-Founder Bill Gates Opens $15 Million Visitor Center at his Foundation's Seattle Campus [PHOTOS]

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates opened a new $15 million visitor center at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Seattle campus Feb. 4, and now that construction is finished, the software titan can focus on his foundation's goals. That means helping people all over the world gain access to medicine and immunizations, helping small farmers in Africa and, of course, improving access to technology. Since Bill Gates left Microsoft in 2008, his foundation has put together a $30 billion trust to accomplish these goals, and in January, Gates gave $750 million to the troubled AIDS fund.

At the end of 2011, there was some speculation that Gates would return to lead Microsoft, but he seems more determined than ever to lead his new life of philanthropy and activism. The new visitor center is a public space where people can see and learn about the foundation's work and its efforts to help people around the world live healthy and productive lives. It features exhibits about the work they support, a showcase of innovations and progress on some of the world's toughest challenges and information to help people take action. It's free to visit, open to the public and ADA accessible. Start the slideshow to see a tour of the new visitor center. Tell us in the comments if you think Gates will ever return to Microsoft.  

Melinda Gates speaks to the media while her husband, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates (L) and his father William H. Gates Sr. listen during an advanced tour of the newly constructed $15 million visitor center at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation $500 million campus in Seattle, Washington February 1, 2012. The 900,000 square foot construction, which occupies more than 12 acres in downtown Seattle, is scheduled to open to the public on February 4, 2012.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates gives an advance media tour of the newly constructed $15 million visitor center of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation $500 million campus in Seattle, Washington February 1, 2012.

Microsoft co-founder Gates listens while his wife Melinda speaks to media at advance tour of newly constructed visitor center of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation campus in Seattle.

William H. Gates Sr. foundation co-chair, and father of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, is pictured in a display.

Melinda Gates listens as her husband Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates speaks to the media at an advance tour of the newly constructed $15 million visitor center of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Bill Gates looks at a display during an advance media tour of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation campus' visitor center in Seattle.

Bill Gates and his wife Melinda give an advance media tour of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation campus' visitor center in Seattle.

Melinda Gates speaks to the media during an advance tour of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation campus' visitor center in Seattle

Melinda Gates lifts a pail of clean water, as her husband Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates watches, for a demonstration at a display during an advance media tour of the newly constructed $15 million visitor center of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation $500 million campus in Seattle, Washington February 1, 2012.

Gates and his wife Melinda give an advance media tour of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation campus' visitor center in Seattle

Melinda Gates gives an advance media tour of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation campus' visitor center in Seattle.